What Would The World Look Like If Everyone Worked From Home?

Have you ever wanted to work from home? The idea of rolling out of bed whenever you want and working from home can seem like a dream come true. This is a thought many of us share when we see people working from home.

As someone who does work from home, I can reassure you that I do not simply get up whenever I want and start work in my pyjamas. So please do put that thought to bed.

Anyway I digress, it seems as if we'll see more people working from home in the near future. In a recent survey of business leaders at the Global Leadership Summit in London, 34% of companies have said their workforce would be working remotely by 2020. 

The year 2020 is not that far away, but it got me thinking... what would the world look like if everyone worked from home?

Here are 7 things that come to mind:

1. No More Rush Hour

If everyone worked from home, then we wouldn't have a reason to commute to work. Just imagine not having to grit your teeth while you're stuck in what seems like never-ending traffic? Or not being squished on the tube? People will be more relaxed.

Plus, it is good for the environment since we're emitting fewer fumes from our cars and other modes of transport. RELATED: 5 Signs You're Not Meant For An Office Role

2. Freedom to Work Whenever You Want (as Long as You Hit Deadlines)

The flexibility that comes with working from home is a huge advantage. You can work whenever you want, and wherever you want. The added flexibility gives you plenty of freedom to attend any personal commitments, whether that may be seeing to your kids, walking your dog or do a spot of travelling.

That is, as long as you are able to hit your deadlines and submit good quality work consistently, then you'll be fine.

3. Work For Any Company, No Matter Where They Are

Remote working has opened up opportunities for employers to hire the best talent wherever they are in the world. Part of the reason why the gig economy is growing is that it enables companies to hire freelancers to complete clearly defined objectives. It is cost-effective and saves time. 

But for you, having to avoid the hassle of relocating to work for another company can save you a lot of money. And it is convenient too.

REMOTE STUDYING: Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

4. Better Communication and Collaborative Tools

Perhaps the main setbacks to working from home are communication and the risk of feeling isolated. In a conventional office setting, you get to have the occasional chit-chat with your colleagues over at the water cooler. And for people who love face-to-face interaction, having to work from home and not having anyone to work with can lead to loneliness. 

Thanks to technological innovation, we are seeing advancements in both communication and collaborative tools. Tools like Slack have improved collaboration and communication between remote workers and management. Also, tools like Skype and FaceTime have enabled us to conduct video-chat and actually put a face to the people we work with remotely. 

And that's just the beginning. We'll definitely see new and exciting communication and collaboration tools that can help us feel more connected while working remotely. So, the future definitely holds more Apps and websites.

5. You and Your Employers Will Be Happier

In a survey by TinyPulse, when remote workers were asked how happy they were at work on a scale of 1 to 10, the average score was 8.1. In a world where everyone will work from home, you're more likely to be happier. And the same goes for your employer. Your employer will also share the same benefits of working from home, and they'll save a huge cost of renting out an office.

RELATED: Rewarding Jobs That Aren't In Offices Behind Desks

6. Better Productivity

In the TinyPulse study mentioned above, 91% of remote workers said they are more productive due to working from home.

Being productive has its advantages. You will be able to get more work done and waste very little time. And on days when you are not as busy, you can even finish early. Remember, there are no set working hours to follow, so you don't have to sit at your laptop if you do not have anything to do.

7. More Time With Family

The long commute and the demanding work schedule can have an impact on how much time you spend with your family. Research has shown that spending time with family is hugely beneficial. It has proven to relieve stress and nurture healthy bonds. 

So, in a world where everyone worked remotely, everyone would also have more time to spend with their loved ones. Unless you're a workaholic who dreads family time, this has to be a wonderful aspect of freelance work. REMOTE STUDYING: Functional Skills in Maths: Level 1 & 2

Is It Possible For Everyone to Work From Home?

While writing this article, I did start thinking about whether this was actually possible. Remote working would work in some sectors but definitely not all. While it's possible for people who work in an office environment since most organisations are connected to the web, for other industries such as manufacturing, health and social care and hospitality, working from home would not be practical. And let's not forget about teaching. Would you prefer if your child stayed at home for most of their education and completed their syllabus through the internet? But for some adult courses that can be completed through online distant learning, remote studying can prove to be advantageous. For others, nothing is better than some traditional, face-to-face, classroom teaching. Thanks for reading. What are your thoughts on this? Do you work from home or have you ever been tempted to? Please let us know in the comments section below.