11 Reasons To Be Grateful for Remote Work During the Holidays

Working from home certainly has its advantages. Creating work-life balance, spending more time with family, and enhanced flexibility are all powerful perks. But near the end of the year, you have even more reasons for gratitude. Suddenly, these perks morph into something spectacular; something that regular desk jobs can’t emulate: freedom. And while that’s not the only benefit of remote work during the Christmas season, it’s surely one of the many advantages that make virtual professionals thankful. Here are the numerous other reasons to be grateful for remote work during the holidays.

1. Avoiding COVID

COVID numbers have spiked since a lull in late summer. And unfortunately, many people’s employment situations force them into potential exposure to the virus at a brick-and-mortar workplace. While social distancing, mask-wearing, and other safety practices can help prevent the spread of the virus, some workers still run the risk of contracting the disease.

But as a remote worker, the chances of COVID infection are far less than traditional workers. From a physical and mental health perspective, this is perhaps the foremost reason to be grateful for remote work during the holidays. Even if people are far less likely to go to movies, the mall, or social outings, the fear of exposure remains high. Tucked away in your home office, you don’t have to go into full-on crisis mode. Work aside, this is a true blessing.

2. Skipping the Weird, Awkward Work Christmas Party

Although virtual holiday parties are becoming the norm—even before the pandemic—they’re far more flexible with respect to your time and schedule. You can do a quick virtual pop-in, do some well-wishing, and you’re back to family time or baking cookies. Plus, you’re doing it all from the comfort of your home.

More importantly, you can skip the traditionally and perennially awkward work Christmas party. Maybe you love everyone you work with, but not everyone’s that lucky. You have to listen to Sharon from accounting talk about her various ailments or Chris from sales show you 1,000 photos of his kids. At least during a normal workday, you can escape back to your desk.

But during the Christmas party, you’re stranded. You’re constantly watching the clock, counting down the hours until it ends. Or you’re grabbing a cocktail or two to break the monotony. Either way, you have to endure the company of others who don’t share the same interests as you do. Thank goodness the virtual holiday work party provides an outlet or an escape route. Even if you like chatting with your colleagues, you can bounce when the urge strikes you. And that’s one spectacular reason to be grateful for remote work during the holidays.

3. No Political or Religious Conversations

As this 1998 article from The Chicago Tribune illustrates, political and religious conversations have been taboo in social situations for decades. Even over the last 20 years, this mantra been the accepted etiquette in most social circles. But with the advent of 24/7 news and social media, some cheeky co-workers surely cross the line between everyday banter and their thoughts on the separation of church and state. You may have your opinions on the topic, but some things are better left unsaid in the workplace.

That’s why remote workers should rejoice. Although you may follow elections and the latest Supreme Court case, no one’s bombarding you with their stance on them. You’re free to keep the online conversation civilized, throw in a few funny work from home memes, or remain a secretive introvert. The choice is entirely up to you. That’s something to take comfort in.

4. Packing Away Some Dough

With the holidays coming up, you may have an extensive shopping list. Sure, you could find some affordable stocking stuffers, but those close to you may have fancier tastes. A PlayStation, new guitar, big-screen television, or other items don’t come cheap. Yet as a remote worker, you just might find you have a bit of extra cash packed away over the course of the year. Without paying for a commute, car maintenance, daily Starbucks trips, or eating out for lunch, you save a substantial chunk of your income. What you do with that money is up to you. Put it away for a rainy day, invest it, spend it on yourself, or blow it all on something that will make you a gift-giving legend.

5. No Commuting

According to the latest statistics, the average American spends 26.1 minutes on each one-way commute. Do some math, and you’ll find that this totals over nine days a year spent driving to and from work. Put that over a 40-year work history, and you’re looking at nearly one year of your life commuting. That’s a sizable amount of time that could be best spent in other ways.

And that’s just another reason to be grateful for remote work during the holidays. With the time and money you’ve saved from a lack of a commute, the holidays are the ideal time to spend your extra cash on loved ones or showcase the talents, knowledge, and skills you’ve achieved with the additional time you’ve had. So whether you’ve gotten more fit, learned a foreign language, or just mastered Trivial Pursuit, the holidays are when you can reflect on how you’ve grown just from ditching the commute.

6. Flexibility

Flexibility is one of the greatest accouterments of working from home. Oftentimes, you can set your own schedule, allowing you to complete errands or do some other type of tasks throughout the day. During the holidays, the flexibility of remote work becomes even more apparent. Do you have to attend virtual Christmas parties with both sides of the family plus your work holiday party? Well, it’s no problem. Or do you need some extra time to prepare a delectable, five-course holiday dinner? You can do that, too. In many facets, you have the flexibility to do what you want when you want. And that’s something that comes in handy during the hectic and stressful holiday season.

7. Freedom

The freedom to do what you want lies hand-in-hand with remote work and is a sibling of flexibility. But total freedom that comes with working from home is so much more. When you have total freedom, you can conduct your personal and professional matters as you see fit. Want to head to the Caribbean to get away from the cold? Do it. Want to go to a holiday lights show? Hop in the car. The idea here is that freedom gives you the opportunity to do all those things you’ve been excited about but may not have had time to do throughout the year. Take full advantage, and you just might find a bit of extra holiday cheer this year.

8. Bringing the Holiday Cheer How You Want, When You Want

Each year, Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier. On November 1, you’re already seeing Christmas trees and hearing Christmas music. And while complaining about the early-onset Christmas has become a popular topic, perhaps you’re secretly in love with it. Maybe you put Christmas decorations up right after taking Halloween decor down. Or maybe you pop in your favorite Bing Crosby or Michael Bublé Christmas album in mid-November.

As a remote worker, you don’t have to answer to anyone. Co-workers who would normally complain about such a zest for Christmas aren’t there to berate you. So fire up the yuletide log, put up the Christmas tree, and listen to your favorite Christmas jams whenever you want. No one’s around to complain.

9. Giving Something Back

You have plenty to be thankful for throughout the year, especially when you consider how many people have less fortunate circumstances than yourself. So when the holidays roll around, remote work gives you plenty of chances to give back through virtual volunteering or at home. With a seemingly endless amount of volunteer options, you can donate your time to a worthwhile charity or organization. Or if you want to get your eyes off your laptop, you can do that as well. The idea is to enrich your community or the world around you. Not only will you improve someone else’s life, but you’ll also feel good doing it. That’s a Christmas gift you’ll be proud to offer.

10. Staying on Top of Work

Office dwellers usually have a decent amount of time off work during the holidays; remote workers may also have a similar work arrangement. But what if you’re a workaholic or you want to get ahead? Traditional onsite or office workers aren’t given this opportunity. Yet remote workers are granted the chance to set themselves up for success next year. Maybe you’re a Scrooge, or you just have too much idle time on your hands. Either way, you can get behind your computer and get to work. The professional in you will definitely be grateful for remote work during the holidays.

11. Enjoying the Excitement of Sports

The holiday season is synonymous with buzzer-beaters, last-second field goals, and 10 consecutive hours of pregame coverage. If you’re a sports fan, this time of the year is essentially the holy grail. Although remote work allows you to watch sports throughout the year, remote work can give you the added flexibility to watch an 8 a.m. English Premier League match, a noon NFL kickoff, and a late-night college basketball game. Or if you’re a more hands-on person, get out and play a game or two on your own. Either way, you can enjoy the competitive nature of sports without the guilt of missing work.

With more time with family (yes, the in-laws, too), time for yourself, and an opportunity to set yourself up for success next year, you can be grateful for remote work during the holidays without sacrificing your professional life. All you need to do is use your time wisely. Because once the calendar hits January 1st, it’s time to hit the grind. But with the flexibility and freedom you have, a new year packed with success probably isn’t too far off.

Why are you grateful for remote work during the holidays? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you!