Is Remote Work for You?

Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has been steadily rising within American work culture. One study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that remote work accounted for 50 percent of paid work hours from April to December 2020. In comparison, only 5% of work was remote before the pandemic.

Now that businesses in America have had a taste of remote work, both companies and employees have had significant shifts in opinion regarding working from home. An Upwork survey reported that around 60% of companies were planning more remote work, even after the pandemic. Despite its newfound popularity, remote work comes with its own set of pros and cons that can change based on your personality, habits, and work preferences.

Lucy Lyle, entrepreneur and former CEO of Perch, said, “Based on my experience, the self-motivated employees who know how to create a good work environment for themselves tend to do best with remote work.” Lucy Lyle continued, “If you know how to budget your time, you can even get some fresh air or take up a hobby, which can help your mental health and make you more productive.”

Studies have shown that these aspects can increase work productivity, along with other factors such as eliminating the distraction of workplace socializing. However, not everyone may be suited for remote work.

“If you’re a procrastinator or your house has a lot of distractions in it, it might be harder to get what you want out of remote work. You’ll only be more productive if you’re willing to get organized and set boundaries. Know yourself before you commit to a remote work routine,” Lucy Lyle advised.