Switching to working from home, or even reducing time spent in the office means you could get more done, have greater flexibility and more time for the things that matter
Here’s the low-down on why a home office is a sound investment for your career, well-being and work-life balance:
1 You’ll up your productivity
Instead of having to attend endless, unproductive meetings, you can spend more time getting stuff done. A major 2017 study led by Stanford Graduate School Of Business Professor Nicholas Bloom, which focused on employees of China’s largest travel agency, found that call centre workers who switched to home-working saw their productivity increase by 13 per cent1. They also took fewer sick days (perhaps thanks to avoiding those bugs that do the rounds in air-conditioned offices).
2 You’ll have better-quality, deeper thoughts
Open-plan offices are hugely distracting. Even in companies with designated “thought pods” or meeting rooms, they may well be unavailable when you need them most, and interruptions are likely. “Particularly if you are a reflective type or an introvert, you won’t have your best ideas in a forum where everyone is competing for attention,” says Corinne Mills, joint managing director of Personal Career Management. A small, but perfectly formed home office will facilitate your ability to enter a state of deep thought and “flow” uninterrupted.
3 You’ll reduce time wasted on office politics
“In some workplaces, it can be virtually impossible to avoid getting drawn into who said what to whom, however much you intend to stay out of it. Politics can be a huge drain on mental resources, and it’s hard to disengage when you’re in the thick of it,” says Edinburgh-based chartered business psychologist Ben Williams. “When you work from home, you can opt out. This means you won’t be affected by colleagues’ upset and anger.”
4 It’s easier to make time for self-care
“When you don’t have to waste time commuting and you get through more work because you no longer get sidetracked, it’s far easier to find time to fit in yoga, a dog walk or meditation,” says Mills. “Some big companies try to replicate this, offering pilates at lunchtime and creating spaces for meditation, but it goes without saying that the terms of these self-care opportunities are as a general rule inflexible.”
5 You can customise a home-work space
Being in nature could improve your mood and reduce stress, according to mental health charity Mind2. A view of your garden is the next best thing, so a loft based study, is a great place to start. Failing that, invest in some houseplants. Try snake plants, aloe vera or spider plants, which are great at purifying indoor environments.
6 You’ll feel more in control of your life
Home working gives you greater autonomy which in turn helps to achieve better work-life balance. Where you don’t have the office peer pressure of not wanting to be the first out of the office, stress levels drop significantly.
7 You’re more likely to take proper breaks
Repeated studies show that the average UK lunch hour has been on the decrease for the past few decades: it’s down to 22 minutes, according to a poll last year led by hospitality company Sodexo3. The pressure to skip lunch – or take the bare minimum of time away from the office – intensifies when it’s a company-wide habit.
8 You’ll reduce your carbon footprint and get a feelgood kick-back
When the environmental challenge facing our planet feels insurmountable, it is good to feel you are doing something. Ditching your commute (particularly if it’s a long one), could significantly reduce your carbon footprint. The Carbon Trust gives the example of Cisco, where the average employee “telecommutes” two or three days each week, avoiding 35 million miles of commuting per year, reducing Cisco’s annual carbon emissions by 17,000 tonnes4.
9 Your relationships will benefit
Research shows that more flexible working practices are good news for marriage and family relationships, “with the caveat that you need to create your own boundaries around technology and designated ‘family time’”, says Williams. If your partner can work from home too, a dual workstation is a great solution.
10 You can eat more healthily without spending a fortune
Making a big salad packed with delicious and nutritious veg is easy at home, and you won’t be tempted to grab a groundhog-day sandwich or spend the best part of £10 on a healthy takeaway.
Reposted from telegraph.co.uk
Original article can be found at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/interiors/well-being-benefits-of-working-from-home/
