Work From Office or Work From Home
We choose based on needs
Work From Office or Work From Home
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way people work, with remote work becoming the norm for many businesses. While work from home has been a welcome change for some, others are itching to return to the office. The debate over which is better, work from office or work from home, has been ongoing for quite some time, with both sides presenting compelling arguments. If You are going to start your career, read on, my dear friend. In this article, I’ll share my insights and You’ll find out which one is the best fit for you.
Fun fact: I started my professional career working from home in 2020, the year, lockdown was in full swing.
Work From Office
It has been the traditional and conventional way of a professional life until COVID struck the globe. Working from office has only two fundamental benefits:
Social interaction and the fun that comes with it.
Possibility of focused work in a dedicated work environment.
The labor of commuting is the biggest con, for those who have to spend long hours in the traffic and then work immediately after entering the office. That takes a toll on the mind and subsequent course of the day.
Work From Home
Although there were a few companies which had remote working facilities prior to the pandemic, this style of work became the global standard just after the pandemic hit. Organizations had to maintain productivity and we had to maintain our lives.
There are two fundamental benefits to working from home:
Being with family and continuing the work (people who were working from office all these years had found paradise because of the huge contrast they perceived)
Flexibility of operations (you don’t have to wear professional clothes all the time and can take a break anytime depending on the monitoring level of your supervisor)
These benefits combined, save your commuting costs, increase productivity and most importantly spike your mental health!
There is one and only major con though, i.e the lack of social interaction in the aura of your colleagues, which will leave you feeling miserable.
If You have read upto this, You might be in a dilemma over which working style is better. Let me help You.
I have seen folks in my career who were fed up with remote work and were craving the “cubicle life”. Exactly! this was what one of my colleagues said, “I want to join the cubicle life and life was better there before the pandemic”. It won’t be a mistake to assume that there are many people like this person who desire the same. This is unimaginable for me who thrives on location freedom.
Ultimately your mind is where You are, always. Your focus is where You dwell, always. It all is within the consciousness, which is Your real nature (We will talk on this someday). Even if You are in Your office, You are in Your mind, so is the case when You are at home. Whenever any difficult problem arises, don’t You seek it’s resolution? Where do You feel the frustration? Isn’t it Your mind? What does this resolution bring? Relief and peace. Where does You feel it? Isn’t it Your mind? Exactly my friend. So understanding that both places will have it’s cons will help You decide better. There are people who want to solve problems in their office setting, some who want to solve them in their home setting and some, who want to solve them by a gushing riverside. So, flexibility and happiness are the key points which You need for highly productive work and an excellent career.
A case to consider
Tyko and Zyko were twin brothers who had very different work routines. Tyko worked from a busy office in the city, while Zyko worked from the comfort of his home.
Tyko woke up every morning at the crack of dawn, got dressed, and left for his office. He spent his days in a small cubicle, working on a computer and attending meetings. He often felt stressed and overwhelmed by the constant noise and distractions in the office.
On the other hand, Zyko woke up a bit later and started his day from the comfort of his bed. He would take his time getting ready and then start his work on his laptop. He had a dedicated workspace in his house that he had set up to resemble an office. He enjoyed the peace and quiet of his home, which allowed him to focus better on his work.
As time went on, Tyko began to feel unhappy with his work routine. He realized that he was missing out on spending time with his family and pursuing his hobbies because of his long work hours. He started to envy Zyko's flexible work routine and the freedom it allowed him.
Meanwhile, Zyko was thriving in his work from home setup. He had more time to pursue his hobbies and spend time with his loved ones. However, he missed the direct interaction with his colleagues that he used to have in the office. He felt that he was missing out on building relationships and being part of a team.
One day, Tyko decided to speak to his boss about the possibility of working from home a few days a week. After some negotiations, his boss agreed, and Tyko was finally able to experience the benefits of a flexible work schedule.
As he started to work from home, Tyko realized how much happier he was. He had more time to spend with his family, pursue his hobbies, and take care of his mental health. However, he also missed the direct interaction with his colleagues that he used to have in the office. He realized that while working from home had many benefits, there were also some downsides, such as the lack of face-to-face interaction with his colleagues.
In the end, both Tyko and Zyko were happy in their work routines. They had found the perfect balance between work and life, and were thriving in both. They realized that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to work and that what works for one person may not work for another. The key is to find a routine that fosters flexibility, makes you happy, and still allows you to build relationships and be part of a team. A suggestion could be a flexible hybrid model in which you and your friends plan in advance as per your needs and propose to your supervisor, to work from office, on desired days. To your freedom, my dear friend.
Insights on Life.
What do You think? What is/are your view(s)? Write to me.