10 Ways Remote Working Could Change Your Life

If you’re graduating this year or are a recent graduate searching for a job, you might be weighing up the pros and cons of a work-from-home job.

Since lockdown, jobs that are fully remote have become more and more popular with many companies opting not to return to the office permanently and allowing their employees to work entirely remotely if they want to. While for some people this might seem like a dream, others may be a bit apprehensive about working independently and away from a busy office environment.

If you’re considering applying for remote jobs and aren’t sure if it’s for you, here are all of the reasons why working from home is amazing and how it could benefit you.

1. You’ll save money on commuting

It’s no secret that travelling to work can cost a lot of money. Train fares rise yearly, and unfortunately, the journey to the office isn’t always as simple as one quick train journey and you could be looking at multiple trains, buses or tube journeys twice a day just to get to work. Even with a railcard or season pass or if you choose to drive, the cost of commuting is something you’d have to factor into your monthly budget.

Let’s face it, working from home not only means you don’t have to deal with the stress of public transport first thing in the morning (and delays and cancellations are always a regular occurrence!) but you could also be putting the money you would be spending on commuting to good use elsewhere.

2. You’ll have more time for your hobbies

One of the great things about working from home is the spare time you’ll have. This is also due to not having to commute or travel to work, as when you sign off from work in the evening you’ll already be at home. Before lockdown popularised working from home, many people would simply feel way too tired for hobbies or evening plans once they had battled the dreaded rush hour commute home, or would arrive home too late to have time to do anything other than make dinner and get into bed.

Working remotely means that you’ll be able to enjoy longer evenings, and if you’re good at making an hour count, your lunch break can also be used for hobbies that you wouldn’t be able to enjoy at the office. You can play video games, catch up on TV, go to the gym, walk your dog, or grab a coffee with a friend, the possibilities are endless, but you most likely wouldn’t be able to do most of these things during your lunch break at the office!

3. You’ll get a lie in

Yep, if you’re not a morning person, working remotely is probably for you. Working in an office means having to factor in an earlier start to allow you to get up, grab breakfast and catch your train to work (allowing time for delays and traffic too).

Luckily, working remotely means you’ll normally be able to get an hour back in the mornings. Some people still like to wake up super early for a 9 am start, but many manage to wake up 20 minutes or so before work and are ready for the day. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about being late to work.

4. You can create the perfect work/life balance

Creating a good work/life balance is integral for your mental health and the key to actually enjoying your job. Working remotely means you can plan out your day with enough time for yourself, your hobbies and your work.

Many people often find they get caught up in the office after hours or are stuck in back-to-back meetings, meaning they don’t have time to get any work done. When you work remotely you can set boundaries, if you finish work at 5 pm every day, that’s it, you close your laptop and work is over for the day.

Plus, working remotely is a great time to catch up on house chores like washing or watching your favourite TV show in the background while you work–– all things you can’t do in an office.

5. It can have a positive impact on your mental health

If you struggle with mental health issues, working remotely can be amazing. For a lot of people, just getting to an office can be a huge and overwhelming task, for others, crowded meeting rooms, trains or a bustling work environment can be very anxiety-inducing.

Working remotely can take a bit of pressure off of you. You don’t have to worry about your appearance or getting up to work, you can work in an environment that’s comfortable, in your comfy clothes and with your friends and family close if you need them. Plus, if you’re having a bad day, being at home can make the day 10x easier than having to force yourself into an office and talk to people.

6. You can spend more time with your family and friends and pets

Working a 9-5 can mean that you have very little free time to meet up with your family and friends at a time that you’re all free. When you work remotely you can work from anywhere, so if you want to hang out with a friend you can work at their house, or in a coffee shop with them.

Pets also miss their owners when they’re at work, so working remotely means you’ll get to spend lots of time with them and they can keep you company while you’re working. You’ll also have more free time to meet up with friends and family during your lunch breaks or after work, so it’s a win-win all around.

7. You can choose a working routine that works best for you

Working remotely gives you so much freedom to choose how you like to work. Some people like to work at a desk, whereas others have no problem working from their sofa. Despite working from home, some people still like to put on a nice outfit every day, and others will work in their pyjamas or gym wear. Other people like to blast music, podcasts or watch TV to help them get through the day, while some will work in silence.

As long as you’re showing up for work every day and getting your work done, no one really cares how you’re working and that’s what makes remote working so great. So, if you’re having a bad day, you can put on your comfiest clothes, order a takeaway for lunch and still be working, which let’s face it, is way better than smiling through a bad day at the office.

8. You’ll have more flexibility

If you need to go to the doctor, dentist, vet or an emergency has come up there’s no need to try and make appointments late at night after work or get your manager to agree that you can come in late. A huge benefit of remote working means that personal appointments can take priority and you can agree to appointments in the daytime. As long as you let your manager know in advance, most companies won’t mind you popping out for half an hour for a dentist appointment as long as you continue working when you’re back.

9. You can create a healthier routine

Working in an office means that it can be hard to keep up a healthy diet, as many people find that they’ll snack a lot while in an office, indulge in the office treats that people bring in or feel like there’s no time to make a healthy meal or work out when they get home from work. Office working also means a more sedentary lifestyle, as you’ll be sat down all day.

Remote working means you’ll have more time to cook, exercise, and plan out healthy meals and you’ll be way less tempted to pop to the shop next to your office for snacks every day just because everyone else is going, meaning you’ll spend less money too!

10. You can work anywhere

A big concern for many people when it comes to working remotely is that it might get boring being stuck at home all day. Some people do get bored of being at home, which is what makes remote working so great, as you can literally work from anywhere. Coffee shops, libraries, your friend’s house, you name it, as long as you’ve got headphones and you’re following your company’s data protection rules (eg. not having meetings in public where you’re discussing confidential information) there’s no rule that says you have to sit in your bedroom all day.

If you’re considering a remote job, don’t forget to check 5 steps to make sure your communication skills are up to scratch for a remote job.