When everyone first started with social or physical distancing due to the pandemic, it seemed like being home for a snowstorm - you wanted to make sure you had enough, the power of working, and your computer was all set up. Generally, it seemed fun at first, like having a few snow days at home. You could hear the excitement from people about being able to work from home and working in your pajamas, taking a break to walk the dog or go outside to enjoy the day, getting to see your kids, what a joy.
But, after just a few weeks of working from home, people started to realize that we are in this for much longer. So, the snow days are over. The excitement has worn off, and now we have to buckle down and establish a routine for this "new normal."
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Waking up at 3 a.m. for a sick child or getting up early to take a pet to the veterinarian can stress out an employee who otherwise enjoys his job writing code or managing their growing company's finances. However, with a (flexible) work-from-home environment, an employee can more fluidly navigate being pulled from both ends – home and work. There are many advantages of working from home. Working from home means employees can break away for a rejuvenating nap should they need it, and they can recapture lost time by working a little longer into the evening from the comfort of their home.
HEALTH AND FITNESS
One aspect of a healthier lifestyle that working from home offers is the availability of home-based exercise circuits, whether it be as simple as a walk around the neighborhood or a jog through a local nature trail. Employees can access their food pantry to fulfill refueling needs and goals.
PROJECT MOMENTUM
Taking care of business instantaneously is a valuable, stress-reducing benefit when a devoted employee wants to stay on top of the details at any hour of the day. When a problem erupts or new information unfolds on an important project, having a fully functioning office at home makes it easy to address things right now, eradicating worry and maintaining project momentum.
COST SAVINGS
Work from home days generally means donning more casual attire. Wardrobe expenses and trips to the dry cleaner are reduced when an employee is permitted to wear shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops and work from the comfort of a porch or other converted space. This is one advantage of working from home that employees love, and it can rack up thousands of dollars in savings for the employee.
TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY
Even if an employee is isolated in their home office, knowing their spouse or child is nearby in the other room can be a calming force for employees whose hours in the office rack up; more time to be around their family is a distinct advantage.
While working from home may not be feasible for everyone all the time, even the part-time possibility of a work-from-home environment is advantageous for employees seeking more harmony between work and personal life.
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