8 benefits of working from home

Right now, staying safe amid the Covid-19 pandemic has forced many people to work from home. While this may take a bit of getting used to for some, there are lots of benefits of working from home.

1. No commute
No more wasting hours stuck in your car or on the train, which saves you time, money and is better for the environment. You can use the extra time to meditate, exercise, take an online course, walk the dog – whatever works for you.

2. Fewer distractions/interruptions
It’s easier to be more focused and get more done because you don’t have the constant distractions that working in an office can bring. Some people also find it easier to make calls. If you are connected with your team via a group chat, and you need to focus on a task, you can change your status to ‘Do Not Disturb’ and get stuck in. Just don’t forget to change it back again afterwards.

3. Easy to stay in touch with your colleagues with the right technology
It’s important that when you work from home that you still feel supported, part of the team and have good communication channels with colleagues and friends. Using the right technology (and there are many options to choose from – email, cloud, Skype, GoToMeeting, Facetime, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, Document Management – to name a few) means you can still get the help and input you need, share files securely, collaborate, take part in online meetings, check-in on colleagues etc.

4. Communicate more effectively and concisely
When you write an email, you’ll naturally give more thought to what you’re saying, how you’re saying it and refine the message, than when you’re talking to a colleague informally. This allows you to communicate in a much more effective and concise way.

5. Meetings will be shorter and more productive
Online meetings tend to be a lot shorter than face-to-face meetings. And with intelligent features, an online meeting platform will let you share documents with attendees, add comments without interrupting anyone, record the session for reference or to share with others and more. It’s also easier to hold meeting with colleagues or customers in different cities, countries etc.

6. Arrange your workspace how you want
Which part of the house do you want to work in? What type of furniture do you want? Radio on or off? Do you surround yourself with photos of loved ones or flowers or have a drawer full of your favourite snacks? Working from home gives you lots of flexibility when it comes to your workspace preferences. You can set everything up exactly how you want, which will make you happier when you are working.

7. Have a more flexible schedule
This will depend on your company policy, but you may be able to be more flexible with your working hours when working from home. Perhaps you prefer to work earlier in the morning, later at night or over the weekend. The focus shifts from when you are working to ensuring that you achieve the right results and meet deadlines. Creating a more flexible schedule allows you to maintain a work/life balance that suits you and your family.

8. Become more independent
Without the support of your colleagues that you are used to, this is a good time to become more independent and proactive when you need to get things done. There are lots of ways you can find the answers you need by yourself – internet search, videos, online tutorials, webinars, guides, user manuals etc. – while knowing that your colleagues are at the end of the phone or an email if you do need their help. This is also an excellent time to develop your learning and acquire some new skills or further your knowledge. If you’re going to work from home for the foreseeable future, becoming more self-sufficient is a great skill to have.

If you are a remote working or have remote workers in your business, our solutions can make it easier to manage devices and files securely. Speak to us about Document Management, and our fully managed IT Support services so that you can focus on your business safe in the knowledge that your documents, network and systems are taken care of. To find out more call Jack on 01285 810606 or email jack.wright@yourdms.net.

Let’s talk.