Most people work in offices away from their home.
So when the opportunity arises to do home based work they get pretty excited and readily accept.
But is home based work good for everybody? Today we look at the good, bad and ugly of working from home to see if it is really ideal for you.
Advantages

1. Less commute time.
   Not having to fight the morning and afternoon snarl to and from work daily is a great advantage in working from home.
   Some people spend literally hours in the car commuting.
   This is wasteful time which could be better spent.
   
2. More flexibility.
   Usually those who work at home have more time flexibility around their work schedule.
   Because your office is so close you can mix up when you start and finish' especially if you operate a work at home business over a job.
   
3. Betterwork life balance Working from home gives you options of being able to have a better balance between you and work.
   You can have some more down time without the prying eyes of your peers looking over your shoulders.
   Because you are saving a heap of travelling time, you can use that time to participate in your favourite exercise program - go for a walk or engage in some yoga, pilates or even a gym session.
   
4. More family time.
   Not having to rush out the door gives you more time at home with your family.
   You can spend more time over breakfast together and even take your children to school if you want.
   

So those options seem very beneficial to working at home.
But what's the downside.
Disadvantages

1. Coping with distractions.
   Are you disciplined with your time and can you effectively manage distractions.
   Doing a load of washing at 11 am, watching Oprah at midday or chatting on the phone to a friend for an hour are some of the time stealers you'll need to manage.
   
2. Isolation.
   Yes working away from some of your fellow co-workers maybe a blessing, but how do you handle working on your own.
   Do you miss connecting with people on a daily basis?
3. Longer hours.
   Strangely enough a lot of people who work at home tend to work longer hours.
   Because the office is in the next room, there is a temptation to pop into the office at 9.
   30pm to finish off a couple of emails.
   Work at home entrepreneurs need to be diligent with their work hours and keep to a schedule.
   
4. Unhealthy habits.
   Because the office is in your home you tend to spend more time at your fridge.
   Snacking throughout the day especially on fatty, highly sugared snacks can become a problem for your waistline.
   The once good intentions of having more exercise time can soon become another chore and your health can suffer.
   

Again it's important to keeps these possible disadvantages in check.
If not done home based work can become ugly.
The biggest issue here is how working from home can effect your mental state.
Lack of people contact can cause some people a lot of stress.
The idea of being around family also takes on a new persona.
While you now have more flexibility with your time schedule, members of your family who work in a traditional job may not.
They still have commitments they need to complete around their jobs.
So the option of spending more time with your spouse may not come together because of your different work lifestyles.
Allowed to fester then this could lead to serious marital problems.
Don't let this happen.
Overall, home based work gives you options.
If you are disciplined with your time, you can take advantage of your work's flexible hours to help engage more with your family, improve your health and have a better life.
Working at home is a growing option and it maybe the right option for you.