There are more chances now than ever to be flexible with your working and with good reason. Here are 7 ways remote working can benefit wellbeing and productivity…
OddsMonkey recently polled 2,000 full-time, part-time, and self-employed people in the UK to discover more about their commuting and working from home habits. By doing so, we uncovered the top reasons why people prefer remote working when it comes to health and wellbeing, both of which can have a knock-on effect on productivity. So, whether you’re an employer thinking about implementing it in your workplace or an employee who wants to put the idea forward, below are seven ways working from home can benefit you.
You don’t have to commute
If the thought of not having to squeeze onto the tube during morning rush hour at least once a week doesn’t convince you that remote working is great, I don’t know what will. Our research found that the average full-time British worker who doesn’t work from home spends around 164 hours commuting to and from their workplace annually — that’s almost 1 week per year. Plus, the daily commute is costing workers an average of £1,728 per year, so by working from home you’ll not only save time but money too.
You can wear what you want
In our poll, being able to wear what you want was the number one reason why people prefer to work at home. In fact, 48% of respondents said it was a factor. While most offices today have more casual dress codes than workplaces previously, meaning many of us wear relaxed clothing like jeans and a shirt with no tie, at home you can take it even further by turning up to work in your snuggliest pyjamas or holey jogging bottoms without worrying about looking unprofessional.
You can customise your environment
Environment can have a big impact on your mood, from the temperature to the amount of light you have access to. At home, you can have the heating on or off as you please, customise your lighting system, and even go so far as to change up your desk and chair if they don’t feel right to work on. You have total control over where you work and can make the necessary adjustments to make it as comfortable as possible, so nothing can distract you from important tasks.
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You can accept home deliveries
Being in to receive a parcel was another major benefit of working from home, according to our poll. Most of us use online shopping for a vast range of important items, from groceries to office supplies, yet being out of the house from 9–5 five days a week makes missing the post an all too common occurrence. That’s why 45% of respondents cited staying in to accept these deliveries as an important factor in their choosing to work from home.
You can spend more time with loved ones
Understandably, 39% of our poll said spending time at home with family or pets was a key benefit of working from home. While most places advise against using remote working as a substitute to childcare for productivity reasons, being around your friends and family in your home is a great way to catch up and be present in their lives rather than stuck away from them in an office.
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You can catch up on household chores
We’ve already mentioned that a comfortable environment is good for productivity, but a tidy home can also help bust stress and anxiety that could prevent you from concentrating properly on your work. Getting more time to do household chores is another benefit of working from home that 37% of our respondents identified as important.
These are just some of the ways that working from home can lead happier, more productive staff. Whether you’re an employer or an employee, it’s a system that’s worth looking into.
