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Do you work from home?

Have you ever dreamed of working from home?

By Maureen Latta
Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Technologies like laptops, cloud computing, online conferencing, and smartphones make working from home (also called telecommuting) a viable option for very little investment. If you are tired of a long commute, wish you had more control over your workspace, or need flexibility in work hours, working from home might be the best option for you.

It’s easier to work from home if you have one or these two advantages:

a) an employer who is willing to let you do some or all of your tasks from home;
b) existing skills and expertise that you can use to develop your own work-from-home business.

Working from home has several advantages over working from an office.

1. By eliminating commuting time, you regain valuable hours in your day. Instead of a hurried commute through traffic at the beginning and end of the day, you can schedule a leisurely walk or bike ride into your day to stay fit and clear your mind.
2. In some cases, working from home means you can live anywhere, which could save you money if it allows you to move to (or stay in) an affordable region…such as Powell River. Instead of being forced to live in a place that is convenient for your job, you can put your lifestyle needs at the top of your priority list.
3. Although the most effective way to work from home is to keep regular office hours, you will likely be able to build greater flexibility into your schedule to suit your needs. Instead of being a slave to the 9:00 to 5:00 workday, you can find your own rhythms and reduce stress on your body and mind.
4. You can exercise more control over your physical environment by making your workspace as comfortable as you want. Some people like to work on the dining room table, while others make a cozy office somewhere in their home. Do you like to sit on the couch while working sometimes? How about working on the patio on a nice day? Or does typing while drinking lattes in a cafe appeal to you?

Working from home is no easy road. There are definite disadvantages, and for some people these drawbacks can outweigh the benefits. The most significant disadvantage is income insecurity. Unless you can establish a solid, thriving business, your work-from-home dream will be short-lived and you might find yourself wishing for the relative security of a regular job. However, if you are employed by a company that allows working from home as an option, you will have the security of a regular job and the flexibility of working from home.

Acquiring and maintaining your equipment will be up to you, which can create a crisis if your computer fails unexpectedly and you don’t have the money to replace it.

If you don’t have dedicated space for your work, or family and friends don’t respect your time and space, home-based work can become frustrating. Setting boundaries will help; even so, if you have young children and lack dedicated work space and child care, working from home might not be viable.

Unless you are self-motivated and disciplined, your work-from-home adventure could stumble and fail. If you are an extrovert, the isolation of working from home might be too much to bear. And if you don’t already possess highly marketable skills and access to continuing education, it can be difficult to keep up with changing needs in your industry while working from home. Of course, all of these potential disadvantages have solutions for the person who is dedicated to making the work-from-home dream a sustainable reality.

There are many websites and blogs with advice about working from home.

Some Revenue Canada information on Work Space in the Home Expenses.

Qualified BC residents who have no post-secondary education can apply for Micro Business Training.

The Globe and Mail: "Eight Jobs Ideally Suited for Working Remotely".