One thing that many employers learned from navigating the demands of a pandemic is the benefit of letting employees work from home. Many workers show more initiative and less stress, and their productivity actually increases. Not having to find office space for everyone also saves money and other resources.

Despite the extra challenges of creating clear boundaries to protect both work focus and home life, you may find that working from home offers you many of those same benefits. You have more time and energy for family, friends and church. You maintain better control of your schedule. Compensation is more likely to be based on tasks than time, which actually rewards you for your efficiency. If commuting to an office no longer fits within the life you want, consider the following work-from-home options.

IT Support

Unless you are the person who fixes the actual hardware, there's no reason why your web development job should require you to be on site. Many companies hire people from all over the world to design and update their cybersecurity protocols or provide ongoing tech support. IT techs can log in remotely to a specific computer to address whatever problem the user is having or give advice over IM or telephone.

Data Entry

Any job that primarily requires you to sit at a computer and input data is something you can do from anywhere. There are many companies that regularly need people to update client accounts or run reports. If you have a strong attention for detail and great typing skills, this could be a good match for you.

Customer Service

A call center serves to direct calls, answer customer questions and provide support. Good telephone etiquette and the desire to resolve issues are usually all it takes to make clients happy. Companies are often eager to let customer service line employees work from home because that means they can expand the hours they offer support without having to keep the building itself open. All you need to do this job from home is the proper equipment.

Accounting

While some people like face-to-face interaction with the person handling their money, an accountant's job does not require actually meeting with clients in person. A home office gives you the solitude and control over your environment that is more conducive to concentrating on getting the numbers right. All clients need is a secure address to which they can send their documents and a clear way to get in touch with you if they have questions.

Writing

When you envision a writer, you may imagine someone sitting in a room full of books working on the next bestseller. While writing books can lead to a lucrative career in the long run, there are other ways to put your talent with words to good use that have a quicker payoff:

• Social media manager
• Website copywriter
• Marketing consultant

If you don't know exactly what you want to write, start by looking for independent freelance opportunities. This experience can give you a good cross-section of writing assignments that inform your job search before you jump into a full-time position for a particular company.

Coaching

Do you have a particularly well-honed life skill that you can teach others? Chances are that you don't need to hold classes in person to do so. Whether you choose to instruct by setting up an online course or through one-on-one coaching, you can likely help people reach their goals from the comfort of your own home.

If you are looking to maintain an improved work-life balance, working from home may be a good option for you. This is a great time to branch out and find a career that fits your needs instead of trying to mold the rest of your life around a job.