Ever thought of working from home and breaking free of the office, the commute, the spilled coffee, angry drivers and make your own schedule?  Major changes have come to how Americans work.
Consider these statistics:

• Over three million now telecommute, up 79% between 2005 and 2012
• 10% of the workforce is self-employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• It is predicted that 40% of workers in this country will be freelancers, officially called contingent workers, by 2020, according to a study done by Intuit.

What do they know that you don’t? Here is a look at three reasons more and more people have made the change and decided to become self-employed and work from home.

Better Work-Life Balance

This is one of the advantages that is most often mentioned by the self-employed. Parents point out that they watch their young children grow since they are home with them during the day. They are also present when school-age children get out of class.

Working from home means they can choose when to exercise. There is no need to commute to crowded gyms before or after work. They can simply walk around the block or strength train in the family room.

Less Stress

An article in Forbes cites the fact that 38% of workers polled said their days were much less stressful when they worked from home. One major reason was they no longer had to worry about a commute. There were no more busy highways, if they drove to work, or packed buses or trains, if they used public transportation.

They also pointed out that no commute means helping the environment. The fact that they didn’t have to drive saved the cost of gas and wear and tear on the car. Those who used buses saved on the ever-higher prices charged.

Better Productivity

More than 45% said they were more productive because there were less distractions and a quieter atmosphere. They can schedule downtime and vacations to take advantage of slow work periods.

They don’t have to spend time and energy on office politics. Because they can wear what they want, they feel more comfortable while doing their job.

This is just a partial list of the benefits that those who work at home cite. Making the switch can result in major benefits in your life.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics