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Working for yourself isn’t all sunshine and roses. Sometimes there are huge obstacles and when you work for yourself, you are responsible. It’s up to you to determine whether the plusses outweigh the minuses. But, it’s good for you to know in advance what the pros and cons of working for yourself are so that you can be realistic about what you’re getting yourself into.
Cons of Working For Yourself:
Work and Home Life Often Collide
If you don’t have a schedule or no clear delineation of work versus time off, you’ll find yourself working odd hours to accommodate the needs of your family; thus feeling as if you never have a day off. You can avoid this by putting time management practices into place.
You Might Do a Lot of Work for Free
Much of the work you do for your business is not billable, therefore will feel like free work until you start making a profit. It can be hard to push yourself to do things that aren’t producing income right now, but you must push through so that you can keep your business running smoothly. Best way to avoid this? Outsource as much as possible, before you think you need to, and always get paid upfront before you do the work.
Family Will Ask You to Do Stuff (since you’re not doing anything – HA)
Not just family, but sometimes friends will start to depend on you being there for them for everything. They’ll ask you to do their chores like watching their sick kid so they can go to work. Your spouse and children might stop helping out around the house as much since you’re there anyway. If you don’t set up boundaries from the beginning (and enforce them) it may never end.
You Might Crave Being out of the House
If you’re an extrovert, you’ll need to make a concerted effort to get out and work from coffee shops, co-working spaces, or restaurants. If you’re on your way home you’ll get the distinct feeling you’re going to jail, you’re probably an extrovert and need to be around people while you’re working. If you’re an introvert (like me), you most likely can’t imagine anything better than peace and quiet in your own home. Either way, make it work so you love it!
“Stuff” Might Distract You
Without supervision, even the most studious and organized individual can go off the rails due to the internet, television, and stuff that is around to distract you from work. It’s up to you and only you to set up a good working schedule to help you avoid this. There are apps out there to help you stay on track and be productive so take advantage of them!
Pros:
No More Living by the Clock
If you arrange your business right you can wake up naturally without an alarm forcing you to get up when your body isn’t ready. You can also go to bed when you want to as well. It’s freedom not to always live by the clock.
No More Traffic Jams and Wasting Money on Commuting
One of the best perks is not having to be caught in a traffic jam during rush hour when you need to pee. You won’t have to do that anymore and it will be a relief, most especially on bad weather days when everyone else has to trudge through the snow or the heat wave. You’ll also save money on gas, car maintenance, etc.
Fewer Work-Related Interruptions
Office chatter can get overwhelming at times and it can be difficult to get work done due to it. Not to mention office meetings. Be honest, did you ever really get work done due to a meeting? During the meeting, you’re thinking about how you could be getting work done right now instead of talking about it.
You Really Can Work in Your PJs
Oh yes, you can. You can wear PJs, yoga pants, or a moo-moo; no one cares. You can even get inspired right out of the shower and work naked if you want to. It’s your business and your house. You’ll save money on office attire, makeup, etc.
A Flexible Schedule
If you have a parent-teacher meeting you don’t have to ask permission to go. If you want to get your hair done, go for it. Need a massage? Book one whenever you want. Whatever you want to do during the day is up to you as long as you find time to also get your work done so you can get paid. Your schedule is your own.
You Can Eat Healthier
Going out to work often causes everyone to eat out for lunch five days a week. That can not only be super expensive, but it is also very unhealthy for everyone to do it. Now you can prepare healthy lunches for yourself or eat leftovers from dinner the night before. Save money, and save your life.
Working from home offers many benefits and even a few drawbacks if you’re not well suited to it. It’s up to you to determine if you have the personality for it. You’ll need to rein in family and friends who want to take advantage of you, as well as yourself, to stay on track for creating a healthy and profitable home business.
