I Worked From Home for 10+ Years, Then Tried an In-Person Job – Here’s What Surprised Me

Most people think the biggest cost of having an in-person job is the commute, but it runs a lot deeper than that.

When you work from home for a long time, it’s easy to wonder what you’re missing. I’ve missed having coworkers, leaving the house for work, and having a clear end to the workday.

At the same time, I know many people who work in person wish they had more flexibility, less time in the car, and the ability to work from home.

For me, I haven’t worked at an in-person “regular” job in over a decade (I’ve been working from home for over 10 years now!), but I’ve always wanted to work at a library. I love interacting with people, and I already spend a lot of time in the library at events, in craft classes, and checking out books.

So I figured I’d jump at the opportunity to work at a library, and from that experience, I’ve learned a ton. The job has a lot of upsides, but there were quite a few downsides I didn’t see coming.

In this post, I’m sharing:

• What I didn’t realize I was giving up by working in person
• Ways in-person jobs feel more exhausting than they should
• Benefits of working in person vs. remote
• How to make in-person work feel easier and happier
• Options for people who want to work in person

Recommended reading: How Working From Home Changed My Life (And How You Can Do It Too!)

What I didn’t realize I was giving up by working in person

I already knew I was giving up a few things by working in person, including the usual things like transportation time and flexibility around personal tasks like doctor appointments.

One of the biggest things that surprised me about working at an in-person job was realizing how quickly my physical and emotional bandwidth disappeared. After work ended, I didn’t have the energy or capacity to do things I’d usually do after my remote job. Things like going on a walk with my dogs, reading, cooking, or going to a workout class rarely sounded that enjoyable anymore because I was so emotionally fatigued from work.

Not all libraries are like this, but mine was pretty stressful. Although I’m a social person, this highly social job really left me fatigued at the end of the day.

The extra costs of working in person

Another thing I didn’t fully think about was how many little costs come with having an in-person job.

Of course, there’s gas. But there’s also wear and tear on your car, more oil changes, tires, and the mental cost of sitting in traffic. If your commute is long, this can really add up over time.

I also found that it was easier to spend more money on random things. If I was tired after work, cooking dinner felt harder, which made takeout more tempting. And when you work outside of the home, you may also feel like you need more work clothes, shoes, bags, coffee, or other small things that you don’t need as much when working from home.

There’s also the cost of time. A commute can easily take 30 minutes, 1 hour, or even longer each day. That’s time that could have gone toward cooking at home, walking, resting, spending time with family, working on a side hustle, or simply having a slower morning.

These costs don’t always show up as one big bill, but they can make a huge difference in your budget and your energy.

Why in-person jobs feel more exhausting than they should

We don’t talk enough about how in-person jobs can make most people feel chronically fatigued from the commuting and constant stimulation of the work environment.

At a remote job, you don’t have to prep nearly as long for work, don’t have to think too much about timing, and you don’t need to think about traffic and leaving on time. The social overstimulation can also be incredibly hard for introverts, but even for extroverts, too.

I had a long commute to my job and was dealing with crazy traffic every day, office politics, and noise. One of the hardest parts of working in person was getting into a good rhythm and then having to stop simply because my shift was over.

Recommended reading: 40 Best Jobs Where You Work Alone

The benefits of working in person vs. remote

This article has been a whole lot of complaining, so I want to make it clear that in-person jobs have benefits that remote jobs don’t have.

The social interaction of an in-person job creates natural conversation, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging that remote jobs truly lack. I LOVED that when I was done working at the library, the job really felt done. There was no taking it home, unlike my remote jobs, where I always felt “on.”

The structure and routine of an in-person job is (in my opinion) so much better than remote working. I had a set schedule, commute, and workplace rhythm that I’ve never had working remotely. I was also much more active in an in-person role, walking around the library and moving throughout the day.

Most of all, I loved breaking up the monotony of life. I enjoyed leaving the house, talking to people, and experiencing something different every day.

In-person jobs can have plenty of benefits – benefits that remote work simply can’t match most of the time.

How to make in-person work feel easier and happier

If you work in person and want to make work and life easier and happier, I have a few tips I’ve learned that really make a difference.

• Make mornings easier by prepping as much as possible the night before.
• Use your commute time intentionally by listening to a podcast or audiobook.
• Make your car feel clean and comfortable so your commute feels more enjoyable.
• Take real breaks and go outside for a walk if you can.
• Set up your workspace in a way that feels calming and joyful.
• Create an after-work ritual that helps you unwind.
• Find at least one “safe person” at work, someone you feel comfortable being yourself around, even on hard days.
• Support your body outside of work by incorporating light movement, like walking.

Options for remote workers who want to work in person

If you currently work remotely and want the benefits of in-person jobs, I recommend finding coworking spaces in your area.

These offer community and networking opportunities and also help separate home from work. Coffee shops are great options as well and are good for people who love the energy of a coffee shop without the office structure.

Libraries are slowly adding individual or coworking pods, which are small enclosed spaces for people who want to study or do work outside of their home. So, this may be an option to look into in your area if you want something that is free.

Options for people who want to work from home

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Actually, I do really want to work from home,” there are many options for that, too.

I do love working from home, too, and it has changed my life in so many ways. I have more flexibility, and I don’t have to spend time commuting every day. Working from home is not perfect, of course, but for many people, it can be a great way to earn money while having more control over their day.

Some work-from-home jobs and businesses include:

• Blogging – I’ve had a blog for many years now, and I also work part-time for my sister here at Making Sense of Cents (the website you are reading right now). She has made over $5,000,000 blogging over the years! You can learn more at How To Start A Blog FREE Course.
• Proofreading – Proofreaders help writers, business owners, bloggers, and companies find mistakes in written content. This can be a good stay-at-home job if you enjoy reading and are good at spotting typos, grammar mistakes, and formatting issues. You can learn more at 20 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $40,000+ A Year).
• Bookkeeping – Bookkeepers help business owners track income and expenses, organize receipts, send invoices, and keep financial records in order. You can learn more at How To Become a Bookkeeper With No Experience (Step-by-Step Guide).
• Selling printables on Etsy – Printables are digital products such as planners, checklists, wall art, invitations, budget sheets, and learning worksheets. You create the product once, list it online, and buyers can download it automatically. You can learn more at How I Made $6,161 in Just 4 Months With a New Etsy Printables Shop.
• Posting on Facebook – Some creators are earning money by creating content on Facebook, such as text posts, images, Reels, and other engaging content. You can learn more at How I Got Paid $39,177 Directly From Facebook in One Month Just To Post Content.
• Print-on-demand – With print-on-demand, you can sell products like shirts, mugs, totes, journals, and more without keeping inventory. When someone buys, the product is printed and shipped for you. You can learn more at How I Make $7,500 Monthly Selling Print-On-Demand Gifts.
• Travel agent – Many travel agents work from home and help people plan vacations, cruises, honeymoons, family trips, and more. This can be a good fit if you enjoy travel and planning.
• Virtual assisting – Virtual assistants help business owners with tasks like email, scheduling, customer service, social media, research, and more. You can learn more at How To Find Virtual Assistant Jobs as a Beginner.
• Customer service from home – Many companies hire people to answer emails, chats, or phone calls from home. This can be a good option if you want a more traditional job but still want to avoid commuting. You can learn more at 12 Online Customer Service Jobs To Make Money.

Recommended reading:

The Cost of Having an In-Person Job – Summary

Unfortunately, my time at the library was short, but I learned a lot from this experience.

I’m hoping a library position opens up in my town so I don’t have such a long commute to work next time.

My perspective on remote vs. in-person work has really changed in the past year, and I’ve seen firsthand how both types of work offer benefits and downsides.

Do you want to find a remote job or do you prefer working in person?

Recommended reading: