Especially since the pandemic, many workplaces have embraced work-from-home and hybrid options. While many people have expressed the pros and cons of these kind of work environments, there’s only one question you need to be asking yourself as you enter a job hunt: what workspace is right for me?
What does working from home entail?
Working from home is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a way for you to complete your workday without having to go to a set location. All of your work can be completed remotely from the comfort of your very own living room or home office. The perks of working from home especially favor those with disabilities, who cannot properly be accommodated to certain physical locations, but they are also great for expanding the horizons of job seekers—eliminating the need to move or live in a specific place to work for a certain company.
Is working from home right for me?
Working from home looks different on a case-by-case basis. Before accepting a job offer to work from home, it’s important to ask the right questions. How is your work day monitored? Is it even monitored? Will there ever be a point where you’ll have to come into the office? What programs are utilized to keep up with employee connection and communication? All of these questions can have an effect on your experience with the work from home format.
If you’re someone who can utilize a space in your home for work and stay on task without distractions or don’t have access to the necessary transportation to travel to certain locations, working from home can be a great option. But if you need to keep your work life separate from your home life to fully commit to your work day, it might not be the best option for you.
Your ability to accommodate to the following may also be helpful in determining if working from home is best for you:
- Utilize a home office. If you can, designate one room where you’ll do your work. Try not to do anything else in that room. If you don’t have the extra space, set up a desk or table that’s dedicated to work.
- Create a morning routine. It may be tempting to sleep in and stay in your pajamas all day, but believe it or not, doing this gets old after a while. A morning routine will help you prepare for work and set you on the path to a productive day.
- Keep a schedule. It’s important to maintain boundaries between your work and home life. If you have a home office, shut that door at the end of the day. Close your computer and walk away. Decompressing after work can be difficult when you’re at home, but setting a schedule helps you maintain that boundary so you can switch your attention from work to home.
- Stay connected. You may have to find unique ways to stay connected with your coworkers without a common meeting place. Video conferencing, messaging platforms and email can be a great way to do this.
Check out these work from strategies for your home office or designated workspace.
But what exactly is a hybrid role?
A hybrid role is a mix of working at the actual location of your job and working remotely. It may consist of working from home a few days a week and going to the job site the other days. There are many schedules and situations possible with hybrid work, so it’s important to understand the details. You’ll need to decide if the job type is right for your lifestyle, ask the right questions of a possible employer and look for hybrid positions in reputable places.
Is hybrid right for you?
Working a few days from home each week can sound ideal. However, does this match with your home life? It’s important to make sure you have a comfortable and quiet place to work from home, uninterrupted. Make sure you have an atmosphere where you can concentrate on your work and be productive.
Also, consider your own personality. Are you the type of person who needs a great deal of in-person interaction each day? If so, being at home, isolated from co-workers a few days a week may have a negative effect on your mental health.
Think about the few days a week you will need to report to work. Are these days worrisome for you due to a long commute? Are you easily distracted working in a busy office setting? It’s a good idea to think clearly about your own needs.
You may find you need a fully remote job and not a hybrid. You may even find you need to be on location each day to be the most productive. Whatever you decide, take time to think about your employment and personal needs.
