Thanks to the internet and the gig economy, there are a rapidly increasing number of options for home-working. However, working out if this is for you can be complex as there’s a lot to consider.
Firstly, don’t expect it to be a breeze. Working from home may sound great, but you won’t be able to slack off; being a successful home worker means being highly self-motivated, especially if you’re working in a freelance or piecemeal manner. In these circumstances, being unable to motivate yourself means one thing – you won’t make money.
With that said, because you’re in direct control of the work you take on, this can prove a better fit if you’re fitting around other responsibilities such as childcare.
If you struggle with motivation, an employed role may be a better fit as you’re likely to have the work fed to you, but you’ll still need to minimise any distractions. You’ll be taking calls in many roles, so employers will often insist you have a working space free from excessive background noise, and particularly children.
It’s also important to consider set-up costs – all roles will have some technical requirements, so research these diligently – you don’t want the costs to outweigh the benefits!