Angela Ash November 15, 2020 Since the onset of the pandemic, many people have been forced to work remotely. In the beginning, there were various complaints chiefly concerning time-management issues. Over time, however, an increasing number of people have begun to realize that remote work is beneficial in more ways than one.
Aside from the obvious benefit – additional leisure time – there are also other advantages of the routine. Let’s consider some of them.
1. Heightened Motivation
Once you’ve gotten used to getting up later and eating a relaxed meal before your working day begins (no rushing to the office, no painstaking dress code), you’ll soon discover that you’re actually more motivated.
How come?
Simply put, you don’t have to rush anything. You can prioritize your tasks, take regular breaks, enjoy a home-cooked meal, work out, and get back to work without having to run back to the office.
The downside, at least initially, is – well, you’ll need to improvise a proper office so that you don’t start slacking off. Many people have designed a dedicated space for work, which are off-limits outside the working hours.
However, the motivation lies in the fact that once your work is complete for the day, you’re already home – ready to relax and enjoy your leisure time.
2. Remote Work Is Cost-Efficient
Remote work is cost-efficient for both employees and employers. In fact, a recent survey aimed at founders of venture-backed companies shows that many employers are hoping that remote work is here to stay.
Some of the most significant insights of the survey are:
- 76% of founders have found out that remote work has either increased or has maintained overall productivity
- 70% of founders say that they will allow either some or all of their employees to continue working remotely;
- 66% of founders say they are reconsidering their investments in the offices;
- 65% of founders say that if the lockdown was lifted tomorrow, they would not return their work to the office.
As for the employees, many are hoping that, after the pandemic has passed, they will be allowed to work remotely at least one day per week – and hopefully more. You don’t have to pay for your daily commute, breakfast and lunch out, and the funds set aside for clothes and other necessities.
3. Better Communication
Online communication has recently become the “new normal.” Even elderly people who used to shun the idea have learned how to use online forms because the pandemic has made keeping in touch with families and friends via traditional means quite difficult.
Workwise, online meetings seem to have reached new heights. With all kinds of consultations moving to the virtual world, people have come to develop advanced communication techniques, given that human contact has been eliminated.
Additionally, many companies are getting better ideas for email marketing campaigns, considering that you have more of a captive audience than ever before. This can lead to even more communication, engagement and, perhaps most importantly, collaboration.
4. Better Time Management
While many people tend to think that remote workers don’t have schedules, the truth couldn’t be further away.
First, the majority of people who have been forced to start working from home due to the pandemic have learned the hard way that additional freedom doesn’t equal procrastination. Tasks are tasks, no matter the employee’s location, and work doesn’t get done all by itself.
These people have also learned that drafting daily schedules helps a lot. Because office workers don’t think about time management in the same way remote workers do, working from home can also help you learn to prioritize better.
Add to that that there will be no time wasted on interruptions, and soon your productivity and time management skills will flourish.
5. Professional Improvement
The gig economy is witnessing a boom but is still a long way from reaching its zenith. That being said, growth opportunities are numerous. Keeping in mind the fact that online learning platforms are popping out literally out of nowhere these days (and many of them offer respectable university’ courses), it would be a shame not to use the opportunity to polish your skill sets.
In fact, there are a plethora of free courses to get you started, many of which are certified. No professional needs to be told that continual learning is what makes room for additional opportunities, and nowhere has this been more obvious than in the case of the gig economy.
On top of that, remote workers are more tech-savvy and can use the additional time they would normally have wasted on commuting to and from work to actually do something meaningful – study.
6. You’ll Get More Time for Leisure Activities and Workouts
Obviously, one of the greatest benefits of remote work is the extra time. In fact, if you stick to your daily schedules until you’ve gotten used to your work routine, you’ll soon discover that you have up to two to four extra hours a day to use as you see fit.
In addition to the abovementioned learning, you can also allocate some time for all leisure activities your heart desires and for workout.
Shortly put, you’ll have enough time for everything – you just need to learn how to best manage that time.
7. Create the Lifestyle You’ve Always Wanted
Let’s get one thing straight. Remote work doesn’t equal work from home. In fact, as long as you have a laptop with you and a stable internet connection, you can work pretty much from anywhere… and that includes foreign countries.
As a matter of fact, digital nomadism is a new, budding trend. On top of what comes to mind first (freedom, travel, etc.), this trend is also beginning to change many traditional approaches to what type of workers are digital nomads.
The point is, this revolutionary change in the mindset commonly referred to as “remote work” is shifting the future of employment at such a pace that other industries must either adapt or go down. Don’t let anybody fool you by telling you remote work is unsustainable. It isn’t any less viable than traditional work and as for security – the pandemic has shown us just how reliable “traditional” employment is. How many people have lost their jobs because the industry failed to switch to remote work in a timely manner? Just think about it for a second.
Conclusion
Remote work is the future of business. As things stand now, it has a long way to go, but it is already as sustainable as any traditional office job. The main point is that it allows for lifestyle changes and additional freedom to work and travel, as well as to boost your competencies in line with the development of the gig economy.
Overall, the benefits outweigh the downsides, so why not give it a go and see for yourself?
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