12 Reasons to Consider Working From Home (And 11 to Not)

Giving up your twice-daily commute sounds delightful, as do many of the other perks that come with working from home. Ditching an actual office for a home office, or even your couch isn't right for everyone. There are a lot of things that make working from home seem like a great day, but there are almost an equal amount of reasons to at least consider not doing it.

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Time spent commuting is more or less time wasted. Sure, you may listen to music, your favorite talk radio host, or a podcast, but you can also do those things at your home. Not having to commute to work saves you money on gas and car repairs, not to mention it adds time to your day.

Perhaps the only good thing about commuting is that it gives you some time at the beginning of the day to get ready for work and some time at the end to process. It's possible to build that sort of buffer at home -- maybe start the day with a walk and end with a little yoga -- but it's not automatic.

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If you have meetings over video you may have to meet some sort of dress standard. If you don't, then you can more or less wear whatever you want and push your morning shower until after you go to the gym.

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It's great to occasionally have a day where you keep your pajamas on and forget to brush your hair. When that becomes the norm, however, we lose any reason to dress up even a little and become the sort of person who is at the grocery store in their pjs.

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When you work at home you can open the door for deliveries or have contractors come to make repairs. It's convenient that you don't have to take time off to handle these routine things that don't involve you being much more than present.

When you work from home, your friends and family tend to assume you have total freedom. That means they can expect you to pick them up at the airport or take them to doctor's appointments.

You may have that level of freedom or you might not. It's harder to get people to respect your workday when it's not happening at a traditional office.

Have a break during the day? You can watch TV, do the laundry, or even jump in the pool (if you're lucky enough to have one). That's not something you can do easily at the office.

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Your office probably does not have an Xbox and, if it does, there are likely rules about when you can play. When you work at home it can be easy to get distracted by all of your possessions.

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If you work from home, you're home more. You can get the kids off to school and be there when they return. You can also handle sick days, random no-school days, and other hurdles because you're not going into an office.

At the office, you never have to stop working because your kids are fighting. You also have a professional environment that does not have the background noise that often goes along with working from home.

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Working from home really means working not from an office. That gives you flexibility to travel and be places during the work week that you otherwise may not have been able to go.

When you're not in the office it can be harder to make an impression on your boss. Sometimes simply not being present can lead to you having a lower profile and that could mean being passed over for promotions or other opportunities.

It's tempting when you work in an office to go out to eat. At home, it's easier to cook or eat leftovers. That sounds like a small thing, but the savings can add up.

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When you work at home, it can be lonely. You may interact with coworkers on the phone or electronically, but that's not the same as interacting in the office.

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If you have a home office, you may qualify for a tax deduction. You only qualify, however, if the space is only used as an office -- dual-use areas don't count.

If your home is your office, it can be hard to not answer an email late at night. There is no separation, and that can make it feel like you are always working.

Need to take a call from your doctor? Do you have to do something you would rather not share with your boss? When you work from home, it can be a lot easier to keep your personal business personal.

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Offices have coffee -- some have really nice coffee that you don't have to make. By working from home you give up perks like coffee service, snacks, and your slice of office birthday cake.

Even if your office allows you the time to go to the gym, doing so can be a challenge. You have to shower after, then get dressed back up in office clothes.

Home-based workers can work out early or late. They can sneak a workout in mid-day, but put off showering until the end of the business day.

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If your boss is angry and you see him or her, you can usually tell. A terse Slack or text message may mean disapproval or anger. It could also mean that he or she was rushed. It can be hard to know when you're working from home.

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Some companies offer perks for work-from-home employees. That can be everything from an allowance to buy furniture to help paying for your internet or, really, anything else. Even if your company does not do this as a policy, you may be able to negotiate some benefits.

Nobody wants sick people to come to work and infect everyone else. When you work from home, your employer may be less sympathetic to how you feel and expect you to work through illness.

Have the sniffles or a minor illness? The office may not want you, but you can still be productive from home.

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