I never thought I would launch my career remotely. I lead a busy social life and could not picture myself at home all day. But to my surprise, working from home has been great for both my work and personal life. Here is why:

Personalization is key

Everyone has different learning styles and different approaches to work. Working in an office setting for 8 hours straight might be productive for some people. For others, it might cause their productivity or mental health to suffer. For the most part, remote work lets you organize your schedule to match your most productive times with important work.

Eliminating a commute, too, helps balance personal life and work life. The time saved can be used to make healthy meals, go to a fitness class or catch up on household chores—which fosters harmony and balance. Working from home also lets you avoid the stress of being stuck in traffic, paying for more gas and transit or weather delays (Canadian winter road conditions, am I right?). 

Digital collaboration is second nature

For Gen Z, which has been labeled as being “chronically online,” collaborating and communicating virtually is second nature. We grew up on social media and our education was shaped by technology.

Also, most jobs for college graduates require digital media and abilities. Gen Z has the skills to work virtually as well as cultivate relationships online. Whether messaging via DMs or Slack, it feels natural to exchange ideas and projects with colleagues digitally.

Since being online can also affect mental health—causing feelings of isolation and loneliness—it is also important to participate in casual conversation through digital channels to foster a friendly environment.

I make a conscious effort to reach out to others at work with friendly check-ins to keep our “office” culture alive. I’ve met some of my closest friends while working from home, connecting via video game sessions or funny Slack threads. Online relationships make it easier to collaborate on team projects together and create a safe virtual space to share ideas.

Working remotely also makes it more special when in-person gatherings are held. We can buckle down and get work done at home then gather in person to brainstorm and collaborate IRL.

Hybrid is the happy medium

The happy medium is the hybrid approach, which is key to a balanced work-life routine. It’s as important to meet in person as it is to be able to work from home.

There are days when being around people might not be the most conducive environment for getting work done. On other days, being around colleagues will energize you and make you excited to go to work. Life outside of work can get overwhelming so quickly. At those times, it is nice to have the option to stay home and tackle work in a comfortable environment—without the stress and distraction of a long commute. 

Financial incentives

Remote work has helped many young professionals get started financially. The money saved by not living near an office in a big city relieves financial stress—not to mention time saved from not having to commute to work. Saving money while also having a source of income helps maintain positive mental health.

Flexibility around the unknown

Many Gen Zers are still trying to figure out their future, even outside their careers. Where do we want to live? Where do we want to travel? Working remotely gives us the flexibility to explore different remote work locations while building a career.

Remote work allows even long visits to new destinations— experiencing different cultures and seeing new parts of the world—without sacrificing large amounts of PTO. The flexibility to work and travel increases employee happiness and produces better and more motivated workers.

If companies want the best new employees, offering a combination of work from home with occasional visits to the office will help them recruit and retain employees. With the ability to personalize their schedules, save money and support sustainability, Gen Zers can manage life better than past generations.