Creating the confidence you need, to achieve your goals and live the way you TRULY want to live, really takes something.

You need determination, focus and a never-say-die attitude.
You need to work on your mindset constantly, to strive for motivation and clarity of mind.
You also need to be grateful for what you have, acknowledge what you’ve achieved but also have the drive to set new goals… and work hard to achieve them!

SO… you thought you had it covered, right? You had a plan, you were working towards your goals and then… SOMETHING happened, that threw a spanner in the very complicated (and fragile) works.

For many people at the moment, working from home is one of the biggest challenges they are facing (if they are fortunate enough to still have a job) AND, it’s changed EVERYTHING.

BUT, working from home doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I’ve been doing it for YEARS and whilst it takes a certain mindset to make it happen, there are SO many things you can learn from this new experience, that will benefit you FOR LIFE.

So, here are the 4 most amazing, confidence-boosting benefits I’ve experienced whilst working from home.
 

1. A Stronger Sense of Control.

As a mum of two young children, there never seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done. BUT working from home has changed all of that for me.

By having a clear schedule on what needs to be done for the day (usually in the form of a list created the night before), I get to CHOOSE what my day looks like.
I firstly factor in my meetings and all essential work for the day. I get to control my health and eating habits better. I have the ability to work at times when I KNOW I’m most efficient and effective. AND I use low-energy or low-motivation times to throw on a load of washing, read a chapter of my favourite book or get dinner started.

The bottom line is, I get to CHOOSE what my day looks like, and that sense of control is both empowering and productivity-boosting.

2. Greater Sense of Autonomy and Independence.

There’s nothing like the feeling of achieving a goal and KNOWING that you got there on your own steam. And working from home is a great example of that.

It allows you to eliminate many of the distractions that come from working in a ‘busy’ environment. AND knowing that you are trusted to ‘get the job done’ gives you a fantastic sense of autonomy and achievement.

Often, working from home diminishes the ability for bosses to micro-manage EVERY task, because they usually know that it just can’t be done.

And THIS is fantastic for productivity and efficiency because human beings generally tend to operate better (and more calmly) when they DON’T have someone peering over their shoulder, just waiting to pounce on every mistake or slip-up.

3. Better Understanding of my Strengths and Capabilities.

Working from home has taught me things about myself that I never knew.

I now know (and definitively accept) that I am NOT a morning person. I choose NOT to get up at 5am for a jog, and I do NOT get my best work done at the crack of dawn – I’d rather be hitting the snooze button.

My heavy work gets done when I find my rhythm and hit my stride during the day and my most creative juices flow late at night when the kids are in bed and the rest of the world is sleeping.
By embracing the flexibility that working from home gives me, I’m able to use my strengths to the best of my ability, and work on my challenges when I know I have the best chance of conquering them.

AND, by having the freedom to decide when (and sometimes even where) I work, I’ve been able to give both my personal and professional lives the best version of me.

And that ALWAYS increases my confidence because I know I’m giving ALL elements of my life the attention they deserve.

…by having the freedom to decide when (and sometimes even where) I work, I’ve been able to give both my personal and professional lives the best version of me.

4. Clearer perspective on my goals.

I’ve always wanted a work-life balance that differed from the standard 9-5 office job. And whilst I know that very few people still follow this model, I feel like I’ve been lucky enough to create a life that fulfils me in SO many ways.

And this has to be one of the BIGGEST benefits of working from home for me.

I get to give my children the attention they deserve (and often demand). I have the flexibility to do what I need to do, when I need to do it. AND I get to pursue the most important thing I’ve ever aspired to…

I work to live, I DON’T live to work!

This goal, along with so many others, are so much more achievable for me because I have been given the incentives of flexibility, independence and self-determination.

So, the next time you feel tempted to moan that this ‘working from home’ thing is driving you crazy, try taking a moment to recognise ALL the amazing benefits you get, and how they can help you work, play and live just the way you’ve always wanted.

Written by Jodie Bruce-Clarke