Working from home has a few downsides, but it's mostly a good thing. Here are seven ways that working from home can improve your life.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to make your own hours? Do you ever wish you could stay home in your pajamas and work from your couch?

These are just a couple of the benefits to working from home.

But, working from home doesn’t have to mean never getting out of bed or always staying in your pajamas, either. Many people who work from home have a designated office and “go to work” just like other employees.

Some people still put on their business clothes to work from home, and there’s still something great about that. The beauty of working from home, in my opinion, begins and ends with more freedom.

1. Have a Flexible Schedule

If you’re like me, working is just a means to survive in this crazy world. You may have other things you prefer spending your time doing, like art, music, or outdoor activities.

When you’re able to create your own schedule, you have the flexibility to do more things you enjoy doing.

Working from home often requires that you work from a computer or laptop, and that gives you even more flexibility. If you’d like to travel, you can take your work with you.

Kick back on the beach and respond to work emails, or spend a day in the mountains after you finish your work from the comfort of a hotel room.

Having the freedom of flexibility gives you the opportunity for an optimal work-life balance.

2. Avoid the Commute

Driving to work through rush-hour traffic can be the most aggravating part of your day.

If you leave five minutes later than usual, you run the risk of being thirty minutes late for work, and that’s just plain frustrating.

Working from home saves you that extra hour of commuting time. Imagine if you had an extra hour every day? What would you do with it?

Instead of spending that hour fuming behind the wheel, give yourself the gift of a fifteen-minute meditation or yoga session and start your workday calm and centered.

It goes without saying that one less car on the road every day is much better for the environment, too!

3. Have Control Over Your Environment

You might like to play loud music to get into your workflow, but that can come across as pretty inconsiderate in an office environment.

But, if you work at home alone, you can blast that music all day long and be as productive as you’d like without bothering a single person.

Maybe you hate working at a desk, or you feel trapped inside a cubicle.

When you work from home, you can set up your office to maximize your focus and productivity.

4. Complete Household Tasks Usually Reserved for the Weekend

If you finish your work early, you can do some of the household tasks you’d otherwise have to do at night or on weekends. Mow the lawn, wash and fold laundry, or deep clean the kitchen and spend your Saturday relaxing instead.

You can complete small household tasks during quick breaks, as well.

Breaking up your workday with small household tasks keeps you focused when you’re working and relieves the stress of chores when the weekend comes around.

5. Save Some Money

Working from home can help you save extra cash, as well.

If you’ve ever gotten into the habit of ordering out at work, you know this money adds up. Working from home might make you less likely to eat out, since your own kitchen is only steps away.

Remember that hour-long daily commute to work? That trip requires fuel, which certainly amounts to a sizable sum at the end of every month. Working from home eliminates that cost almost entirely.

6. Have Enjoyable and Effective Work Relationships

Remember those coworkers interrupting your workflow with their weekend stories? Imagine only having to see them a couple of times per week, if at all.

Many companies with remote employees meet virtually only a few days per week.

If you’ve ever taken part in regular in-person staff meetings, you’ve probably witnessed some heated discussions. These arguments often arise from the stress of a nine-to-five grind, and they usually end up stifling productivity.

When employees work from home, everyone is comfortable, which creates a relaxed working environment and promotes productivity.

Seeing your coworkers less often makes the time you spend with them more valuable and enjoyable.

7. More Time With the People You Value Most

The best part about working from home is being able to spend more time with the people you love.

If you’re a parent, being home when your kids come back from school makes the end of the day that much more rewarding.

Better yet, working from home gives you the opportunity to go and pick them up from school!

You’ll have more time to spend with your close friends and other relatives, as well. Forget staying late to complete a task — just take a break and come back to it when your kids have gone to bed.

Working at home takes the stress off of you because you know that you’ll be around whenever they’re home.

Conclusion

Working from home isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer to keep their home life and work life separated, and that’s okay.

But if you’re like me and prefer a flexible schedule and more time to spend with loved ones, then working from home might be a great career move for you.

Adam Marshall is a freelance writer who specializes in all things apartment organization, real estate, and college advice. He currently works with The Reserve at Orono to help them with their online marketing.