I have been working from home or while traveling full-time since around 2013, and since then I have heard so many myths about work from home jobs.
Some of the things that I’ve heard over the years include:
“Working from home must be boring.”
“You must have so much free time to get chores done!”
“Aren’t all work from home jobs scams?”
“Working from home isn’t a real job”
Whether you work for yourself and your office is in your home, or if you telecommute and work for someone else, I’m sure you’ve heard some of these myths about work from home jobs as well.
Truth is, so many people think that working from home is something different, until they get to experience it.
And, this is something that many people are learning in 2020 due to current events!
Now, I want to say that I absolutely love and enjoy working from home.
I would not change a single thing about working from home.
However, some people have said certain things to me that really make me laugh. I think part of that is because they’ve never worked from home before, and the reality is that working from home is still work.
Working from home can be different for everyone because we all have different jobs. Also, what your work from home situation is like makes a big difference too.
Working from home with kids can make things more challenging. Some jobs keep you tied to your laptop, some require extreme concentration, some are more flexible, etc.
Still, it’s all work!
Today, I want to talk about some of the most common work from home facts and myths. I’m going to explain the misconceptions of working remotely and what’s really happening when people work from home.
Now, I hope today’s article doesn’t come across as a big complaint. Instead, I simply want to shed some light on the topic and explain the truth about working from home.
Content related to myths about work from home jobs:
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- Ways To Make An Extra $1,000 A Month
- 9 Work From Home and Travel Careers
- 15 Outdoor Jobs For People Who Love Being Outside
Here are common 7 myths about work from home jobs.
Myth: You can run errands for everyone during the day
“You must have so much free time to get chores done!”
When I first started working from home, I received so many phone calls from people asking me to do favors, and almost every single time it started with “since you have nothing else to do during the day…”
While I don’t mind helping others around me, I know I’m not alone – this is something that many, many people who work from home have an issue with.
It can be so hard saying no.
Many people think that if you work from home, you don’t actually do anything all day. This sometimes leads to friends and family members asking for favors from those who work from home.
I know friends who work from home who have been asked to babysit, pick things up from the store, grab dry cleaning, bring a pet to the groomer, and more.
If you have the time and you want to, by all means say yes to every favor. It does feel good to help others.
But, don’t feel like you have to jump on every request just because you work from home.
Truth: People who work from home still have to stick to a schedule
One of the reasons people believe that last myth is because working from home is so flexible, and they’ve probably heard that before.
The truth is, while it’s flexible, many people who work from home still try and stick to a normal-ish schedule.
That’s because if you have other people in your life that keep regular 9-5 hours or have kids in school, working during “normal” hours makes the most sense. It’s probably the only time you have to get any work accomplished.
Be honest with the people around you and explain the situation. More importantly, be realistic with yourself. It feels nice to help other people out, but running errands all day for others can prevent you from completing work, force you to work late in the evening or weekends, and it can also cost you money.
It also helps to set some boundaries with those around you. Tell the people in your life if there are certain times they shouldn’t bother you, that you might not pick up the phone right away, etc.
Not everyone will understand, some people will get it, and some people probably aren’t sure what working from home means.
But, most people will happily respect your boundaries once you tell them what they are.
Myth: Working from home is boring
“I could never work from home, I would be too bored.”
I hear this all the time, ever since I first started working from home.
This is one of the myths about work from home jobs that people believe because they think they would miss working with other people. I understand that – I remember having lots of fun with some of the people I used to work with.
Many people believe this myth because it might sound boring to stay in your house all of the time. It can be, that’s not always the case.
Truth: Working from home can be both exciting and boring
Some people would probably think that blogging is boring whether they did it in an office or from home. That’s probably true for lots of jobs.
Your job can be exciting, boring, stressful, calm, easy, difficult, etc. And, it can feel like all of those things over the course of the day.
Another thing is that while working from home might sound boring to some people, I look at what it allows me to do. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, and I don’t find it boring, at all.
But, I also love that working from home allows me to travel full time. I have gotten to visit so many amazing places. And, I can choose when I work.
Still, there are some days when I’d rather be doing something other than working, but that doesn’t make working from home boring.
If you’re struggling with this, think about what your situation allows you to do. Focus on the positives.
Some people love what they do, and others love what their job allows them to do.
Myth: All work from home jobs are scams
When I tell people what I do, they usually don’t believe it. Many people think that home businesses are scams.
While this myth has eased a little bit over the years, a LOT of people thought working from home was a scam just about a decade ago.
Things have changed a lot in the last several years!
According to Stanford, 42% of the U.S. labor force currently works from home full-time in 2020.
Not all work at home jobs are scams. I have a legitimate business! Just like anyone else who has a business, mine is a business as well.
There are many, many work from home jobs that exist and are legitimate.
Truth: There are work from home scams
Unfortunately, there are still some scams out there.
There are scams that say a company will pay you $10 for every envelope you stuff. There are some scams where a person says they’ll send you a big check up front, but you have to forward part of that check back to the business.
Work from home scams do exist, but that’s not at all the case with the majority of them.
Please head to How To Spot Work From Home Job Scams And Avoid Them At All Costs to learn more.
Myth: It’s easy to separate work and life
When you work from home or have your own business, it can be very difficult to completely stop working.
Whenever we go on a trip, I almost always continue working the same amount that I do when I am at home. When you are a business owner, especially in the beginning, you want to bust your butt off to make your business successful.
It can go the other way too. If you are working from home and see dirty dishes in the sink or unfolded laundry, you can easily get distracted from what you’re doing and stop working.
It’s also easy to get distracted by personal emails, phone calls, social media, etc.
This is something I still struggle with.
Truth: You can make a better work from home environment
One of the things that may help you separate work from the rest of your life is making sure you set boundaries and create a good physical and mental space to work.
I recommend setting work hours for yourself, making time for vacations, taking breaks throughout the workday, and so on.
Even though you are working from home and you probably don’t have anyone looking over your shoulder to see what you are doing all day long, I still recommend having clear work hours. This will help you manage your time, complete your work, and “leave” work for the day.
If you get distracted by what else is happening in your house, try to make some space that is only for working. You don’t need an office – it can be as simple as a clean dining room table. Or, do the dishes and fold the laundry before you start working.
Myth: You’re not actually working when you’re at home
Working from home is still working!
You still have a job and tasks still need to be completed.
This is one of the myths about work from home jobs that gets me the most.
For some reason, many people associate working from home with not doing any work at all. Boy, are they wrong!
I have even had people not believe me and then ask for a full schedule of what I do each day to prove myself.
If me and the millions of other people weren’t actually working when they were home, how would we be holding jobs and getting paid?
Truth: People successfully work from home every day
The reality is that the only real thing that changes when you work from home is that the location is different.
People run multi-million dollar businesses from their home. Some hold side hustles, freelance, run Etsy shops, dog sit in their home, work jobs in the corporate world, and much more.
Sure, there are distractions and you may find more time to spend on non-work tasks, but working from home is still working.
Myth: You will be lonely when working from home
I’m often asked if I get lonely working from home, and this is one of the most common myths about work from home jobs.
People think that when you work from home that you have absolutely no contact with anyone else. But when I worked in an office, I hardly ever had human contact, except during meetings. That honestly felt more lonely than working from home.
Now, I talk to people all day long. I talk with other bloggers, I answer emails from my readers, and I interact with people on social media. I probably talk with more people now than I did when I worked in an office.
Truth: It can be lonely to work from home, but there are ways to make it less lonely
If you do start feeling lonely when you work from home, I have a couple of suggestions to beat the lonely feeling.
You can start a Slack chat with those that you work with or hop on a video call. There are also meetups you can attend that relate to work or your hobbies. There are also lots of online groups, like Facebook groups or subreddits, where you can network with others in your field.
Working from home doesn’t have to feel lonely all of the time.
Myth: You will spend all of your time in pajamas
When I first started working from home, I spent a lot of time in my pajamas.
However, that’s not the case anymore.
Now that we live on a boat and have to walk the dogs regularly, I have to go outside often and I’d prefer if everyone around me didn’t have to see me in my pajamas all the time, haha.
Truth: It’s okay to work in your pajamas
Some people get completely dressed up for work every day, even though they work from home full-time. It helps get them in the mood for work, and I completely get that.
Some put on a nice top, but still wear athletic shorts or pajama pants.
You will have to find what works best for you.
But, if you want to work in your pajamas, do it. That’s one of the perks of working from home. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about wearing pajamas if that’s what you want.
What are the pros and cons of working from home?
I am a big fan of working from home. You can probably tell that now, haha!
The reasons these myths about work from home jobs bother me is because I love what I do and I love helping other people realize that they can work from home too.
Being able to work from home is one of the best things I’ve been able to do. Some of the pros are:
- It allows me to spend more time with my family
- I can travel full-time
- My schedule is flexible
- I can make a great income from home, and more
Now, what are the negatives of working from home?
Some of the cons are:
- It can be hard to separate your work and life
- Some people may find it lonely
- Some people in your life may struggle with the boundaries you set
- It can be a big adjustment if you’ve never done it before
The reality is that there are pros and cons about any kind of job. The negatives don’t just apply to work from home jobs. It’s about finding what works for you.
Is working from home right for you?
After reading all of the above, you may be wondering how you can make working from home work for you.
Here are some of my tips:
- Set working hours for yourself
- Create a dedicated work area
- Hire help if you need it
- Cut out distractions
- Socialize with others
- Don’t run errands for others all day long
- Take time off work when you are sick
I recommend reading My Best Working From Home Tips So You Can Succeed to learn more about how you can work from home most efficiently.
Even with talking about all of the myths above, there are still many benefits to working from home.
Being able to work from home is one of the best things I’ve been able to do, and I know many people who feel the same way. I know it can be hard at times, but it’s all just the reality of working from home.
What common myths about work from home jobs have you heard?
The post 7 Myths About Work From Home Jobs & What Itâs Really Like appeared first on Making Sense Of Cents.
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