Working for yourself isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, sometimes it is just as hard as working for someone else. It’s up to you to determine whether the good outweighs the bad and if it is something you will be able to accomplish. So, 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. Pros and Cons of Working for Yourself
Cons:
Work and home-life often collide: Due to the lack of planning, and no clear picture of work versus time off, you’ll find yourself working odd hours. This will be to accommodate both, the needs of your family and your business. Because of this, you may feel overwhelmed and feeling as if you never have a day off.
You’ll 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.
Family will ask you to do stuff (“since you’re not doing anything”): Not just family, but sometimes friends will start to depend on you being there for them when they didn’t while you were at your 9-5 job. They might ask you to help them out by watching their child, who’s not feeling well, so they can go to work. Family members might stop helping out as much around the house because you are home all day. It can be never-ending.
You’ll crave being out of the house: Sometimes, when you go out, as you’re on your way home you’ll get the distinct feeling you’re going to work. You will want to do anything but go home, even grocery shop.
Stuff will distract you: Without a direct supervisor, even the most studious and organized individual can go off the rails due to the internet, television, pets, that pile of dirty dishes in the sink, just stuff 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.
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 very few have, to not live by the clock.
No more traffic jams: 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 small blessing, most especially on bad weather days when everyone else has to trudge through the snow or the heatwave.
Fewer work-related interruptions: Office chatter can get overwhelming at times and it can be difficult to get work done due to them. Be honest, did you ever really get work done due to a meeting? 9 out of 10 times, during the meeting you’re thinking about how you could be getting work done, 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.
A flexible schedule: If you have a parent-teacher meeting you don’t have to ask permission from a superior or manager to attend. If you want to get your hair done, take the time to get it done. 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 to a 9-5 job, often causes you to eat out for lunch five days a week. That can not only be super expensive, but it is also very unhealthy for you. Working at home, you can take the time to 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, like everything, a few drawbacks. It’s up to you to determine if you have the disposition for it. You’ll need to be able to rein in family and friends who want to take advantage of you, as well as taking a good look at yourself, to stay on track for creating a healthy and profitable home business.
Pros and Cons of Working for Yourself