Pros and Cons of Working at Home

I am officially part of the "work from home" workforce again. I have worked from home before but never to this extent. This new chapter in my life is scary, but I'm looking forward to growing as a freelancer.

I freelance as a writer and photographer in the Tampa Bay area. I write on a few blogs such as www.thefamousashleygrant.com and own More Than Photographs, a full service photography company. I've quickly learned the pros and cons of working from home.

Pros

You are already home at the end of your work day. There is no commuting unless you are meeting clients, running errands or attending networking events.

For the most part you can work in your pajamas. Haven't you ever been at work wishing you could be home in your lounge clothes?

You save money on food. You don't have to worry about eating out as much because you can fix breakfast, lunch and dinner between assignments and tasks.

You can set your own hours. If you are a night owl and your work doesn't require calling people or corresponding during normal business hours, it's easy to change your schedule. As a freelance writer I feel pretty fortunate that I can write an article at two in the morning or two in the afternoon.

Working from home could help you save on taxes. There are write-offs available for folks that work from home. Check in with www.irs.gov to find out what write-offs are available.

I can schedule a nap time! This is huge for me because after a nap I'm a lot more productive. I also schedule in my work out time because doing it in the middle of the day sometimes just works better for me.

Everything I need is in one place. My camera, my equipment, my computer and all of my files are all in one place. I don't worry about leaving things at the office or leaving things at home anymore, unless of course I have to work out of the office for a photo shoot or interview for a story.

Cons

You become your own boss. You have to be disciplined enough to get your work done because there is no one there daily to keep you in check.

People expect that you can do things during the day. It's hard for people to comprehend that you can't meet them for lunch or coffee. Can't you just do your work later? No! Leaving your home office can wreck your whole day.

You are on your own. It gets lonely. You may think that it is easier to get work done in peace and quiet, but sometimes the lack of office chatter can drive you crazy. I've actually turned on the radio at a low volume just to mimic the noises in an office.

Lots more to buy! You'll be in charge of keeping printer paper and ink. You have to have the phone line up and running. Paperclips, highlights and all the office supplies you take for granted in an office you will be responsible for keeping in the home office.

Separation of home and office. You have to force yourself not to look at the clothes that need to be washed or the dishes that should be cleaned. When you are at work, you have to work. Save the home stuff for when you "get home".

I'm sure there are several more pros and cons. These are just the main ones that have affected me so far. Please check out my blog www.thefamousashleygrant.com and my photography website at www.morethanphotographs.com.