For whatever reason, there are times during your career where you will be asked to work from home if possible. When you’re living in London, depending on the situation, reasons could span from transport strikes and random yet sever weather conditions. In my case, the company I work for has relocated and that was my most recent moment of working from home. After discussing with my colleague (who was dreading working from home due to ‘boredom’ after a few days) I have realised that for some people it’s not their first choice. Some may be more comfortable working at the office environment and if this is you, read on because I am revealing The Secret Perks of Working From Home!
The Wake-Up Call.
Working from home is great if you like a lay-in. Commuting to work can be tedious and stressful especially with all the unfortunate events that could happen on the way. So get rid of the alarms that you keep snoozing from 6am and take advantage of working at home! Depending on if you’re a morning/breakfast person or not, I recommend waking up at least 30 minutes before your work start time. This gives you time to do what you need to do in the morning and most importantly, get the rest that you deserve.
The Awesome Attire.
Are you always working in a uniform or have a dress code policy? All that changes when you work at home! Unless you have Skype or other types of visual online meetings and interviews, why not work in your casual clothes? Whether you want to stay productive in your lounge wear or be on track in your tracksuit, the choice is yours. Remain comfortable in your home gear while you work but always remember to be prepared, you never know when a meeting could pop up in your screen.
The Comfort Zone.
Everyone has a favourite spot in their house; bedroom, sofa, dining table, you name it! Since you are working at home, find your favourite spot and turn it into your work area. The best thing about this is that it is YOUR space so you most definitely will be comfortable. If the weather is nice, find a nice spot in the garden, terrace or balcony to really enjoy the perks.
Food Glorious Food!
If you’re always buying lunch at work or having to prepare food to eat in a rush, food is all the more reason why you would enjoy working at home. You can have all the food you want, anytime you want! Let’s not forget breakfast of course; the most important meal of the day which some of us miss because it’s too early or we don’t have time. So whether you want to snack all day or have a Master Chef masterpiece to add to your motivation when working at home, do it!
The Lunch Break.
Now you could be wondering “What could I do during my lunch break when working at home?” the answer is simply really; ‘Everything you couldn’t do at the office!’. You could work out, go for a walk, work on your hobby, have a nap, go grocery shopping or shopping for leisure, the opportunities are endless. Take advantage of this, it doesn’t come often. This perk also helps to change the dynamic of your daily routine and because it is different, you will feel refreshed and ready to start the next half of your day working on your tasks.
The Motivation Melody & Peaceful Focus.
If you are a person who enjoys working with a clear mind and no sound, this is the perfect opportunity to keep your focus especially for specific tasks. For those who like to work with music in the background, this is also a perk, one that I’d like to call The Motivation Melody. Put on your favourite playlist and work to the rhythm! Both ways of working can be used depending on what you do, how you are most comfortable at working at each and what keeps you going. Whether you like to work to the beat or to the calm and quiet environment both are definitely an advantage when working at home.
Work After Dark.
One of the things that could stop you from going out after work is that you either have to get ready at the office or go home to get ready. Working from home makes that much easier! Instead of going home, getting dressed and going back out again, one of the great things about working at home is that you can get ready as soon as you’ve finished your work hours and proceed to your after work plans. This cuts down the time of commuting and allows you to have more energy than you usually would.
There you have it! The Secret Perks of Working from Home. Now that you’ve understood what they are, you will be able to take charge of the days you aren’t working at the office. Keep up-to-date with us on our blog for more career tips.
Written by Shade Thompson