Working from home might not be suited to everyone’s personality or ability. It can afford you flexibility, but it also demands a lot from you in return.

Working from home opened a wide range of possibilities for the way businesses can work and structure themselves. Due to the pandemic caused by the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), businesses seek an alternative work arrangement that resulted in providing the option to work from home. The number of people switching to home working keeps increasing day by day as many employers identified the benefits it can bring and how it improved work-life balance for their employees.

This had a host of advantages for workers, such as less commute stress, customizable office, and location independence. It also improved inclusivity, sustainability and provided opportunities for saving money. Yes, there are many work-from-home benefits that everyone would love to have, but working from home requires certain skills that are not always demanded in an in-office context. Do you know if you are part of the population who are meant to be working from home? How would you know? Well, here is your checklist to see if you qualify.

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1. Can you maintain BALANCE and stay ORGANIZE?

• Maintaining balance is one of the most challenging aspects of working at home because it is always right there staring you in the face. To see if you are staying on top of your tasks, you must keep yourself on track.  To keep track of everything you are accountable for, you must master your calendar and your to-do list. Having a clean workspace and clear goals each day will be vital to staying organized on the job.

2. Are you a CRITICAL THINKER?

• Working from home also means working under minimum supervision.  There are no more co-workers sitting beside you for guidance. You must figure out things by yourself. Applying critical thinking helps you make decisions that require a lot of thought to effectively diagnose problems and identify possible solutions that are not entirely obvious at first. If you cannot make decisions on your own and always seek guidance without giving it a try, then work is not meant for you.

3. Do you possess COMMUNICATION SKILLS?

• When you work remotely, you will not see your coworkers face-to-face, and you might begin to feel like you are on your own. To avoid this, it is important to stay connected, even if it takes a little more effort than it would in person. Keeping in touch when you work remotely is crucial- video conferences, taking phone calls, and maintaining communication on an instant messenger can all help you stay in contact with everyone on your team.

4. Do you have the DISCIPLINE?

• Working in your own home’s comfort tempts employees to take frequent breaks and less work time since they are unmonitored. From frequent interruptions from family and friends to noisy neighbors to the strong urge to jump back to bed, there are myriads of distractions around you, and it can be tough to maintain your level of productivity. Self-discipline comes naturally, but for some people, it would take a lot of practice and effort. You can start by designating a dedicated workspace, maintaining a routine, tracking your progress, set daily goals, and set ground rules for family and friends.

5. Are you MOTIVATED?

• Working away from your friends, co-workers, and traditional office environment can be challenging to stay excited doing tasks and projects.  But what can make it exciting is being motivated- about your job, your company, and your output. The best step to do that is to invest in yourself by learning a new skill. Whether you choose to learn a new reusable skill, work on your confidence or public speaking, or even learn a new language, the possibilities are endless. You can also set your priorities. Knowing your priorities gives you the urge to perform efficiently.  Why are you working hard? Why do you want to achieve your goals? And always look back to how you started.  If you don’t answer these questions, then working from home might not be suitable.

By knowing your personality and skillsets, you will determine if working at home is the right path for you. While some of these skills can be learned, others are more difficult to overcome. Take a personal inventory and be honest if you have the right mindset and skills to work from home. Whether you want to be a full-time or part-time virtual assistant, a freelancer, online tutor, or any other work-from-home job, we should remember that everything has its own benefits and drawbacks, and we must make the best out of everything. Did you answer yes to the 5 questions above? Then working from home is still not meant for you not unless you take your answers into action. Interested in working from home permanently? We offer free training! Visit our website now!

Sources and Related Articles:

• pros-cons-of-working-from-home
• Top 7 Skills Needed to Successfully Work-at-Home
• Top 20 Do’s and Don’ts for Working from Home During COVID-19
• Disadvantages of Working from Home
• How to improve Self- Discipline

Contributor: Ma. Beverly Bilugan