In this post, we will give you 60 good reasons to work from home.
There are plenty of reasons that working from home is attractive to most people. For some, it means more time to spend with family and friends or doing personal things like exercising and cooking. For others, it means avoiding traffic, small talk with coworkers, and spending time on pit stops.
Whether you’re a freelance graphic designer, work at home for an employer, or just do it as a hobby, here are 60 good reasons to work from home.
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1. Saves money
Gas, parking, and tolls add up over time. Not to mention the price of your commute. All these expenses can be eliminated with a simple shift in your routine.
2. Saves time
Whether you’re going to the office, or working out of one, every minute wasted in transit is time taken away from other productive activities.
3. You have more freedom and flexibility
You don’t have a boss telling you what to do and when to do it. You make your own hours and create your own schedule. You can work as much or as little as you want. There really aren’t any rules at all except for the ones you set for yourself.
4. Be more productive. No distractions from co-workers
We all have that one co-worker (maybe even several) who is seemingly required to make as much noise as humanly possible while you’re trying to work. Or the person who likes to engage you in the most pointless conversation just when you’re getting into your zone. When you work at home, you can avoid these people with ease.
5. You can prepare for the day ahead of time
If there’s something you need to buy, or something you need to prepare for later in the week, you have all the time in the world to do it. No more forgetting things because you had to rush out the door.
6. You can turn your workspace into a fortress of solitude
No co-workers bothering you, no phone calls, no distractions of any kind (as long as you stay away from social media). You can become totally immersed in your work.
7. Ability to wake up early and beat the rush
If you’re a morning person, you can wake up early, get your work done, and be finished before anyone else starts work, giving you more free time in the afternoon or early evening.
8. Be more creative
Working from home provides the perfect environment for people in creative fields to flourish. No one is there to tell you what to do or how to do it.
9. Less dry cleaning bills
Unless you’re prone to spilling your food or drink on yourself, you won’t have to get as much dry cleaning done. In fact, unless you’re eating and working at the same time, you can probably get away with just one set of clothes for the week.
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10. Less gas money
It’s not just about the commute to and from work; it’s all the traveling you have to do. With so many meetings, presentations, and other events taking place outside of the office, you can save a good chunk just by not having to travel as much.
11. Less clothes necessary
No more getting dressed up every morning. You can slide out of bed and start working. With as little as just a shirt and underwear, you’re mobile and ready to take on the day.
12. You can keep your work area organized
Because there’s no one watching, you’ll always keep your area clean and won’t let things pile up.
13. You can get more accomplished with less stress
When you work from home, you don’t have to worry about office politics. You don’t have to worry about offending your co-workers or in some cases, a boss. You can relax and just be yourself—which is an advantage in itself!
14. You can wear what you want
Sweat pants? Sure! Robe? Why not? Gym clothes? If you want! No need to worry about slipping back into work “uniform” before heading off to the office.
15. You don’t have to deal with traffic or parking
If you work in town, chances are you know how bad the traffic is—especially during rush hour (even worse if there’s construction).
If you work in a suburb, you’ve got the driving and parking to deal with. (Or the bus.) If you work in the ‘burbs, you’ll also have longer daily commute times than if your work was in town.
16. You can learn how to be more efficient
If you’re working from home, you’ll want to make sure you get the most out of your day. This means being able to focus and work efficiently for long periods of time without becoming distracted. If you struggle with this, working from home can help you become more efficient and focused as you’ll need to in order to meet deadlines.
17. Have more time for yourself and your family
How many times have you heard the phrase, “I never see you anymore”? Working from home can help alleviate this issue. You’ll be around more, and chances are you won’t be fretting over work-related things at home (which means less stress for everyone). This is your time. Enjoy it.
18. Work-life conflicts are less
With a traditional job, there may be times where you have to choose between your career and your life. For instance, if your child is really sick or you have a family medical emergency, you might have to miss work. Many jobs don’t allow for much, if any, time off. If you have to rush to the hospital in the middle of the night, you may risk getting fired. However, if you’re a work-at-home mom or dad, you can take the time off that you need to take care of your family without having to worry about losing your job.
19. Stay home when you are sick
There’s nothing worse than calling in sick to work only to have your boss tell you to just come in anyway. You don’t have that problem when you work from home! Maybe you have some special project you’re working on and you need to get it done by the end of the week. If you’re sick, you can rest and tackle the work when you’re 100%. (And you can also save money on medicine or visit the doctor instead of the chiropractor for an adjustment due to all that sitting!)
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20. You can keep up to date on current events whenever you want
Whether it’s the news, recent scientific findings, new laws that will affect your life, or anything else, you can read about it whenever you have time to do so.
21. You can have friends and family visit whenever you want / need
It’s not always easy to take a break to see friends or family, but with a laptop, you can visit with them any time you want.
22. It’s easy to take a break from work
You don’t have to pack up your things or do anything except disconnect. Then, when you’re ready to get back to work, it’s right there, waiting for you.
23. You create your own work schedule
You can wake up early and get a lot done before everyone else gets in, or you can get everything done late at night after the rest of the office has gone home.
24. Be more agile to deal with emergencies, or be more flexible to deal with your family’s needs
If there’s an emergency and you child needs to get to a doctor’s appointment, school activity, or some other vital event, you can easily make the necessary arrangements to do so. If your family needs you somewhere, you can be there for them as well.
25. You can catch up on your reading
That book you’ve been wanting to read for a while is finally going to get the attention it deserves. You can even take your time with it, reading a bit more every day until you’ve finally finished it.
26. You can take a break and go for a walk
When you work from home, it’s very easy to become sedentary. After all, you’re working at home so you might as well just sit in your desk chair, right? Wrong! When you work from home, it’s especially important to take breaks from your work and get some exercise. Go for a walk around the block every once in awhile. It will help keep you awake and more alert.
27. You can have pets at your desk (and we all know they help you relax and be more creative)
Cats love to be near you and lay on your keyboard. Dogs typically like to be near you and lay under your desk. Either way, having pets near you helps you relax, which then helps you to be more productive.
28. You can play music as loud as you want
Whether you find music helps you to work or not, you won’t disturb anyone else (except whoever is in the room with you).
29. You can eat breakfast at your desk
Continuing the no-commute program, you don’t have to leave your desk if you just want to quickly grab a bite to eat—and it’s so much more satisfying to eat at your desk.
30. You can take care of chores during downtimes
Whether you have a day job or work from home, there are bound to be times when you’re stuck at your desk but don’t have anything specific to do. Take advantage of that and do some errands or chores!
31. You can work around your fitness schedule
If you’re dedicated to going to the gym or running during the week (and maybe play a little singles tennis on the weekend), you can work out in the middle of the day when it’s less crowded at the gym and you’re not at work losing valuable time away from your desk.
32. Take care of errands during the workday
If you need to drop off dry cleaning, return a book to the library, have a haircut appointment, etc. you can do all this during work hours and not have to do it in the evening or on the weekend.
33. No commute
Sitting in traffic is the bane of many people’s day. At the very least it’s a great way to waste time that you could be putting to better use. Not to mention the fact that it’s also costly and environmentally unfriendly.
34. Be environmentally friendly
Who knows you might just save the world… Working from home reduces the amount of cars on the road, thus reducing traffic and air pollution.
35. You can go to the bathroom whenever you want
No more holding it or waiting for 7 minutes until you get to your next rest stop; you can go at your convenience.
36. Get to be there for important events
It’s not just your family that you’ll be able to experience milestones with, it’s also your friends. By working from home, you’ll no longer have to be that friend that never makes it to anything.
37. No more wasting time at red lights
It’s amazing how much time people waste at traffic lights. Not just the person in front or behind you, but also yourself. With nobody else on the road, you can easily floor it and get to your destination quicker.
38. Long baths
When was the last time you took a leisurely bath and soaked for more than 10 minutes? Long, relaxing baths after a long day at work are certainly a possibility.
39. Get to eat breakfast with your family
It’s a simple thing, but something that many people miss out on due to their hectic schedules.
40. You don’t have to spend the weekend fighting traffic
Why waste two days out of every seven sitting in traffic? You can do all of your errands, appointments, and other tasks at your own pace without having to rush.
41. You can sleep in as late as you want
There’s no one to wake you up. Unless you have a client (and even then, you can take a nap during their lunch break).
42. You can listen to music without upsetting anyone
If you like listening to music while you work, it can often be a source of conflict with your co-workers or even your boss. They might find it too loud or distracting. However, when you work from home, you’re free to listen to music without anyone complaining. You can even play your favorite TV show theme songs and not have to worry about it!
43. You can be more social
When you work from home, you might start to feel a bit isolated from the rest of the world. But, you can do things in your free time to remedy that. Invite friends and family over more often. Join a meet up group in your city. Get out of the house more often.
44. Pursuit of personal goals
Working from home gives you the flexibility to pursue your personal goals, whether they’re related to education, fitness, or even starting a side business. If you have dreams of starting your own business and becoming successful, working from home can give you the flexibility you need to achieve that, too.
45. Stay inside on bad weather days
If it’s raining or snowing really bad, you’re still able to work. If you’re a salesperson, you can still make your calls and go to client meetings. There might be days when you don’t want to leave your house. But luckily, with today’s technology, there aren’t many reasons why you need to leave the comfort of your home!
46. You can take credit for your work
Have you ever had an idea or concept that would improve your company and presented it only to have someone else take the credit? If you’re working as an employee for someone else, this could happen from time to time. However, if you’re an entrepreneur or work for yourself, this isn’t an issue. You can take all the credit you want and don’t have to share it with anyone!
47. Indulge in your hobbies
Since you’re your own boss, and there really isn’t anyone who is going to stop you from pursuing your hobbies, why not indulge a little bit? If you’ve been dying to take dance classes but couldn’t justify the time or expense while working at a “real job,” now might be the time to do it. Maybe you’ve always wanted to play the keyboard. Now you can!
48. Family values you more
This one is simple. The more time you spend with your family and the more you learn about them, the more they learn about you. The closer your relationships are. This can all be strengthened by working at home. Not only will you be around more, but chances are your kids will be doing some sort of school work at least part of the time. Help them with their math, teach them a foreign language, or help them write that essay. You can make a difference in their lives, and they’ll appreciate you for it.
49. Eat whatever you want
If you’re working from home, you’re less likely to snack on fast food or other convenience foods since you have to cook for yourself. This can often result in weight loss (and reduced medical bills).
50. You’re less likely to be a victim of violent crimes
Working from home can decrease your likelihood of being a victim of violent crimes, especially if you work in areas with high crime rates or have to commute through certain neighborhoods on your way to and from work.
There’s also the matter of being able to say you’re a writer, artist, etc. and therefore are allowed to claim certain unreimbursed business expenses.
51. You can turn off your computer and go to bed when you want
Or go to the store, or run any other errand. If you need something, you don’t have to wait until evening to go out. (Just make sure to set up everything the night before so you don’t lose too much productivity time!)
52. You can watch at least one favorite show while eating your lunch or dinner
Dinner isn’t so bad as long as you’re not in an area with a strict 9-5 office schedule. You can enjoy your dinner and not worry about missing out on anything. Plus, you don’t have to eat at your desk or deal with washing dishes while you’re hungry.
53. You can decorate your workspace any way you like
This is something that usually isn’t possible in the workplace. There, you’re lucky if you can cover your cubicle wall with inspirational posters. But at home, you can cover every inch of your office walls with them—and that’s just the beginning, really.
54. You can learn more and become more independent.
If you work from home, you’re less likely to fall into a routine and become complacent with your work. You can learn more about your job and stay up-to-date with changes in the industry. If you’re an editor, for instance, you can become familiar with online publishing and new writing techniques.
55. If you have kids, you can raise them and see them more
If you’re a parent, this one is pretty obvious. And if you’re not a parent yet, well…you still might want to consider it some day. Kids are wonderful (believe me, I know), and this is your chance to really be involved in their lives. You can teach them about the world, help them with their school work, and watch them grow up. Working from home gives you the time you need to do all that.
56. You can get a clearer idea of what you want to do.
While working from home can be a great opportunity to learn more, it can also be a chance for you to get a better idea of the career field you want to work in. If you’re an accountant who works from home, for example, you can supplement your income by doing taxes for friends and family during the months when tax season is slow at your office. If you’re good at it, you may decide to specialize in this area and find work as an independent accountant.
57. Save on childcare
Instead of dropping your children off at expensive daycare centers, you can watch them yourself. You’ll not only save on childcare costs, but also allow your kids to be around you and play with you.
58. Naps anytime you want
When you work at an office, you can’t just take a nap whenever you want. But, when you work from home, naps are always an option. If you’re sleepy, you can take a quick nap any time of the day. Just set an alarm so you don’t sleep for too long!
59. Control on your income
As your own boss, you have the potential to earn as much as you want. You set your own schedule, and you can work as little or as much as you want. This is also a double-edged sword, though. If you don’t work enough, you won’t make any money. So you have to find a good balance between your personal and professional life in order to earn a living.
60. You can remain (somewhat) anonymous
Unlike movie stars or musicians where everyone wants a piece of them, successful business owners can often walk down the street and not be bothered too much. This is especially true for those that work from home. There are times when people may be curious about who you are and what you do, but most of the time you can go about your business without being bothered.
Working from home is a blessing for some, and a curse for others. You may love it, or you may hate it, but the important thing is that you keep an open mind about things. You’re not chained to a desk, but you may very well be chained to your computer. Plan accordingly.
Not all of these will apply to everyone, and that’s OK. The important thing is to find something that works for YOU.
If you’re considering working from home, or if you already do, we hope you’ll find this list of 60 good reasons to work from home to be helpful to you!
Did we miss any? Please let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear your opinions and thoughts.
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