Reasons for Working From Home

The idea of working from home sounds tantalizing to many people who may feel trapped in a more traditional job or who are looking to follow a new career path. What many people do not realize is that there is a lot more to it than a good idea and some basic knowledge. And while there are many reasons to try working from home, not all of them make the decision to work from home a simple one. Here are some common reasons people rationalize when considering working from home.

Family

One of the biggest motivations to try working from home is family. Whether you are a mother or father who want a more flexible schedule to accommodate your children, needing to be home more to care for an aging relative or need the freedom of choosing your own hours to accommodate your spouse's work schedule, working from home can offer a lot of room for flexibility in terms of work hours. Typically, the trade-off for the flexibility in your time is money. While many ads promise the realization of untapped markets and potential earnings, the reality is generally that you will make less than you would at a job with similar responsibilities at a company.

Freedom

One of the biggest reasons that people use to decide to work from home is the perceived freedom that comes with the territory. The visualization of getting up, sauntering over to a computer and working in your bunny slippers then enjoying a leisurely stroll through the park is a far cry from the reality. The truth is that when you work from home, you not only perform the function of the primary job but also that of every other job associated with keeping a business running smoothly. You'll find working from home requires wearing many different hats throughout a given day; you're the boss when things need to get done, then receptionist when fielding calls, the accountant when handling taxes, checks and bills, the creative director when handling your marketing efforts and the janitor when it comes time to do a little spring cleaning.

Flexibility

One of the best benefits of working from home is the aspect of flexibility. Flexibility not just in the hours you keep but also in deciding on how to schedule your task list, how to manage your long-term schedule (vacation time, working nights to free your days). Having the flexibility to adjust your schedule around events, activities and family can be a really big perk of working from home that, while it has no dollar tag attached to it, is a valuable asset.

Control

Not many working stiffs can argue how tantalizing it would be to be the one in charge for a day. Working from home offers just that, not just for one day but every day. Having control over each and every aspect of your business, your schedule, your goals and your business decisions is not a perk, but a requirement. What people don't realize is that running the show means shouldering a large weight of responsibility. You might be doing what you love to do, but you also have to take stock in yourself as a manager, realize your strengths and weaknesses and keep them in mind in each and every decision you make. With the power of running your own business from home also comes the responsibility on ensuring its ongoing survival, which -- depending on whether you are the type of person who thrives on a challenge or buckles under the pressure -- can be a key deciding factor in weighing whether you are work-at-home material or better off as a desk jockey.

Is Working at Home Right for You?

The answer to this question is not a simple one, but one that comes after much self-reflection and planning. While the idea of working from home is appealing from the outside, the realities that come with it once the newness wears off can literally drive people back to working for someone else. There are a lot of pressures and responsibilities that people don't realize exist in working from home, and the home environment itself can prove to be far too big a distraction for some people to work successfully in.
Many people find that discussing the possibility of part-time or full-time telecommuting with their current employer can be a mutually beneficial situation and a compromise to jumping off the edge into a full work-at-home situation.
Taking the time to honestly evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, expectations, goals and developing a solid foundation and plan can make the difference between a successful work-at-home situation or a one-way ticket to the want ads.