168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think

by Laura Vanderkam

According to a meta-analysis of forty-six studies, published in the November 2007 Journal of Applied Psychology, telecommuting—usually meaning working from home on your own schedule, though it can mean working from anywhere you choose—is associated with higher supervisor performance ratings, increased job satisfaction, and a reduction in the intent to leave one’s company.

Indeed, you’ll watch a lot of TV. One recent University of Maryland study found that unhappy people watched 20 percent more television than happy ones. Unhappy people like to escape.