Top telecommuting myths exposed

Photo Courtesy of Alan Levine (Flickr.com)

When most people consider pursuing the telecommuting lifestyle, their vision often consists of sitting by the pool, sipping cocktails and lazily sorting through emails while spending time with the kids. However, working from home is never so glamorous. It’s hard work, just as any other job, and unfortunately many people have the wrong idea about what makes up a telecommuter’s day. Before you decide to work from home full time, it’s a good idea to take a long, hard look at the reality of the situation. To help you on your journey back to the real world, here are some of the top telecommuting myths – exposed.

1.) Telecommuting is a substitute for childcare. While many people choose to work at home in order to spend more time with their families, this time is derived primarily from the previous commute time. This is one of the most prevalent telecommuting myths, particularly amongst non-telecommuters. However, it’s completely false.

Child rearing is a full-time commitment, and cannot be performed in conjunction with work. Combining these two responsibilities will result in poor performance on both fronts. If you’re considering telecommuting, remember that you will actually have to work, and this can prove impossible with young children underfoot. An in-home nanny, traditional daycare, babysitter, school or preschool, or friends or relatives are some of the childcare choices available to telecommuters. Choose one so you can get your work done as quickly and efficiently as possible, and then spend time with your family.

2.) Telecommuting means no schedules. This is another common misconception, although there is a kernel of truth to the statement. Telecommuters may not have to “clock-in” but they will still be bound to a schedule.

Depending on the job, your employer may require that you are available during certain business hours, or that you submit work at certain times. Other jobs are more flexible, but then it’s up to you to carve out your own working hours. Attempting to work from home without a schedule can have disastrous results, including a decrease in productivity and thus, money.

3.) Telecommuting equals fewer distractions. If you’ve spent any time at all working from home, you’ll quickly see the problem with this myth. Working from home offers the ultimate distractions – television, internet, family, friends, hobbies, pets, chores, life. It takes strict discipline and perseverance to be a successful telecommuter. The line between work and play is very thin when your duties are performed in the home office. If you’re easily distracted, telecommuting can prove difficult, if not completely impossible.

4.) Telecommuting is hassle-free. While the work at home lifestyle will eliminate commute time, hectic mornings, and an inflexible schedule, there will still be plenty of hassles. Working from home is not a panacea of life’s problems. You’ll still be faced with deadlines, computer problems, setting boundaries between work and family, bosses and supervisors, and a whole host of other issues depending on the type of work you do. Instead of getting rid of the hassles associated with the 9-5 life, telecommuter’s trade them in for another set of hassles – different but none the less stressful.

5.) Telecommuting will stifle my workaholic tendencies. This is another of the most frequent myths I encounter. Some workaholics believe that if they take their work to the home office, the desire to work too much will somehow disappear, leaving balance and peace in its place. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

In fact, if you were a workaholic before becoming a telecommuter, chances are you’ll be an even BIGGER workaholic now that you work from home. You’ve simply changed the location of work, not yourself. There’s no magic event that can prevent you from working too much, especially not bringing the work home where you’ll have access to it 24 hours a day.

Above all, remember that telecommuting does not mean you’ll be living a dream of relaxation with an occasional bit of work thrown in. It is a real way to earn a living, which means working just as hard as you would in an office. In many cases, you’ll even put in more hours than a regular job would require. However, you will gain a measure of flexibility and freedom that would be otherwise unattainable. Make sure that you haven’t fallen prey to these telecommuting myths before you take the plunge.