‘Working life isn’t 9-5 any more. The world is connected. Companies that do not embrace this are missing a trick’ says Virgin boss Richard Branson.
This was in reaction to Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer telling employees who work remotely, they need to move back to working in the company offices. In fact, Richard Branson is so passionate about it, he goes on to say ‘We like to give people the freedom to work where they want, safe in the knowledge that they have the drive and expertise to perform excellently, whether they are at their desk or in their kitchen. Yours truly has never worked out of an office, and never will.’
If you look at the statistics there seems to be a quiet revolution taking place, particularly across the working parents of Australia, but what’s it really like to work from home?
There is of course the obvious benefits… no traffic jams, increased flexibility and if you really want to, you can stay in your pyjamas all day.
However, what else do mums who are working from home say about this? I took to the streets; okay to Facebook, to ask some seasoned work-from-home mums, what it was really like.
‘You get so much done!’ they chorused! One of the most amazing things about working from home, especially with children in tow, is the injection of super powers.
Once the kids are down for an afternoon sleep, or off to school for the day, you absolutely go for it, with an unrelenting enthusiasm knowing that your time is limited.
It’s true isn’t it, the longer you have to do something, the longer you take. And the opposite is true too. If you have a deadline, like the school bell, there’s no room for procrastination. ‘I amaze myself on a daily basis’ said one mum.
You become a champion multi-tasker. Much like an octopus with eight tentacles… one swinging the baby chair, another putting on the dishwasher, whilst simultaneously responding to an email. ‘I am very used to putting the washing on with phone in hand’, stated another. Most commonly referred to as the ‘juggle’, our work from home mums are so good at it, it’s surprising they haven’t been poached by the circus.
It’s more creative. Writers, designers and artists can all attest to feeling more creative when not chained to an office desk.
Being able to type in the sunshine or draw in the early hours of the morning, as the rest of the household is still sound asleep are often when the magic moments happen.
I know as a graphic designer and writer myself; the ‘big idea’ often strikes as I’m sipping hot chocolate, nestled into my home studio, babes fast asleep upstairs.
Working from home is on the rise and for good reason. With all the benefits, hand in hand with the challenges of modern parenting, it shouldn’t be terribly surprising that 590 people are searching how to set up a business from home on Google per month!
Many of us are trying to earn a living to support our family’s finances, whilst still being there to meet our responsibilities as parents, and the traditional 9-5 office job is just not conducive to making this happen.
‘One day offices will be a thing of the past’ declares Branson. I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Are you lucky enough to work from home? Are you more productive? Please SHARE in the comments below.
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