After working many years pre-pandemic in office full time and then from home full time for 3 consecutive years, overall I prefer to work from home. There are a lot of upsides to it however there are also downsides to being able to work from home. People often prefer one or the other, but in reality there are pros and cons to both. We all know the benefits so let’s focus on the downsides to being able to work from home.
Even if we really don’t want to admit them to ourselves, the downsides exist and we need to factor them into our decisions for our overall benefit. Firstly, let me say this post is not for people who work remotely travelling the world. This is for people who choose to sit at home in their apartment instead of going to their nearby office.
By choosing to work from home when you have the option to attend a local office at least some of the time there are two main areas that can suffer
- Your Productivity
- Your Well-being
Productivity
There is an argument for more or less productivity at home vs in the office but here are some examples of how our productivity can suffer by being home:
Too Many Distractions
I believe you can be more productive at home but there are some common distractions that are hard to escape. We see a chore to be done such as dishes or laundry and decide to do it there and then. It only takes 2 minutes. True. It is not the time itself that is the problem but being distracted at all is the problem. It takes 20 minutes to reset after a distraction which means we didn’t lose 2 minutes of productivity in that instance we lost 20 minutes.
Other similar examples include taking personal phone calls, stepping out to run errands such as walking the dog, posting a letter or even accepting a package from a delivery man at the door. All of these little distractions are invitations to break focus and we have to work even harder to stay focused and on task at home.
Accountability
We have no one to hold us accountable to our work at home. Whether we like to admit it or not, the mere presence of other co-workers around us encourages us to work. Being at home alone means you know no one will notice if you start 20 minutes late or finish up a little early. And in small doses, that is great and a perk of working from home.
However over time it can become a habit. All of a sudden you have an hour or two less in your work day and it is really difficult to deliver on expectations. This causes stress and overwhelm which all comes from slowly and sub consciously developing bad habits due to a lack of accountability. We start to feel entitled to the perks we’ve afforded ourselves and we feel hard done by when they are challenged. In truth, having someone or many people to hold you accountable keeps you aligned to your task and ultimately helps you to be successful. We all need a little accountability.
Promotion
It is harder to get promoted if you are not regularly in the office. I am not saying you don’t deserve it. But no matter what you do, if people are not seeing you, you are not top of mind for opportunities. I am not saying it is fair or right. But we have to be seen to be working hard to be rewarded. It is just part of the politics of work.
Well Being
Productivity is important, yes but the real driver for writing this post to about the downsides to being able to work from home is to shine a light on how damaging it can be for us as individuals.
Sense Of Purpose
As ridiculous as it may sound, having somewhere to be by a certain time every day gives us purpose. And as human beings, we crave purpose. Being able to work from home means we can get lazy. We don’t have to look after our appearance properly. We don’t have to get up more than 5 minutes before our first call.
These things mean we start the day off without breakfast or any healthy habits. We trick ourselves into believing we will tend to our needs later. However it rarely happens. Soon we are opting for camera off and to participate in online meetings as little as possible. Again a chill day is good every now and then but over time, we can really lose ourselves in this. It is not good for us or our mental health.
Social Interaction & Loneliness
As an introvert myself, often given the choice, I opt out of social interactions. And working from home allows me to do this on a whole new level. But that doesn’t mean it is good for me. Working from home can be a very lonely existence. And it leads to increased anxiety for people who already find social situations intimidating.
Social interaction at the office is free. It gives us our daily dose of other people. And whether we feel like we want it or not, we do need it. A friend of mine who lives alone told me during the pandemic (via message) that they hadn’t spoken to another human being face to face in 5 days.
This is not healthy but something that can happen very easily in a work from home scenario. And even if it is not you e.g. you have a partner or housemates and so on, think about your co workers. None of us really know in detail how important that social interaction is for others and how much they may rely on it.
Sense Of Community
One of the key things that people look for from a job these days is a sense of community. We hear people talk about it a lot in terms of culture and belonging. The reality is we do not get community from the same places we used to.
The first community you are part of is that of your family, however of course, at a certain age we move out and start to live our own lives. Another community from the past is that of religious communities. I am not saying they are gone but they are less prominent in many respects nowadays.
We crave community and belonging but we cannot access this in a work from home only environment. There is no substitute for being there. And by being in the office you can be part of that community. From there you may find like minded people who become friends and you can start to build your own community.
Again, please don’t make the mistake of thinking this is not something you need, we all need it. And if you really don’t care for it yourself, think of the benefit you are providing to those around you just by being there.
In Conclusion
Given the choice, I would probably work from home full time. But I will reluctantly admit that I am happier all round, going into the office even just 1 day per week. It is important to strike a balance and recognise that there are upsides to being able to work from home but there are also downsides. Do you agree? Are there any other downsides that we have forgotten to mention?
Did you enjoy this post? If so you may also like The Upsides To Being Back At The Office. Let us know what you think!