3 Major Benefits of Working from Home. Image credit: Pexels
When the pandemics hit, many companies around the world were faced with a huge challenge and had to make significant changes to allow their employees to work from home. We can say that remote work and working from home became the norm over the past few years as employers all over the world started to offer their employees all the tools they needed in order to be productive while working virtually. Lots of people were sceptical and thought that their business would be negatively affected by this change, but after everyone settled in, much to everyone’s surprise, people were just as productive and focused at home, and in some cases, even more so. This is when remote work was able to truly shine and it became clear that many businesses can actually function like this forever.
We might be a bit subjective when it comes to commuting because it’s our least favourite thing to do. This is probably why we always like to list this WFH (work from home) benefit at the top of our lists. The average commuting time in Australia is 48 minutes, and it is worth mentioning that commuting time saw a 20% increase over the past decade. Aussie workers spend no less than 4.5 hours a week getting to work and coming home from work, and over time, it adds up. With almost 5 extra hours of free time per week, you could read more, spend more time with your loved ones, watch two movies, or focus on your hobbies.
Just imagine how much more relaxed your mornings would be if you eliminated the stress associated with commuting. You could wake up a bit later, you wouldn’t have to worry about getting all dressed up, and you’d have more time to enjoy your breakfast and exercise. If you have a busy life, commuting might force you to wake up earlier in the morning, which over time, can lead to sacrificing sleep. Some of the most common side-effects of sleep deprivation include weight gain, poor concentration, moodiness, anxiety, an increased risk of depression, high blood pressure, etc.
So, not being forced to leave your home every morning might have a positive impact on your physical and mental health. Saving time can allow you to enjoy life more and focus on other priorities. Not commuting can also help you save some money that you would normally spend on public transportation tickets, gas, car repairs, etc.
Another notable benefit of WFH is the fact that you get to create a nice space that you can decorate as you wish and where you’ll feel comfortable, creative, and productive. Working from home doesn’t necessarily mean setting up a small office in a corner of the kitchen. Doing this is actually not ideal, as you will always be interrupted and distracted by the things that are going on around you and even by being tempted to do chores or to eat more frequently than you should.
For a good work-from-home experience, it is highly recommended to put some time, effort, and, if possible money, into creating a dedicated workspace. If your home is not very spacious and you don’t have a spare room, there is a great way to make some extra space in your garden or your backyard. As more and more people faced the same issue, a new and innovative solution took the markets by storm – the garden office. The ideal garden office is a high-quality pod that can be insulated and equipped with everything you need and that will make a perfect space for you to focus on your work.
Many different types of outbuildings can become perfect garden offices – wooden log cabins, recycled container cabins, and modern pods made of glass panels or polycarbonate. A garden office is a great investment thanks to the versatility of the building. When you invest in a garden office you don’t have to worry what you will do with the building if, as some point in the future, you don’t need a home office anymore. Thanks to the versatility of such an outbuilding, you can simply transform it into something else such as a home gym or a hobby room.
A garden office is a customizable space that allows you to be more comfortable during your working hours. Whether you want to work surrounded by plants, with your cat on your lap, or while listening to relaxing music, you can do so. You can also choose nicer furniture, a bigger desk, and a high-quality ergonomic chair that will prevent you from developing back pain.
A garden office is a great investment thanks to the versatility of the building. When you invest in a garden office you don’t have to worry what you will do with the building if, as some point in the future, you don’t need a home office anymore. Thanks to the versatility of such an outbuilding, you can simply transform it into something else such as a home gym or a hobby room.
Working from a garden office means fewer interruptions, less office noise, and fewer and more efficient meetings. In combination with no commute, working remotely will automatically mean more free time to relax and do lead a healthier lifestyle, which in turn, will enable you to be happier and more productive during your working hours. The increase in productivity and performance is a major benefit for both the employer and the employees and it is often overlooked.
If you are an organized individual with good time-management skills, you will be able to focus on the tasks that really matter which will improve your performance considerably. The office environment is often dominated by appearances and it is quite common for those who are the loudest to be more valued than those who are quiet and get the work done. This is a type of bias and favouritism that is less frequent when working remotely, where the employee is usually evaluated by the results matter.
Working from home comes with many benefits, especially if you decide to invest in a high-quality garden office. We have only selected three major benefits of WFH because we feel that these will are the most compelling ones. No commute, a comfortable workspace, and increased productivity and performance are great reasons to choose this type of work arrangement, which is still very popular even though COVID-19 is not affecting our jobs as much. Whether you are a freelancer, a business owner, or an employee, we hope you get to choose a work arrangement that suits your needs and that allows you to lead a healthy lifestyle.