Over the last decade, remote work has evolved from a niche option to a standard in modern work culture. Advances in technology, like high-speed internet and tools such as Slack or Discord, have made it easier than ever for companies and employees to embrace work-from-home arrangements.
Working from home presents a myriad of advantages, such as saving time on the morning commute and granting employees increased flexibility, leading to a better work-life balance. But it’s not just for the employees' benefit—employers quickly noticed that working from home can provide tangible productivity benefits due to the increased well-being of their workforce.
To stay competitive as a business and attract the best talent possible, it’s now a necessity to facilitate remote work.
In today’s article, I’m going to explore what working from home looks like in the modern day, all the advantages it can offer to both businesses and workers alike, and how embracing this new work-home lifestyle could be the key to unlocking the true potential of modern businesses.
The Work-Life Balance Equation
Often seen as a buzzword without any real intent behind it, work-life balance can appear like a gimmick used by people who simply want to work less.
But what we’ve seen during the popularization of remote work is that as employees have gained more control over their schedules and can balance their work and personal lives better, there is also a significant spike in their productivity.
Why is this?
Well, when we factor in how remote work can save employees time—such as by reducing lengthy commutes and getting stuck in traffic—that time can then be allocated to tasks that allow employees to stay on top of their lives.
Whether that means some extra time spent on personal care, running errands, or spending time with family or children, this all comes with no reduction in total work hours. It’s simply the efficiency of working from home, freeing up extra time for employees to spend on themselves.
This leads to greater personal satisfaction and happiness levels because employees feel less stressed, and there’s a reduced chance of work burnout during busy periods as their personal needs are still being met.
Here are just a few more examples of how remote work assists in helping employees achieve a good work-life balance:
- Family Time: Having a little extra time to go pick the kids up from school, attend a play, or help out elderly parents in need can make a big difference in how someone feels about their overall quality of life.
- Health: Resistance training and cardiovascular movements are absolutely vital when it comes to maintaining good energy and focus levels. Many employees complain that they don’t have time to exercise when swamped with work, which is a surefire way to lower their productivity.
- Personal projects: When people have hobbies or ways they like to unwind but are too overwhelmed with work to pursue them, it can negatively affect their work performance. Remote work can give them the time they need to ensure they still have time to indulge in personal projects.
Individual Schedule Management
A major benefit of working from home is that employees have the freedom to start and finish work projects at times that suit them.
No one likes to be micromanaged. Not only does it make employees miserable, but it’s also harmful to their work output. A study by Accountemps revealed that 59% of employees have experienced micromanagement at some point in their careers. Among them, 55% reported that it hindered their productivity, and 68% said it decreased their morale.
Improving Job Satisfaction
Although it can be a little nerve-wracking to loosen the reins, you’ll be surprised by how much employees thrive and how their output skyrockets when they’re given the freedom (and trust) to handle things on their own. They will take more personal responsibility and, ultimately, more pride and care in their work.
Your employees know themselves better than anyone. They know the hours of the day when they are at their least and most productive, as well as the ideal times to take rest and breaks.
While a structured work/break system does work, it’s far from optimal. When working from home, employees will self-manage their energy levels to ensure they work when they feel their best.
Personal Growth and Development
While the internet and modern computing have afforded us the ability to work from home in a technical sense, companies demanding that employees be on-premises have meant that you were always somewhat limited in the jobs you were eligible for.
The office needs to be accessible in a timely fashion, and you have to enjoy the city or region you’re living in on a personal level too, or the job simply wouldn’t be worth it.
This is something that we’ve seen shift as more and more companies are open to the prospect of remote working. Here’s an overview of the ways remote work can allow you to achieve your full potential in your chosen career.
The Global Job Market
The biggest benefit is that you’re given access to the global job market. You’re able to pursue the career you want with the companies you want, all while living in an area that's conducive to the way you want to live your life. You can live near elderly parents or stay in the city you wish to raise your kids in without hampering your potential career opportunities due to geographical location.
Self-Reliance and Discipline
There is a strong link between working from home and developing important soft skills such as time management, productivity, and scheduling. With fewer external controls from team leaders and management, you’re able to take on greater responsibility when it comes to managing your work.
This also requires you to develop other important skills like communication, as you need to keep your team and leaders aware of where you are on your current projects.
These kinds of social and management skills are heavily reinforced through remote work and are universally beneficial to almost any career path you may want to take.
Benefits for Productivity and Efficiency
While it’s easy to think of the home environment as being filled with distractions, the truth is that it’s the office where the majority of workplace distractions lie. This could be from noisy coworkers who would rather gossip than work, endless meetings, and unproductive ‘busywork’ where no tangible progress is being made. Office environments, despite their intent, can be unconducive to focused productivity.
However, at home, the worker can customize the environment to perfectly suit them. They can create a workspace that’s as quiet or loud as they like, set the temperature to whatever is most comfortable for them, and decorate their office space how they like instead of having to conform to a bland office aesthetic. They are able to create the ultimate personalized space that allows them to operate at their best in a way you simply can’t in a shared office environment.
It’s Cheaper
Running your staff "in the office" is often far more expensive than you’d think.
Between commuting costs, building and office expenses, and factoring in the time spent traveling, it’s easy to see how remote work can offer substantial monetary savings for both employers and employees.
Let's take a deeper look at how remote work can save money for everyone.
Cost Reductions for Employers
There are significant overhead costs associated with having employees on the premises. You need office space, utilities, heating, cooling, and to supply everyone with quality computers and a good internet connection.
When your entire workforce, or at least a portion of it, doesn’t need to be on-premises, you can reduce the amount of office space you need to supply and maintain at any given time.
This doesn’t mean that you never have anyone on-site, but it means you can downsize all of those overheads, resulting in substantial monetary savings each year.
Cost Reductions for Employees
When an employee works on-site, there are various daily expenses they have to account for, such as coffee, lunch, snacks, and even gas for the daily commute. By reducing their total on-site work time, they can free up some of this money, which eases the financial burden and allows them to allocate those savings to something more rewarding, like leisure activities.
Overall, the cost savings that remote work-from-home plans offer both employees and employers can be substantial. These financial incentives make remote work a very attractive prospect for all parties.
Positive Environmental Impact
Customers want the businesses they use to be green, have a low environmental footprint, and produce low carbon emissions.
Let’s take a look at the various ways remote working can help lower your business's environmental impact:
1. Lowering Traffic Congestion:
Most businesses have employees arrive around the same time, which means during those first few hours of the morning, there is a large amount of traffic on the roads.
By having a portion of your workforce stay home, you can ease the burden on the city's congestion issues. This means there’s less total pollution, less noise, and a lower chance of accidents.
2. Reduce Office Consumption:
Busy office environments use a lot of energy, whether it be lighting, heating, cooling, or electronics. These are large spaces that are not particularly efficient when it comes to energy management.
People's homes are often far more energy-efficient and provide a more environmentally sound way to keep employees comfortable throughout the day.
As more and more businesses embrace this model, we will see a cumulative reduction in energy waste and emissions output, which will benefit both the planet and our personal lives.
Power Redundancy
A key point in keeping home workers productive is having a reliable power source. Power outages are an unfortunate part of life, and in a busy office, they render everyone unable to work.
However, these days, reliable portable energy storage devices, such as portable home power solutions, are easily available and affordable to the average home worker. These can be particularly useful when there’s important work to be done, as they allow workers to continue their work for even an entire day without interruption during an outage.
Businesses want to avoid downtime as much as possible. So, things like blackouts or temporary power outages can be a real problem if they occur at an inopportune time. When a worker has access to a portable power solution, they are able to continue working uninterrupted, which can really save the day when there’s a deadline due or an important meeting that cannot be postponed.
Prepared for All Occasions
Having a reliable power station can protect against unexpected device shutdowns, keep work safe and secure, and even give workers time to wrap up what they were doing.
Modern power stations come with a variety of charging options, allowing them to keep devices such as laptops, smartphones, and other business-related electronics up and running.
They’re also portable and convenient to travel with, meaning even when on trips, it’s very easy to set up a fully functional office space in a hotel room or even outdoors so that important work can always be addressed.
Which Power Station Is the Best for Working From Home?
The truth is that there are a lot of power solutions available, and it can be very difficult to know which one will work best for your needs.
Here’s our overview of the two best portable power stations that we feel can fulfill all of your remote work needs.
Bluetti AC180
The Bluetti AC180 is a high-capacity portable power station designed for users who need reliable and lasting energy storage. With a 1,152Wh battery capacity and a 1,800W pure sine wave inverter (with a 2,700W surge power capability), this unit can handle a wide range of power needs, from charging laptops and smartphones to running small appliances like mini-fridges and coffee makers.
- Fast Charging: Supports 1,440W AC input, allowing it to charge from 0 to 80% in just 45 minutes.
- Multiple Output Ports: Includes four AC outlets, USB-A, USB-C (100W), a DC car port, and wireless charging pads, making it a versatile option for various devices.
- Solar Compatibility: Supports up to 500W solar input, making it an excellent choice for off-grid living or outdoor adventures.
This makes the AC180 a robust choice for home backup power, camping, and even remote work setups where consistent energy is crucial.
Bluetti AC70
For those seeking a more compact and portable power station, the Bluetti AC70 provides an excellent balance between power and convenience. With a 768Wh battery capacity and a 1,000W inverter (with a 2,000W surge power capability), the AC70 is ideal for mobile workstations, small electronics, and travel needs.
- Fast Charging: Charges from 0 to 80% in 45 minutes with 850W AC input.
- Multiple Output Options: Features two AC outlets, USB-A, USB-C (100W), a DC car port, and wireless charging, making it highly adaptable for various power requirements.
- Lightweight and Portable: Weighing only 22 lbs (10 kg), it is easy to transport for road trips, van life, or emergency power needs.
- Solar Ready: Accepts 500W solar input, allowing for sustainable and off-grid charging options.
Both models offer a dependable power solution for remote work, ensuring seamless productivity and convenience regardless of external power conditions.
| BLUETTI AC180 |
BLUETTI AC70 |
|
|
Capacity |
1,152Wh |
768Wh |
|
AC Output |
4 x 120V/15A, 1800W In Total |
2×120V/8.33A, 1,000W in Total |
|
Recharge Time |
1.3-1.8 Hours (AC input) |
1.3-1.6 Hours (AC input) |
|
Surge Power |
2700W |
1500W |
|
Weight |
35.27lbs / 16kg |
22.5 lbs / 10.2kg |
|
Use Cases |
RVs, small appliances, emergency backup, outdoor activities |
Phones, laptops, small appliances, emergency backup |
Redefining The Office
Remote work offers a wealth of benefits, from flexibility to cost savings. Employees can manage their time more effectively, balancing work and personal life. This flexibility not only reduces stress but also improves overall well-being. The ability to work from anywhere fosters invaluable work-life harmony.
Cost savings are another key advantage. Employees no longer need to spend money on commuting, lunch, or professional attire. Employers also save on office space and utilities.
As we look ahead, remote work presents a future-forward approach for both employees and employers. It’s clear that this model isn’t just a trend; it’s a sustainable and practical choice for the modern workforce.
