One aspect of life that was more deeply transformed by the pandemic was work culture—having a job used to mean, for most people, commuting every day to an office where they would spend most of their waking hours. The idea of working from home sounded like a dream or a strange privilege given to people with very particular professions.

The picture is quite different today: according to data scientists from Ladders, 1 of every 4 Americans will work from home by the end of 2022.

         This is due to several reasons: safety, time saved in commutes, money saved on gas, and money saved on rentals. But there is another perk of working from home that might seem counterintuitive to most of us, or at least to the pre-pandemic versions of ourselves: increased productivity.

         While many employers used to think that working from home would promote procrastination, the facts have proven the opposite. According to a study made by Stanford researchers, people working from home spend 10 minutes less a day being unproductive, work one more day a week, and are 47% more productive. 

Moreover, spending more time at home and less at the office has improved mental health and overall satisfaction. People working from home are 50% less likely to quit their job than people working “normal” office jobs. Virtual meetings were also perceived to be less stressful by 70% of the people surveyed by Owl Labs.

         An essential element to consider is the kind of job that has to be done. Researchers have found that workers assigned tedious tasks were more productive in a traditional office setting, while workers with creative jobs performed better in a home office scheme. This means working from home is especially suited for creative people who enjoy their jobs. 

Long story short, remote work is here to stay. It reduces costs, stress, and time spent in traffic while improving productivity and mental health. Thanks to the technology of our times, it is now possible for people in many lines of work to make the switch and start having a better work-life balance. This has the best results when people work in something they enjoy, giving them both flexible schedules and value for their time and skills. Thanks to bookme, becoming your boss and getting paid for doing what you love is easier than it ever was. You only need to decide: a new life with better payment, less stress, and personalized schedules is waiting for you.