Why I love working from home

Last March, when the pandemic hit, an email was circulated through my company advising us to go home and for those who had laptops to not return to the office. Thankfully, I had just arranged a laptop for myself perhaps a week before, completely unrelated to working from home due to Covid, but since that day I haven't returned to the office.

Do I miss it? Not at all. 

Let me explain why.

 I have worked for this company, a large insurance firm for over ten years. It is a great company to work for; the perks are fantastic and the people are great. The average employee stays with the company for around 7 years and each time someone leaves or retires, they always mention how much they love their team.

There are great opportunities to learn and grow within the company, they offer superb training and development programmes and considering there is no commute, the salary is decent.

All this being said, I have never really felt like I fitted in. I don't want to leave as I need the money and my job involves event management which I enjoy but I know I would suit working in a more creative environment.

I also suffer with anxiety and am slightly agoraphobic so coming into an office with over 500 in my building has sometimes caused issues. 

The office is very standard, grey work pods with identical office chairs, phones and computers. I have always dreamed of working in a boutique office with quirky artistic types, the radio is playing, everyone has a stack of plants on their desks and someone is allowed to bring in their dog. 

I have always been too scared to leave in case the grass wasn't greener and like I have mentioned, the perks being employed here were too good. I just have always had this nagging feeling that I might be happier elsewhere.

So when we were sent home last year I immediately recognised the benefits of being home. Without the need to drive anywhere I could get up slightly later and enjoy a cup of tea in bed, feeling more rested than usual. I used to sometimes get up for a 6am spin class at my local gym so this was verrrry nice getting up after 8am. I also suffer with insomnia and on some nights would wake at 4am for a few hours so having to get up for work when you feel shattered was awful, you don't really want to make conversation with others but you have to! 

A year on, my insomnia is nearly non existent; I mainly put this down to quitting alcohol but I do also feel its because of my change in living.

The other benefit of not having to drive was that I didn't have any morning anxious episodes, driving can sometimes make me really nervous so staying at home completed eliminated ever arriving at my office flustered.

I get more out of my day. With less time being spent on driving to and from the office and then to gym classes either before or after work, I had more time in the day to spend cooking or doing whatever I pleased. Instead of going to gym classes at 6pm and coming home for 7.30pm to rush around cooking dinner and having a shower before collapsing in bed at 9pm I can exercise in the day and work at my laptop a little later if I need to. I actually exercise more now as I don't need to rely on the gym schedule for the classes that would fit into my week.

I have signed up to Les Mills as I like the body pump classes and I also use Sandrine's Pilates as her classes are hard work but good fun.

I have created a workspace that feels more like me. I am surrounded by candles, plants, books and flowers. I am comfortable in my home and have everything I need in reach. I can choose to have the radio on and am in charge of the station choice!

I did go through periods of sitting in bed or on the sofa but this wasn't good for my back or my energy levels. I can also sometimes get sick of being in the same room all day so I try and even it out so I'm not bored of being in one place all day.

I am lucky in the sense that I live with my boyfriend and we don't have children at home (he has two teenagers that live elsewhere) so I don't have the distraction of home schooling. I'm also not someone who thrives off interaction with others. I did use to love being with the team in the office we had a lot of banter but if I had the choice, I would rather be home. The company and our team have been really good at keeping in touch so there are weekly calls that we hold so you aren't isolated and not in contact with anyone.

I make better lunches. I have always been quite good and preparing packed lunches, usually leftovers from the supper the night before but a lot of the time I might grab an overpriced, sad sandwich from our canteen and eat it at my desk.

I did go through a phase of making quiches for lunch but I gained too much chubb so I'm back to eating soups and going for a walk every lunch as I need that fresh air and exercise.

The money I have saved throughout the pandemic is the best bonus of all. This isn't directly just from working at home as I obviously can no longer go out socially or get my nails done but I no longer pay for petrol, or any car related costs, I cancelled my gym membership and pay a fraction of the price for online classes (there are also so many free ones on Youtube). 

Yes I have horrendous roots and I am still getting to grips with home waxing  (ouchie) and nail kits but I'm not going anywhere so its only Mr Poachie who can see me when resemble Jo Brand and Worsel Gumich if they had a love child.

I hope many things will remain the same after this pandemic, I think there have been a lot of benefits to the way we live now. This time last year I didn't have a camera, a blog, I am now studying Marketing in my free time, my health is better, I am getting into social media management roles I feel so much more positive in general. If I could get on a plane somewhere I would be set!

I would also like to mention that I am aware that not everyone has had it easy throughout this last year, I have witnessed first hand the anxiety of being scared for loved ones health and not being able to see family. I am also so, so blessed to have been safe in my job, none of this would have been possible if my company had gone into the furlough scheme. 

How have you found the last year? Have you had any positive outcomes from the changes?