Working From Home (WFH)

As the trend of working from home (WFH) increases I figured I would weigh in on the topic, since I do WFH often. There are pros and cons so lets start with the cons.

Cons

1. Time Management: Keeping on task can be a challenge especially if you are new to WFH.
2. Isolation: WFH can be isolating and depressing as you may not actually interact with very many people in the real world.
3. Perception that you don't Work: For those around you who don't WFH it may seem to them that you just aren't working. I think this stems from the fact that many people know deep down they would struggle with WFH time management themselves. However it is important to make sure those around you and especially colleagues understand you work just as much as everyone else. This negative perception could result in less respect at work and impact your annual reviews and compensation.

Pros

1. Resources: This isn't true for all jobs however in a technical job such as quantitative finance I require a vast amount of educational resources such as books and access to specific websites to conduct research. Many companies block crucial websites such as YouTube or Stack Overflow and it can be difficult to convince companies to unblock these for specific teams. Also many companies do not provide desks with book cases that can be locked. I have about 20-30 books I use for programming, statistics, economics, and finance. If they aren't locked I have seem them walk off as someone has borrowed one and forget to give it back. WFH is a benefit because I can use my personal laptop and books for research.
2. Health: I struggle to exercise and eat healthy however WFH makes this a bit easier. I use my lunch break or other time saved from commuting to exercise and cook healthier meals.
3. Better use of Time: While WFH it is easier to get small errands done during your lunch or before or after work. Overall it is easier to manage both your work and personal time together.
4. Commute Time: By working from home it saves me around 80-120 minutes each day. This time can be better utilized to finish projects for work or for personal tasks.
5. Lack of Colleague Stress: There can be times at work when a meeting is stressful or a colleague is getting on your nerves. It can be difficult to pull yourself out of the situation at work however while WFH it is easier to take a break and do something like read a book or go on a walk to reset yourself for the rest of your work day. I have found this to improve my mood and other interactions with colleagues throughout the day.

Tips

WFH seems great however there are challenges involved. I have found a few tips to keep me on task and actually make me more productive that working in the office.

1. Designation Office: I have found it much easier to stay on task if I have a designated area that is my office space. Having this space keeps me focused during work and helps divide my work life from my personal life.
2. Go into the Office: I really do like WFH however I have found that being able to go into the office helps reset my work schedule and keeps me up to date with the office culture and politics.

Compensation: I don't view WFH as a right but as part of my compensation. I think many people who WFH forget that it is a benefit and in reality it is part of your compensation. Keep this in mind and be grateful you have this type of compensation available.

If you WFH, what are some things you do to keep on track? Check out my video below if you want more details on WFH. Also don't forget to follow me on LinkedIn or Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more weekly content!