Can Working From Home Make You More Productive?

For many workers, particularly those who have been in the workplace a while, the idea of working from home is a little unnerving. On the one hand, you have the benefit of avoiding the daily commute, the rush to catch that train or get stuck in traffic on your regular route. You can start earlier and finish earlier and still be there to pick the kids up from school.

On the other hand, won’t it be tempting to tune into daytime TV or just do the minimum and stay in bed? The truth emerging from studies of home-based workers seems to show that, on the whole, working from home has the effect of making you more productive.

Perhaps the fear that the boss will think you’re shirking drives you, or the worry that you’ll be letting your office-based team down. Either way, working in your home environment is shown to have proven advantages to both employer and employee. 

Not all jobs are created equal

However, before we all rush to dial in as absent from the office, it does seem that the type of job you have plays a significant part in the debate.

For workers who are part of a team and often share projects, working from home can be disruptive and take away some of the spontaneity often required in sharing ideas and tasks. Being able to talk to someone in person about a job query or problem is essential in some places of work. If you take that away, the communication and ultimately the productivity can get lost.

Though this is true for team workers, for those in independent roles, the benefits from home working are more tangible. If you spend most of your day talking to customers on the phone or by email, then doing so in the warmth and comfort of your own environment has been shown to make you more productive. You can take a break whenever you feel, pet the dog and generally go about your work in a calmer and happier state.

Steven Butler, a lifestyle editor and writer said:

“There’s a lot to be said for creating an environment that is totally geared up for your individual needs. Having your favourite snacks and coffee on tap can be a great motivator when it comes to working from home.”

Creating a work/life balance

So what other benefits do home workers receive? As mentioned previously, the work/life balance can be made a little easier. Being able to take part in the school run either side of the day and being in for parcels, helps family life. Cutting down on the daily commute, especially if you take your own vehicle has benefits to your bank balance, the environment and your stress levels. Finally just simply setting your own pace and creating a sense of autonomy in your working life provides home workers with a sense that they are in charge of their day-to-day workloads, without the boss breathing down their necks.

There can be downsides too. You might find yourself unable to close the computer down at the end your working day; after all, there’s no one there to switch off the lights and lock up the door after you leave. You also might actually miss office life and that big divide between home and work. Having colleagues, though at times distracting, can also be quite fun and missing out on office banter and gossip can feel isolating, especially if you only get to go in once or twice a month.

You may find your home environment really isn’t suited to working from home. Perhaps your internet connection isn’t as reliable as the one at work or maybe your dog really is too much of a distraction. It might just be that living and working within the same four walls, day in and day out just becomes too much and you need the separation.

Productivity blogger Helen Sharples said:

“It can be claustrophobic staying in the same room every day. You run the danger of losing momentum and feeling trapped in your home and your job.”

Finding the right balance

However you choose to set up your working life, it’s more important than ever to find a system that works for you. You might find that full-time working from home inspires and motivates you, or you may find that it drives you a little crazy over a few weeks. There is, of course, the option of mixing it up with a day in the office here and there interspersed with a home working schedule.

Whichever option you choose, find one that fits into your family and working life with relative ease and doesn’t run the risk of making your day-to-day any harder than it needs to be.

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