subject: Benefits Of Working From An Office Instead Of Home [print this page] Benefits Of Working From An Office Instead Of Home
Whole industries try to sell telecommuting as a lifestyle that is for everyone. The idea of working in your night clothes whilst watching television before you have even brushed your teeth or taken a shower is one that attracts residents not just in the U.K. but all over the world. However, the ideal and the reality are actually two different things. It certainly may be true that some function better in that capacity, but most people require more structure to maintain a productive work life. Those who can work from home will often admit that the dream is just that. The ones who are successful at it will attest that working from home requires perhaps an even greater commitment and longer hours in order to do it correctly. That's why working from an office has many benefits to the common person in the workforce. First of all, it requires one to stick to a set schedule. Routines are important for productivity. Studies show that those who follow a set routine often earn more and accomplish more in a given day. Telecommuters even much prefer a daily routine for these same reasons. The problem for them, however, is that no one is making them stick to a schedule. When there is an office to go to and a set schedule, everyday employees typically have an easier time staying on focus. Secondly, working in an office removes the various distractions that home life can bring. Even the best intentions from the telecommuter can be derailed by sick children, a full refrigerator, or the myriad forms of entertainment available. It just gets too easy to watch a movie or play a video game when you should be working. Office workers have an easier time devoting themselves to the tasks that must be accomplished for the day. Thirdly, when you work at an office, you can leave work at work. People who work from their home often find themselves working twice as much in a given day than office workers because they cannot separate themselves from leisure and the feeling of "getting ahead." The human brain, however, is no different in that it must recharge its batteries. Office workers get that chance while telecommuters often deprive themselves of like opportunities. Finally, working in an office allows one to develop healthy work relationships that can also spill over into a healthy social life. For home workers, it becomes easy to feel cut off from civilization. Feelings of isolation and loneliness are more prevalent among single people who work at home, and family life can often cause unwelcome stress when it spills over into their world of work. While working in an office may occasionally become taxing, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
