I’ve been working from home for a few months now, and because of that I’ve heard a number of myths about what it’s like to work remotely.
Whether you run your own business from home or telecommute for an employer, many of these misconceptions are common. I love working from home and wouldn’t trade it, but it’s not without challenges—and some of the myths people repeat are simply off base.
Below I’ve addressed the most common misconceptions about working from home based on my experience. I used to believe some of them myself, so I don’t judge anyone for assuming these things.
You’ll have time to work out all the time.
I expected to exercise more after moving my office home, especially since we have a full gym in the basement. While I do work out more now than before, it took time to build a consistent habit. The main issue is that I tend to delay exercise until I’ve finished most of my work for the day—there will always be more work. The solution is creating a fixed schedule for workouts so they don’t become another excuse.
Aren’t all work-from-home jobs scams?
When I tell people what I do, some immediately suspect it’s a scam. There are certainly scams out there, and they give legitimate home businesses a bad reputation. But not all work-from-home jobs are fraudulent. I run a legitimate business and treat it like any other professional operation.
It’s easy to just stop working.
Turning off work is harder than most people think. As a business owner—especially in the early stages—you often feel compelled to keep going, even while on vacation. Separating work and personal life takes conscious effort and boundaries; otherwise, work tends to fill every available moment.
You’re not actually working.
Some assume that working from home means you aren’t doing real work. I’ve had people ask for a detailed daily schedule to “prove” that I’m busy. The truth is I work hard—often harder than in a traditional job—and many tasks are invisible to others, which leads to the misconception.
You will spend all of your time on social media.
I expected to be sucked into social media all day, but I actually use platforms like Twitter and Facebook less since working from home. That said, I still spend more time online than I should; discipline and self-awareness help keep distractions in check.
You won’t have a social life.
I’m frequently asked whether I get lonely. Before self-employment I already worked alone a lot, so my social contact hasn’t diminished. I talk to people regularly—often virtually—so working from home doesn’t necessarily mean isolation. It does require intentional effort to cultivate face-to-face connections when they matter to you.
You will spend all of your time in pajamas.
This one is true for me. I wear pajamas or comfortable clothes a lot and joke about it, though I still take time to do my hair and makeup on many days. Comfortable attire like yoga pants becomes part of the routine, but it doesn’t mean you’re any less professional or productive.
What myths have you heard? Has anyone else experienced the same things?
I’d love to hear other perspectives—what assumptions did people make about your work-from-home experience that turned out to be wrong?