Why The Pandemic Isn’t the Only Reason to Work Remotely

Why The Pandemic Isn’t the Only Reason to Work Remotely Remote work has become normal since the start of the global pandemic. And it seems it is here to stay for some time. And to some extent. Remote work is something many people dreamed of. It comes with many benefits, both for the employees and the employer. Even though before the pandemic many employers and businesses agreed that remote work comes only with disadvantages, now they changed their minds. Remote work has been shown to increase the productivity of the employees, in turn boosting the performance of the entire company. Employees save the time spent commuting and also work from the comfort of their own homes.

However, working remotely comes with many challenges as well. Employees who maybe have not worked remotely ever, have found themselves in some distressing moments. Finding your focus, setting up your working space, and setting a clear boundary between personal life and work is difficult in a new setting. All these are possible if employees put to practice some simple tips and tricks that allow them to organize their space and work schedule so that they are productive. Businesses and CEOs around the world have now agreed that remote work is here to stay and it will continue to exist even after the pandemic is over.

Remote work has benefits not only on employees and the entire business but also on the planet. This is why the pandemic isn’t the only reason to work remotely.

Location Flexibility

One of the reasons to work remotely is that you can work from any location you want. Of course, you need to have all the tools necessary to complete your tasks and a good internet connection, but most jobs that can be done remotely require only a laptop. Even though now there are traveling restrictions in place, as there will be more and more people vaccinated, they will be lifted in some places. It’s important to note that it will take some time until the world will return to how it was before. Until then, traveling is still cheap and you can become a digital nomad. Working from any location on the globe and being able to do this is something many people want. And if you are among them, then you could start planning. It is essential to be aware of the fact that there might be time zone differences between you and your colleagues. And it is important to have a time when you sync online, to let the collaboration flow smoothly. Of course, the flexibility of the location comes with a benefit for the environment too. Some people realized that they no longer need to live in a big city, where the costs are also higher. Renting a cottage in the mountains and working from there is the new trend. As more people decide to live closer to nature, the connection between humanity and the environment strengthens.

Less Stress

Every employee works better in a certain environment. However, they can be sorted into two big categories. Some employees love working in an open space where they also socialize with colleagues. And there is the other category of employees who better find their focus in a silent environment. For those who are in the latter category, remote work was much anticipated. However, there are many cases of employees who experienced burnout and work-related stress. Stress, at high levels, comes with many hidden dangers for our minds and bodies. It can lead to depression, anxiety, and burnout.

Working remotely comes with less stress for many employees. Managing their time, organizing their schedules or their working spaces are some challenges that they all can overcome. But there is also the hidden cost of the stress associated with commuting.

Many studies show that the average American spends about 30 minutes in traffic. When there are traffic jams and the need to travel at a rush hour, these 30 minutes get multiplied. Spending at least one hour a day in traffic is an activity that generates stress. And some employees have commuted for longer times. At the end of the year, they will realize that they have spent entire days only commuting. When you work remotely, you no longer have to commute. Employees can use that time more efficiently or invest it in pleasurable activities. Either way, it is no longer lost time.

Communication Improvements

Even though the shift to remote work has been done progressively, now we can say that almost all companies have established good working strategies. Yes, employees no longer meet and socialize in the kitchen or the lounging area. They no longer have face-to-face meetings where they discuss the progress of the project or share updates. Employees now meet on Zoom, use project management tools, and have improved their communication overall. Several trends are now entering the workplace, such as those meetings that could have been an email. Even though at the beginning it was difficult to shift to a completely new working style, employees have adapted. And they have created communication protocols and working strategies that improved collaboration across and within teams. It is important to acknowledge the huge adaptation that took place in the lives of many remote employees.

Saving Money

The next benefit remote work comes with is saving money. Even though many employees may have not been aware of how much money they need to spend when working from a business office, they are now. There is the money you save because you no longer commute. Public transportation might not be so expensive, but if you used to commute with your car, you probably know the costs involved. There is the money spent on gas, car maintenance, and parking fees if your office does not have a free parking area. On top of this, employees also spend money on office clothes, which can also be expensive. At the office, many employees order food, so all that money can come back into your pocket.

Many costs are associated with working from an office, but these are the main ones that come with huge savings. This money can be used for traveling or investing in activities that bring pleasure. Saving money is a reason good enough that could convince many employees that working remotely is a long-term solution.

The Impact on the Environment

The impact on the environment of working from an office is huge. There are a lot of employees who are commuting. Few of them have electric cars, so every commute just adds more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. The level of pollution is already pretty high in big cities, and air pollution is dangerous for our health. People who work remotely use their car for less than before, which is a positive impact remote work has on the environment.

Moreover, since the pandemic started and many businesses shifted to remote work, there was less paperwork involved. Businesses around the world are using less paper than before, which is also a positive impact on the environment. At the same time, there was a lot of power involved in heating the offices employees work on. During summer, the air conditioning was used to cool the offices. During winter, the heating was on. Even though it may not sound much, working from home is a lot eco-friendlier than working from an office.

Final Words

The global pandemic is the trigger that accelerated the transition to remote work. But it is not the only reason to continue working remotely. This working style is here to stay because it comes with many benefits both for employees and employers. Working from the comfort of your own home is something that comes with calm and relaxation for many employees. Which, in turn, triggers their creativity and boosts their productivity.

Indeed, working remotely comes with many challenges employees need to overcome. But the vast majority has already adapted to these huge changes. They have improved their communication and collaboration within teams. Even though employees no longer meet face-to-face, they meet on Zoom not only for work purposes. Catching up with the latest news or having a beer or a glass of wine together now happens online.

Moreover, working remotely comes with a positive impact on the environment, but also on the mental health of employees. They no longer commute, so they protect the environment and also their mood because there is less stress involved. On top of this, remote work comes with the flexibility of choosing the location to work from, so you can easily become a digital nomad. You also save a lot of money by working remotely, so why not continue doing it even after the pandemic is over?

Bio Lines: Rosa Hemming is a blogger and professional content writing expert from the United States. She offers essay help and essay service with good writers, a team of content writers she leads. Rosa is keen on movies and serials. Her blog consists of lists of the best films divided by genre and for different moods. Find her on Twitter.