Why I enjoy working from home

Zara dress | Dune London shoes and bag | Fitbit watch | Zara earrings

Hi everyone! 2020 has had many catchphrases that we’ve heard over and over again but the one I love the most is “work from home.”  While I know this method of working is not for everyone, it’s been absolutely ideal for me.  Here are a few reasons why I enjoy working from home.

1. Time-saving strategy

If I think of the amount of time it takes me to prep and pack my lunch and snacks, check that my bag is packed, climb in my car and sit in traffic to get to and from work, it’s unreal how much time is lost.  The same amount of time can be allotted to such beneficial tasks when working from home.

In my last post, we started the Halloween Hayride readathon and, thanks to the amount of time I was saving in travel time, I was able to dedicate so much time to reading.  In total, I read 6 books which I’m over the moon about because I don’t think that would have been possible if I was commuting.  An extra hour a day to read really compounds quickly.

I’ve also loved being able to take the mornings to do things that fuel rather than rush me.  Having managed to read a decent chunk, do a yoga session/go on a dog walk and attend to my garden before business hours, I’m able to start the day in a really peaceful and productive mindset.  The amount of work I’m able to tackle after already having done so much with my morning really puts a smile on my face and makes me feel as though I’m achieving absolutely everything I would wish to.

2. No interruptions & distractions

I realise each person’s work-from-home experience is different.  Some are sharing desk space with children and a spouse who is taking conference calls in the bedroom in order for you to take one from the study.  For me, however, I’ve had absolutely no distractions because my husband is a doctor and has been working in the hospitals right throughout the pandemic so the workday has been an opportunity for me to get my work done with fewer distractions than ever before.  No one appearing at my desk for a chat.  No noise from open-plan environments.  No photostat machine whizzing.  No phones ringing.  Only pure, undisturbed silence to focus my thoughts on my tasks at hand.

Many people have complained about missing human interaction while working from home, but I have always struggled with a noisy work environment so, while not for everyone, this has been a huge plus for me.  I think the fact that my job in the legal world involves so much reading also speaks to the need for a quiet space to allow for concentration while not everyone’s jobs are similar.  In terms of focus, working from home has been the gold standard for me in this respect.

3. Breaks with fresh air

I cannot describe how grateful I’ve been to be able to stand up from my desk and step outside and watch the birds in the trees, stretch my legs in the garden and breathe in fresh air which is not something that I’m able to do in the office at all.  That little bit of sunshine while I wait for the kettle to boil for my tea is so good for recharging.  All the healthy working habits you may read encourage frequent breaks and stretching the body so I always strive to do so but being able to get outside an airconditioned environment and into my garden feels like a holiday.  Sometimes work can be really stressful and, at times, incredibly frustrating but 5 minutes in the garden can shift your entire mindset.  Time spent this way at regular intervals makes for such a productive workflow and it makes me so happy at the same time.  It’s a huge win.

4. Catching up on laundry

Who doesn’t enjoy the fact that lunch breaks can also double as an opportunity to put on a fresh load of laundry?  Staying on top of household tasks while still working effectively is fantastic.  It means that they don’t build up at all an there are only ever small tasks to do throughout the day rather than 1 full hour to do after work which suits me wonderfully.  If I was at the office each day, a break from my desk wouldn’t accomplish much other than walking to the bathroom and back or scrolling on my phone which is a total of a waste of time.  Breaks are needed and if that means catching up on laundry to split up tasks, that’s a real bonus.

In my mind, there is a time for work and a time for play.  By the time the weekend rolls around, I’m very eager to get out of the house and spend time with friends and family.  In terms of work, however, my home office environment has been a dream come true.  I feel less stressed and so much more productive so I’m really over the moon with that outcome.  I know it’s not the same for everyone, though, so I’d love to hear your thoughts on working from home in the comments below!