Zero Commute

Since starting this blog almost a year ago, I haven’t written much about my experience working from home, but it has definitely been a big part of my greener living/creation care journey.  Since leaving the “normal” work world in September of 2004, I have learned a great deal about options for working from home, both from my own experience and from talking with others who either own and operate home businesses of some kind or work from home for larger companies.

The possibilities for working from home are endless, really.  As I begin these ‘2nd week of the month’ posts on home businesses, my first focus will be on the creation care benefits of working from home.

As we explore these ideas together, please keep in mind that working from home need not be limited to people who start their own home business of whatever kind.  More and more companies these days are allowing their employees to work out flexible schedules, either partially, or sometimes even fully from home.  If that’s something you’d like to do, consider approaching your boss about the idea.  This is not where my experience has been, so it won’t be a focus of my blog; however, many of the points we consider together will apply in both situations (employees or business owners) and if you want advice on how to approach your boss about working from home, I can put you in touch with people who have done it.  Just let me know if you want that info.  🙂

Working from home is not for everyone.  For starters, there are many professions that obviously cannot be worked from home.  We still need teachers in public school classrooms and doctors in emergency rooms, for example.  And for some personalities, working from home simply isn’t a fit.  Some folks find being at home far too distracting to really accomplish their work.  “Oh, let me finish up that laundry or those dishes first, then I’ll get my work done…”

So, please know that as we explore the ‘green living’ benefits of working from home, I am in no way suggesting that everyone should work from home.  That’s neither practical nor ideal.  Following the examples found in all creation, we need diversity to thrive.  The arena of work is no different.  And if you are best suited to work outside the walls of your house, then by all means do so!  Even if working from home is not part of your life, I hope you’ll still find these ‘week 2’ posts interesting and helpful.  Some of the ideas may still be applicable in your situation, and if nothing else, then perhaps you can pass ideas to others.

For those who are so inclined to work from home, let’s start by considering one of the most obvious benefits.  And I only choose to start here because of a recent experience…

A couple weeks ago, my hubby and I were driving up toward NY, and I was absolutely shocked by the number of buses lined up and literally crawling into the city.  The traffic was so bad!  And these were folks using public transportation.  Here is the string of thoughts that went through my head…  “Yikes!  Can you imagine if they were all in cars? …  We need double-decker buses. …  What if these people didn’t have to commute to work but could work from home instead? …”

Working from home has the obvious benefit of zero commute, which means fewer vehicles on the road, which means less traffic, which means less idling on the highways, which means less pollution, cleaner air, and fewer asthma attacks for children.  Less traffic and less idling also means better gas mileage, which means better stewarding of oil resources, which can in turn help protect the waterways, and on and on goes the ripple effect.

One other quick thought, for those who might be afraid of being stuck in their houses all day: Home-based does not have to mean home-bound.  I don’t know too many people who want to stay forever inside their houses.  Having a home business can still get you out of the house plenty.  As much or as little as you’d like really.  It just happens to be based at home (which offers a whole ‘nother set of benefits we’ll look at next month).

Even if your home business takes you out on the road every day, the power to decide not to be clogging up the roads during rush hour traffic is a huge benefit to both the planet and your sanity.  🙂