Are You Really Ready to Telecommute?

Telecommuting is a big thing these days: no more commuting
nightmares, more time with the kids, more time for yourself,
flexible hours, increased productivity ... the list goes on
and on.

But what about the DISadvantages? And yes, there are
plenty! Working from home can be a wonderful experience
for some people. For others, it just isn't suitable. Some
of the difficult things about working from home include:

* Constant distractions: a dirty house, the TV, the eager
dog that wants to be walked ... you name it. Do you have
the willpower to ignore distractions and concentrate on
your work?

* 'Out of sight, out of mind': telecommuters may not be
kept 'in the loop' with regards to company announcements,
team issues, whatever. Plus even if you consistently
turn out excellent work, your co-workers and boss may
not see you and therefore they don't really associate
YOU with the high-quality work.

* Obsessive work: your home becomes your office, in a
way, even when you use a separate room as your office.
You may be unable to resist the temptation to do "just
one more thing" ... and before you know it, you spend
much more time working than if you were in the office.

* Pressure to 'prove yourself': telecommuters sometimes
feel the need to prove that they really are much more
productive at home than their coworkers in the office.
This can lead to long hours and significant stress.

* Lack of social contact: some people genuinely enjoy
talking to their co-workers. When they being to work
from home, they don't have that type of social
interaction anymore. It's very easy to feel isolated
and alone.

* Misconceptions about home workers: unfortunate but true,
there are people who believe that anyone who "works from
home" is really just lazing around and having a vacation
day at the company's expense. Can you handle remarks of
this nature from coworkers, or even friends and family?

Everyone focuses on the BENEFITS of telecommuting - no
surprise, since who wouldn't enjoy the comfort and
flexibility of working from home? However, it's important
to also look at the problems surrounding telecommuting.
Make no mistake, telecommuting is a change in LIFESTYLE!
Only you can decide if it's the right one for you.

About the Author

Angela used to telecommute for a large corporation, but now
spends her days running an online business. She is the editor
of Online Business Basics, a newsletter for eBusiness beginners.
Visit her website at http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/
or email her at mailto:angela@onlinebusinessbasics.com