Software Development
May 17, 2022

Working Full Time As A Remote Developer: The Good and The Bad

Working Full Time As A Remote Developer: The Good and The Bad

Working Full Time As A Remote Developer: The Good and The Bad

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If you’re a work-from-home developer, chances are you’re looking to maximize your productivity. Working from home has many perks, and many don’t mind working from home permanently. Even then, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows; remote work has its own set of challenges.

Knowing the pros and cons of working as a full-time remote developer can help if you're looking to improve your remote work productivity. Here’s everything good and bad about working as a remote developer full-time. This can help you see if working from home is right for you.

The Good: Better Work Flexibility

One of the biggest pros of working remotely is deciding where, when, and how to get things done. You get to choose your work environment. Whether you like to work from home, in a coffee shop, or in your favorite coworking space, you control your working environment.

You can set up your home as your office, use a local café as a co-working space, or find a coworking space you like most. It makes it easier to balance work and life when you can switch locations easily.

The flexibility of working remotely is a huge plus. You can manage your schedule, take time off, and work from home. You can maintain a regular work schedule but take a break whenever you need to. 

The Bad: No Face-Time

The biggest con to being a home-based software developer is the lack of face-time. Some might say this is a pro because you get the chance to get away from distractions. You can focus on your work without being bothered. However, it can be tough to develop good relationships with your co-workers. 

To keep a healthy and successful organization, most companies opt to have teams in the office. This allows for better physical collaboration and camaraderie in the office. Face-to-face time with your colleagues is vital for improving teamwork.

Some people can’t handle the lack of face time and still prefer a “traditional” office-like environment. Building rapport and trust with a team can be challenging if you’re only communicating online. It can be difficult for team members to get to know and trust you.  

Some developers may also feel isolated and lonely. The absence of face-to-face communication can make some people feel a bit disappointed. This isn’t to say that you can’t have in-person meetings, just that it can be challenging to manage. 

The Good: Improved Focus

As a web developer, you probably deal with many emails, phone calls, and random messages. The distraction can be huge. Constant interruptions can make you lose track of what you are doing. 

When you work from an office, you may get distracted by things around you. It can be hard to stay focused. You can waste a lot of time on things like checking your email and chatting with colleagues. When you’re a stay-at-home freelancer, you don’t have to worry about this as much.  

No, you won’t get distracted by the coffee machine, the water cooler, or the office chatter. You can focus solely on the task at hand. When you work from the comfort of your home, you can fully concentrate on the tasks at hand. You can focus without any distractions.

The Bad: No Leadership

Some programmers may find it challenging to maintain their motivation when they have no leader. It’s hard to stay accountable for your own actions when no manager or supervisor is around. When working from home, you need to be a self-starter; otherwise, you risk losing productivity.

It’s easy to miss out on crucial deadlines when working from home. You may fail to complete your projects on time, or you may not provide your customers with high-quality deliverables. 

It can be hard to stay on track when you are working on your own. It’s easy to get distracted. This can result in poor time management and wasted hours.   

The Good: Increased Productivity

When you don’t have to commute to the office, you can increase your productivity and get things done faster. You can wake up early and start your day right away. 

Remote workers can complete the same amount of work as traditional office workers but in less time. You can boost your output when you have more time on your hands.

When you work in a full-time telecommuting position, you can increase your productivity and efficiency. You can spend fewer hours and get more done while you relax in the comfort of your own home office. You can leave the office at a reasonable hour and spend more time with your family. 

When you leave work at a standard, non-workplace location, you have the freedom to move about. You can move around, get things done, complete your tasks and get back to work quickly. You can finish a project in as little time as possible. 

The Bad: Poor Health and Loneliness 

When you don’t work in an office, you can have poor mental and physical health. It can affect you in multiple ways. You won’t get fresh air when you sit at home all day or lack the motivation to exercise.

Working with no breaks can be stressful. If you don’t take regular breaks, you can drain all your energy and become exhausted. This can cause issues in the long run.  

When you work in solitude, you can suffer from loneliness. It can get a bit overwhelming being on your own all day long. This can impact your mental health.  

The Good: Lower Stress Levels

When you aren’t at the office, you can decrease your stress level. It can be helpful for your physical and mental wellness. When you reduce the amount of time you spend commuting and dealing with traffic, you can lower your stress levels.      

When you spend a lot of time on the road, it can wear you down. Keeping an eye on traffic, worrying about being late, and being stuck in horrendous traffic jams can take a toll.  

You can lower your overall stress and anxiety when you eliminate these stressors. You can become more productive and efficient when you de-clutter your workspace. 

You can improve your physical and mental health by dealing with these unnecessary pressures and stresses.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the pros of working in a home office outweigh the cons. When you work as a full or part-time freelance programmer, you get to control your working hours. You can optimize your workflow and increase productivity. You can organize your time and get the job done. 

Being a self-employed worker has its pros and cons. You can maintain your work-life balance when you ditch the 9 to 5 job. You can maintain a healthy work/life balance when choosing a more flexible and flexible career. 

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