Working from home: Pros and cons

Working from home has a lot going for it. For a start, you don't have to put up with office politics or people standing over you. And the only commute you have is from your bedroom to your desk.

That said, working from home is not for everyone. You need to have a certain sort of mindset to be able to work on your own, without people around you. And there are some pitfalls to watch out for. Read more on the Sydney Morning Herald blog.

I find working from home is a bit of a double-edged sword, but I think the pros out-weigh the cons, horses for courses.

The freedom and flexibility I now have are great, my work/life balance is greatly enhanced, I don't miss the commute or the office politics, but I do miss the camaraderie, the banter, talking work and kicking ideas around. These are things that can be covered over the internet but it isn't the same as human interaction.

On the bright side you can take as much holiday as you want, when you want. If you work over the internet and are going somewhere with a good connection, you can take your work with you. On the other hand, you don't have paid leave, sick leave or compassioante leave. You don't work, you don't earn - simple.

It can be distracting to work from home as there is so much going on around you, wheras an office is simply a workplace. Therefore I find a certain amount of self-discipline is required if you are to be productive, motivated and focused.

It's a good idea to leave the house at least once a day, and to exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes. If you have the space, keep your working area seperate so you can walk away at the end of the day. Try to maintain a routine, but change it every now and then.

Lots of tips and advice like this will be on http://www.atworkanywhere.com/ when the beta goes live in March 2009 and we'd love to hear your opinions!

Do you work from home? Do you prefer it from office working? What advice would you give other people working from home?