Yes, I’m about to drop a huge bomb. Working from home might be the dream for a lot of people, for many reasons. But today I’m here to tell you about why working from home sucks. Don’t mistake this post for being ungrateful or moaning (although I am moaning a bit), I love what I do. Just trying to keep it real *peace*.
Just for a bit of context, I’ve been working from home for a good few years now. Unintentionally at first, I was just at home a lot because my anxiety and general well-being was down the pan and I could barely leave the house. Then I started an online book tour business for authors. And that shut down.
Then I became a full time blogger (although I’ve had my blog since 2013 and just did it as a hobby for a large chunk of time before earning any money from it). Okay now we’re caught up (I sound like the narrator in Jane the Virgin).
So to sum it up, I’ve had a lot of years experience of working from home. And don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love what I do. Blogging, creating content and resources and growing my brand is my biggest passion. It’s literally all I think about. But I’m painfully aware of how “different” my work life is to most other people.
And there’s reasons why working from home might not be for everyone, even if spending 24 hours a day with your dog and always being 4 steps away from the fridge seems like the dream. Here are 8 reasons why working from home sucks:
Judgement
Let’s get this one out the way first. If you say you work from home, approximately 50% of people will assume you’re lazy and you don’t do anything all day. It’s shit but it’s true. Yes, I have the luxury of spending some days in my PJ’s if I’m not feeling very well but PJ’s or not, I’m still working.
Lack of activity
Although I make damn sure I do Yoga every morning (and sometimes one other time during the day too) there’s no doubt that working from home has decreased my activity a lot. And physically, I can see and feel it. I’m not at my ideal weight and before I started getting back into Yoga again, my blood pressure had even increased.
Productivity
Thankfully, a lack of productivity isn’t something I deal with often. But it’s inevitable sometimes, when you work from home, that distractions are going to get in the way. Like the dog barking. Knocks at the door. Other people in the house. Etc, etc. You seriously have to hold yourself accountable for everything that you do.
The internet going down
A big reason why working from home sucks is because when your internet goes down, you’re screwed. If the internet is down in an office, everyone is in the same boat. But I rely on my internet every single day so when there’s a fault in the area (which, with the current provider I’m on, is more often than not), it means I can’t work. Literally.
It literally doesn’t matter where you are in the world, this is something that you have to contend with. Whether you’re in the UK like me, or across the pond and looking for internet providers las vegas area. People all around the world have to manage their internet connections when working from home.
A less than ideal work space
When you work from home, you have to make do with what you have. So if you don’t have an office in your house and can’t afford one or don’t have the space to make one, you have to make do without. Which sadly is my situation at the moment. I don’t have a desk or a proper office chair so I pretty much have constant back pain from sitting like a fucking tool whilst on my laptop. Big, big, big reason why working from home sucks (in my case).
Lack of stimulation
I mean, I’m sure a commute on the TFL in Liverpool Street isn’t the biggest form of stimulation but after years of working from home, alone, you begin to get a bit bored of staring at the same walls. Not much happens in my day. The post man comes sometimes. And the gardener. But other than that, I’ve not got much external stimulation.
Being asked to do favours – because you’re at home
This one drives me up the freaking WALL. And that’s always being asked to do chores / favours because I’m at home. This obviously will only apply if you live with others who don’t work at home. Believe it or not, being asked to do the washing / do the shopping / clean the house, eats into my work time. They’re not jobs I mind doing, either. But not when I’m working. But again because I work from home, people assume I’m just watching Netflix.
Getting into a routine
This one is tough when you work from home, especially at the beginning. And you’ve got to have a lot of restraint and will-power to stick with your routine when you don’t have a set start / finish time or a boss looking literally over your shoulder. Some people thrive on a lack of routine. But other’s just can’t function without it.
There we are, my honest reasons why working from home sucks. I’m not moaning. Just being honest. But there definitely are some positives. Every day is bring your dog to work day. You can have your music on whilst you work. And you save a shit load of money on make up.
Do you work from home? Have you ever struggled with it? Would you like to work from home? Let me know!
