Have you ever considered quitting your job and going freelance? In the age of the Internet, there are more ways than ever to make money from the comfort of your sofa. Changing jobs or career direction can be challenging, which is why you should look at the positive and negative aspects in equal measure before making an informed decision.

Pro: No Boss

Being micromanaged by an over-attentive boss can be stressful and you may even find it hinders your creativity. At home, you can spend your time delivering your services or product to your customers. A survey conducted by Microsoft has shown that 38% of employees feel that working from home is a less stressful environment than the workplace. You are your own boss.

Con: Chores Mount Up

Without someone there to discipline your time, you may find that household chores pile up in favor of working around the clock. You will need to manage your time to avoid procrastinating over things that would normally take place outside of working hours. Creating a home office can help you to separate work from home life.

Pro: More Freedom

There is no commute in the morning so you are free to get up a little later than usual. Office hours are reduced in this way meaning you have more free time and you can organize your schedule according to what suits you best.

Con: Requires More Self-Discipline

No set hours can make it easy to get up late, relax for too long or take longer breaks from work than is necessary. To avoid getting behind in work, you should set goals for yourself. Start by setting daily targets that you must reach and estimate how much time you will need to achieve them.

Pro: Spend More Time with Loved Ones

More time at home means more time with the kids or significant other. This is also financially beneficial as there is no need to employ outside help for children or someone you are caring for. Just be sure to manage your working time accordingly to meet your goals.

Con: Few Outside Relationships

When working at home you may miss the input of a team or the camaraderie between you and your colleagues. Building relationships can also lead to a promotion so you may have to put a bit of effort in to make contacts.

With some discipline, you can make working from home work for you. You may be able to split your time between working at the office and from home, which can be a better balance for forming relationships and making your way up the career ladder.

This blog was written by Jenny Holt, a freelance writer and mother of two. She loves nothing more than getting away from it all and taking her pet Labrador Bruce for long walks, something she can do a lot more now she’s left the corporate world behind.