The perks and pitfalls of internet jobs at home by ericwelke

Articles from EricWelke.com The Perks and Pitfalls of Internet Jobs at Home by Eric Welke

Home based worker numbers are increasing and it’s not just freelancers. Major companies are now seriously exploring this work model too. This is mainly due to the cost and time advantages that are very attractive to both employer and worker. I prefer to call this work model “internet jobs at home” because the trend wouldn’t have been possible without the internet. Whether you’re, a freelancer or full-time remote worker, internet jobs at home feature a lot of sought after perks. At the same time, there are also a few seemingly minor pitfalls that you need to get on top of before they ruin your whole internet jobs at home experience. I’ve listed down some of the perks that people often mention when working at home. 1. Frees up time – this is the single biggest draw to working at home. Time that would’ve been used for traveling to work can now be spent on other productive work, family or personal development. 2. More relaxed work environment – since there are no dress codes, minimal office politics and no direct supervision, worker stress is significantly reduced. 3. Fewer resources are spent – this is true for both the company and the worker. Businesses reduce expenses on facilities and equipment. Workers save money on gas, meals and clothes. It’s more environmentally friendly too, if you like keeping track of the reduction in emissions. Pitfalls are present but are generally easy to mitigate. Most actually come from abusing the benefits provided by internet jobs at home. 1. Susceptible to working beyond reasonable hours – typically experienced by workers who want to earn extra on the time freed up by working at home. There’s also the income factor: home based work earns lower pay and the best way to make up the difference is to take on multiple jobs. Work-life balance is affected because some people just don’t know where to stop. The end result is worker burn-out which is ironic because working from home is supposed to help avoid it in the first place. 2. Quality of work suffers due to lack of supervision – only an issue if worker is

not result oriented. Self-supervision is a skill that has to be present before someone tries to work out of the office. It must be continually developed to ensure that productivity and professionalism are preserved. 3. Isolation from work colleagues – this can be a problem if a home based worker doesn’t have an easily accessible support group. There are plenty of forums online that can help out. Networking with people from the same company and regular web cam meetings also help.

4. Too many distractions that affect productivity – this is can be fixed by ample preparations and a disciplined approach to work. The easiest solution is to work in separate area of the house that is isolated from the usual house hold activities. Online distractions are another matter and require self-discipline and dedication to work. To make working from home a truly productive and enjoyable experience, here are a few reminders you might want to note down: Schedule your work – stick to a schedule. You might be at home and your bedroom easy to reach, but you’ll discover how hard it is to get plenty of sleep once you start working. Scheduling your work properly will keep you sane and productive. Schedule Vacations – working from home is not a vacation; no matter how often regular workers tell you. You need a break from work and your surroundings from time to time. Vacations refresh you and make you a better worker. Try to go on one at least a few times a year. Get moving! – it may seem like its healthier but working from home regularly tends to exacerbate a sedentary lifestyle. Implement a health regimen and stick to it religiously. Take quick breaks often when you’re working just to stand up and walk around for a few minutes. Rest your eyes too, from time to time and try to keep a glass of water or juice nearby to keep you hydrated.