Six reasons why working from home is not good for you

As more digital jobs are being created, the more many people find it convenient to work from home. Careers in digital such as search engine optimization (SEO) Manager, social network manager, webmaster, online content curator, graphic designer, data analyst and academic writer do not necessarily require one to work from the office. All you need is a laptop, internet connection, log in details and you are good to go. It does not matter whether you work from the office or at home so long as you get the work done.

More Lucrative

Compared to an office setting, working from home seems more lucrative. You do not have to wake up early and sit in the morning traffic. You do not have to put on that official wear associated with office setting. You can work at the comfort of your bed or couch wearing pajamas. Working from home accords you more freedom as there is no supervisor or boss hovering over your desk and yelling at you to complete that task in time. It is cheaper to work from home. You save on lunch and transport costs to and from the office. For young parents, working from home enables them to spend more time with their babies resulting in stronger bonds between them.

A lot of distractions

But working from home also has its disadvantages. Before you make that decision to relocate your working desk from the office to your home, you need to consider a lot of factors. Compare the merits and demerits of working from home and make a sound decision. Here are five reasons why working from home is not good for you. One is that there are so many things at home which come between you and your work. Things like television, the cries of the baby, gate man or house girl coming to ask you questions, the constant movement to and from the kitchen to fix yourself something to eat can easily distract you and lower your concentration level. This reduces your efficiency level.

Last minute syndrome

When you work from home, you tend to be lazy. You wake up late and takes your sweet time before you actually get down to work. It is easier to postpone the work and engage in other household activities like cleaning and cooking. Before you realize it, the deadline is fast approaching. You start panicking. You rush through your work and end up submitting a substandard report.

Anti-social behaviors

Another reason why working from home is not good for you is that you tend to lose touch with the outside world. When you are holed up at home every week and every month, you tend to subconsciously develop anti-social behaviors. Chatting with friends and colleagues online cannot be compared, even remotely, with meeting up with them physically and having a discourse over a cup of coffee at your favourite restaurant.

Emotionally unavailable

When you work from home, there is no clear-cut boundary when you should start your work and when you should stop. You are likely to work even during meal times and bedtime. When you work deep in the night, you become emotionally unavailable for your spouse and this might cause cracks in your marriage and/or relationship with your loved ones.

Couch potato

It is not a surprise to find someone working from home spending the whole day indoors. If they even as much as take a walk, it is only a few steps to the shop and back. In most cases, they are glued to their laptops doing research and responding to emails. They rarely find time to get outside and take a stroll. When working from home, one tends to eat a lot. It is far much easier for a person working from home to develop obesity and such other ill-health than a person who commutes to the office daily.