Working from home sounds fantastic! Let’s look at the best benefits.
If you are late to the game of Remote Work like I was- there is a fair amount of research you are doing about it to see if this is a good next step for your career or not. I had to really weigh the pros and cons of working remotely when I was considering a job change.
Let’s take a few minutes to look at these top 5 benefits of being a remote worker and if this is a fit for you.
1. Decreases Or Eliminates Your Commuting Time And Expenses
Most people appreciate ditching the commute when switching to remote work.
My primary vehicle is a 2005 gas guzzling Toyota Landcruiser. Yes, it’s an amazing car. The only downside to that vehicle is the gas milage, but I had a short commute.
It cost about $1.00 for a one-way trip to my previous workplace- or $2.00 per day. However, multiply that by 20 workdays a week, and we are up to at least $40 per month in gas just to get me to work and home.
With a remote job, I can now spend more time on a meaningful morning routine, and less time just worrying about getting to work.
Let’s also look at lunch.
I really didn’t like bringing sandwiches and chips like a 4th grader to my workplace- but I did for a long time. The past few years, I “upgraded” myself to some frozen lunch bowls that would run $3.00 to $5.00 per meal. I would eat these most days of the week. Averaging that to $4.00 per meal- that’s around $80.00 for just lunch a month.
Now with working remote, I can just head to the kitchen and eat what I have available for lunch saving me almost $1000 a year on lunches.
Let’s not even factor in the occasional coffee/treat from the local coffee shop I would occasionally visit. If I keep that out of my new life, that could be a substantial savings too.
At a minimum, I am saving about $120 a month, or $1440 a year on gas, and lunches.
With expenses out of the way, let’s look at some of the more intangible benefits of being a remote worker.
2. Remote Work Allows For Greater Flexibility In Life
On of the intangible benefits of being a remote worker is having added flexibility in daily life.
Just today at lunch, my spouse joined me on a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood. We were able to talk about what challenges life holds without thinking about the kids, what’s for dinner, or any other distractions. It was the middle of the day, with nothing going on but time with her.
I also was able to give my daughter a hug this morning as she prepared to leave for school. I couldn’t do that with my previous job.
Yesterday, I greeted my son as he walked in from the bus and we were able to recap his day- something I would usually do when we were saying goodnight.
I am finding cracks of time with those I love that I didn’t have before. These cracks of time add up to a lot more interaction over the years.
This is just the flexibility of daily life. What about the added freedom to move and work anywhere in the country (for some, the world)? Adding it up, this is definitely a benefit of working remote.
3. Remote Work Can Give You Blocks Of Time To Use
My line of work is patient centered, so this may or may not become a reality. However, I recall in my previous clinic, I would spend a lot of time with my door closed so that I could focus on reviewing a patient chart, writing a note, or preparing to see a patient. Now I keep my door closed to the office, but there is not as much concern for distraction.
4. Remote Work Allows You To Work During Emergencies
Whatever disaster befalls us- being able to see patients in Michigan when a big storm is pending will only be beneficial. Hurricane in Florida? Well- if they have remote access, I can see them. So, this may prove very helpful in that way.
5. Remote Work Can Have Less Stress Compared To Being In An Office
My job tends to come with a fair amount of stress- no matter where it occurs- either in the clinic or in a Tele-Clinic. However, having a geographical boundary (I am seeing them on the computer instead of right in front of me in the office) may be a benefit, and maybe less stressful.
One could argue there are even more and greater benefits to working remotely than these- what do you think?