How It Feels to Work Remotely for a Lifetime

Remote working became quite a popular trend for the past couple of years. In fact, terms such as “digital nomads,” “telecommute,” and “work from home” are being used more often in job descriptions than ever. It’s a major bonus. As a remote worker myself, I think this is just the beginning. In the coming years, people are going to choose this form of work over what they do now. This is simply because it’s a form of work with many perks. However, like every other form of work, remote working has its cons, too. While it does sound appealing at first, working remotely for life can be challenging.

How Does it (Actually) Work?

While some companies allow you to work from home in a restricted area (country, region, city), others will allow you to work from anywhere on the planet. This means that you can work from New Zealand for 1 month, Singapore for 2 months, Australia for 2 months, and end up in the Philippines before going back home (like me!). As long as you have your laptop and have a strong internet connection, you’ll be able to work from anywhere where you feel the most productive.

The Pros

For me, working from home increases productivity compared to working in an office. Remote employees spend more time on their laptop getting work done rather than chatting with colleagues by the coffee machine. Remote workers also avoid the dreaded commute which can save them hours. In fact, they get to spend more time with family or doing extra activities. This work-life balance is one of the most competitive perks an employee can expect out of this kind of work life. On the other hand, remote workers reduce the cost of renting an office for employees. While all of that sounds advantageous, working remotely has its cons, too.

The Cons

Working remotely can often mean working alone and the lack of social connections can affect your happiness. In fact, it’s so easy to forget to take a break when working remotely. Being consistent with your daily life can be challenging. Remembering to eat at regular times, avoid staying in pajamas all day, or do a physical activity every day can be tough. Also, from the company’s view, it can become quite a challenge to create a proper company culture and get to know your colleagues.

Can I Really Work from Anywhere?

Yes and no. Based on the places I have worked, Australia was difficult as they require a working visa for 2 months. However, you can absolutely travel as a tourist and “consult your emails” from time to time in any foreign country. But, I would advise you to be aware of the restrictions of each country you wish to work.

Remote Working at Gadget Flow

At Gadget Flow, we are making strides in creating a company culture. We have loads of company activities to bring everyone together no matter how far. For example, we have Virtual Coffee where we spend around 15 minutes on a video chat with one of our colleagues to chat about anything but work. We also stay in touch using Slack every day and have designated channels where we strictly talk about video games, fashion, or, a company favorite, food. Additionally, there are private groups for those who share the same passion. Sadly, yet incredibly, we haven’t met in person. However, one would think we’d worked together for years. Let’s see if the rays of hope shine for us in 2018 for a big get together!

Is This the Future of Work?

Remote working is definitely on the rise. The Internet is simply becoming more and more efficient with each passing year. Now, it has become so easy to work from a coffee shop, your friend’s house, or even your bed. Additionally, there are so many coworking spaces available across the globe. I just feel that we’ll be seeing more and more remote workers and remote companies coming up in the near future. It could also be just a trend and end up being just a dream, but there will be more and more digital nomad communities that help each other to overcome the challenges of remote working.

That said, this is still a new concept and it is essential to stay up to date with regulations and the legal aspect of work remotely. The expectations and tax system may differ depending on the country. So, my question to all you fellow remote workers will be – could an international working visa facilitate the rise of remote working?