Some of the great benefits for the growing number of freelancers and work-from-home employees is the lack of commute, saving on gas, professional clothing and lunches. Other advantages are the availability to be around for emergencies like needing the plumber at 10 .a.m, or picking up a sick child from school. And having an occupied house might stave off a burglar or two.
The cost of using the home internet service and home/cell phone can be included in tax returns too. There are so many benefits that until a person actually works from home, it's sometimes hard to see the few pitfalls in freelancing.
One of these is the lack of inspiration from hearing others busy at work, exchanging ideas and even a certain camaraderie that being around others can lead to.
The New York Times wrote about a study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that monitored the productivity of subjects who listened to various levels of noise and activity.
It was noted that when a project needed absolute attention (number crunching, for example) then silence was best. But when creativity was needed, soft noises boosted results.
Too much noise had the opposite effect. The ideal decibel level was about seventy decibels.
They found that softer sounds like the hum of a coffee shop (assuming no one is shouting on their phone next to you!) can inspire thinking outside the box.
True to form, entrepreneurs are taking advantage of these findings. A site called Coffitivity is now offering people a selection of background noises to help them work. Looking at the site's comment sections, the site is being happily utilized by many.
One of the founders of Coffitivity, ACe Callwood, admitted that the first few days after the launch were very slow, and joked that their mothers were the ones clicking onto the site.
But now, says Callwood, business is booming. The top cities using their services are Seoul, then New York City, followed by London, Los Angeles and Chicago.
A coffee shop isn't the only place work- from- home people can go if they are feeling a bit isolated and uninspired at home. Heidi from The Happy Freelancer talks about the benefits of stepping away from the home office regularly or occasionally to inspire more work and better outcome.
From talking to other freelancers, she comes up with ideas as to why getting out is a good idea. Having an office can offer a lonely freelancer someone to talk to and make business connections with. It's also an ideal spot to have business meetings with clients to look more professional and organized.
Having a shared rental space can keep the cost low and make a person feel like they have a healthy separation between work and home.
Sometimes we are tempted at home by personal phone calls, TV or the fridge. Or worse, along with working, we're expected to have all the laundry done, and dinner ready by the time everyone else gets back in the evening.
Our environment can have a great impact on our work -- on how productive we are, how creative we can be, and how well we succeed. Knowing what works for us can help increase and inspire us in today's competitive work force.
Sources:
The New York Times. Well. Mind. "How the Hum of a Coffee Shop Can Boost Creativity". Web. Retrieved June 26th, 2013.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/how-the-hum-of-a-coffee-shop-ca...
Coffitivity. Web. Retrieved June 26th, 2013.
http://coffitivity.com
The Happy Freelancer.com. "Should Freelancers Rent Office Space?" Web. Retrieved June 26th, 2013.
http://thehappyfreelancer.com/2010/05/21/should-freelancers-rent-office-...
Reviewed June 27, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith