I’ve always considered working from home a privilege, and rightly so, because in this part of the world where I come from, a traditional in-person role is the norm and it comes with much more responsibility and discomfort that could make one wish they could carry out their tasks remotely.
I’ve experienced working from home and I’ve also tried going to the office five times a week. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but I can firmly say that the former has more benefits than the latter, especially for those of us who live in countries where the government rarely subsidizes anything for citizens and most employers aren’t sensitive or capable of understanding the plights of their employees.
I got introduced to remote jobs as a student in 2022, and by 2023, I had started getting small jobs to build my portfolio. Eventually, I secured a stable contract with a client. During this period, I realized how easy and comfortable work can be. In an office role, I would usually ensure I selected and ironed my work outfits for all five days of the week, then wake up every morning at about 5am to prepare my meals to take to work since I didn’t eat out a lot. But with my remote job, I had the luxury of going about my day without too much pressure. There was no outfit selection fatigue, no worries about wearing a rumpled dress when the power situation was extremely bad, plus I had the flexibility to prepare my meals and eat anytime I liked without causing any form of discomfort to a colleague who would naturally be sitting close to me in an office setting.
I also prefer working from home because it cuts down the cost of many things like transportation, which has been on the high side for the past two years. Anyone could argue that the equipment that aids remote work is also expensive, and they would be correct, but those gadgets and facilities are often one-time purchases. You buy an affordable router, a strong power bank for your mobile or laptop, make a budget for data every month, and you’re off to a great start. I did these and over time, I realized that the ROI is higher compared to paying for transportation every day or buying fuel for your car at least twice a week. There's also the stress of sitting through traffic to and fro and this alone makes working from home a much better experience because that factor is non-existent for remote workers.
Another reason why I enjoy working from home is the overall comfort. In my workspace, there’s no boss constantly policing my outfit, my mood, or my tone of speaking. I can wear whatever I like, put on my sad or angry face instead of pretending for the sake of professionalism, and speak as often or as little depending on how I feel. At home, no colleague tries to pry into my personal business or engage me in gossip that could potentially lead to issues. Unlike the office, when I work from home, no one tries to be physically inappropriate with me simply because they find me attractive. In fact, the access to do that doesn't exist.
Lastly, I will always choose remote working because of the work-life balance it brings. It gives me more control over my professional responsibilities as well as my personal relationships, health, and wellness. I can receive visitors for a short time, take other important calls, and find time to bond with family during the day without having to seek permission or explain myself all the time. When I work from home, nobody is capable of taking advantage of my physical availability simply because I’m a junior staff or colleague. My working hours are also flexible and this helps me structure my schedule to meet work demands without sacrificing any part of my well-being.
All of this makes it easy to choose a life where remote work is an option, and if I have that opportunity until retirement, I will not hesitate to grab it because it brings more benefits to my life compared to a traditional office role.
This post is a response to the Ladies of Hive weekly contest, from which I answered both questions.
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