Up until more recent years, jobs and flexibility weren’t often two things that went hand in hand. Employers would set the hours and you’d have to be there, regardless of how convenient this was for you based on everything else going on in your life. While many jobs still are this way, flexibility is something that’s really emerged in the modern world. Thanks to the internet, many of us can now work from home during the hours that suit us. This could be on our own venture such as a home business or freelancing, or it could be as a remote worker for an employer. More and more companies are realising the benefits of giving their employees flexibility, which involves the ability to work from home as well as choose hours that suit them. If you’re thinking of changing careers or getting a new job then here are some of the reasons why finding something flexible could be so beneficial.

You can juggle work and parenthood 

Juggling work and motherhood is something that women have struggled with since the dawn of modern times. When you have a baby then they will always be your priority, however you might still want to (or need to) work and earn money. A flexible job allows you to meet your own personal goals in terms of career, you don’t have to have a huge gap on your resume and can continue earning money to support your family without having to spend lots of money on childcare costs. Mothers can monetise a blog, run a home business, sign up to a freelancing site and take on projects on there, or be a remote worker. The great thing about remote working is that you have a guaranteed income but your tasks can be done in a way that suits you. Most companies will send work over with a deadline, and as long as it’s done by the deadline then you’re free to choose your hours. This means you can work when your kids are at school or taking a nap, or just in the evening while they’re doing homework. If you need to take a few hours out to go to a doctors appointment, an awards assembly or your child’s sports day then you can do- simply make up the time later that day. In standard workplaces, even part time work means set hours which might not always suit your situation. If for example the job requires you to work from 10am to 3pm but you need to leave by 2.30 to pick up your kids from school on time then it’s going to cause issues. With a flexible job, you simply don’t have that problem. 

You can build other skills

Many of us fall into a rut with our routines. We work, we eat, we sleep and we repeat. Getting ready for work, travelling to work, spending the day at work and then getting home takes up basically all of our day. By the time we get home, we’ve very little brain power left for anything else. However, when you have a flexible job, particularly one that’s from home then you don’t have that issue. You wake up and you’re ready to go as soon as you switch on your computer so there’s no long commute. You don’t have to spend time in the morning getting yourself looking presentable so you save time there. All of these extra minutes add up, and mean that you have more time for other things. Maybe you want to sign up for an online course and improve your education, or perhaps you want to join the gym and start a fitness routine. With a flexible job you can go any time during the day, no need to be stuck in a packed gym at peak times. No need to miss that class you really want to go to because it’s being held during the day, you can go and enjoy your hobby or class and then make up the time that evening. 

You’ll be happier

Due to all of the reasons above, working a flexible job is likely to make you happier. You can work during the hours that suit you, when you naturally feel energetic or that fit in with your life and other commitments. You can fit work around your life, rather than the other way around. You’ll be able to arrange and organise your days better so that you can get more done, things that aren’t purely work related. Whether you want to study, exercise, spend time with friends and family or travel, a flexible job can fit around all of this. If you feel unwell you can sleep in a little later and do your work when you feel better, rather than having to force yourself to get to a workplace and act perky in front of customers and colleagues. If you have other things to do during the day, a flexible job enables you to get them done.

Companies are discovering the benefits of letting their employees work from home, this is something you could ask your boss if you work the kind of job that’s mainly online. Not to mention that there are now tonnes of opportunities to work for yourself and become your own boss these days, that it’s realistic to be able to find a flexible job if you want one.

Are your working hours flexible or are you on a strict timetable?