What do you not like about remote work?

Interview with Leon, a journalist teaching the world to play chess

I'm really struggling to find reasons not to like working remotely.

Chit-chat around the office can be fun, making good workmates (I have plenty from previous jobs) and the feeling of being in the centre of the action are some of the things I miss.

Working remotely is not normally a social activity. You can make it so, but that requires effort. In comparison, when you sit in an office, you absorb so much more information from the people around you without even realizing it.

For example, despite never being involved in these conversations I always used to know what all the good new restaurants were in London because people would talk about them. I no longer have access to this information in the same way, but that's not something that particularly bothers me!

Leon James Watson is a former journalist who has found the intrinsic value of remote work while teaching the masses to play chess.

Read full interview from Interview with Leon, a journalist teaching the world to play chess.

Interview with Celine, a VP of People Ops and remote team member

I do not like the fact that in my country many people feel that working from home means not working.

It actually means working longer hours and being much more productive.

Celine has experienced the highs and lows of working with remote and hybrid teams—see her tips for thriving as a member of a remote team.

Read full interview from Interview with Celine, a VP of People Ops and remote team member.

Interview with Andrew, a freelance writer who works remotely

The discipline required to work remotely is far more taxing than the discipline to work at an actual location.

Without having anyone breathing over your neck, there’s considerably less anxiety, but there’s also more temptation to slack off.

If you aren’t rigorous and disciplined with yourself, you could potentially end up wasting precious time or even days, putting you behind. While a regular job has guaranteed income, all you have to do is show up, remote work comes with a heavy burden, if you don’t finish your contracts, you don’t get paid. Sometimes that can get to me.

And then of course, probably the thing I like the least is the lack of socialization. Working in an office has a lot of negatives to it, but the thing I miss the most was having people that you could work with and talk to on a daily basis. Working remote is a lonely life. But like all tradeoffs, the question comes down to does the pros outweigh the cons? And in the case of freelance work, the cons are absolutely worth it.

Andrew became a full-time freelance writer after experimenting with freelance marketplaces. After the first month, he was already earning more than his full-time job.

Read full interview from Interview with Andrew, a freelance writer who works remotely.

Interview with Pilar, director of Virtual Not Distant

I don't like that it is getting a little bit too busy online. It's that you end up looking at a screen for too long, and all the work happens in once place, which is behind the screen, whether I am talking to someone, writing or podcasting, I seem to spend my time looking at a screen which is not great for the eyes.

Hear about Pilar's flexible approach to managing Virtual Not Distant and the career-changing advice she received from a friend.

Read full interview from Interview with Pilar, director of Virtual Not Distant .

Interview with Sarah Archer, a content marketing manager & remote work techie

It’s easy to feel isolated when working remotely, and as a social person, that’s something I don’t like about working on my own.

I combat that by staying at coliving spaces while traveling, where I meet like-minded people whom I can grab coffee or lunch with during the day.

From noise-canceling headphones to Basecamp—content marketer Sarah shares her must-have remote work tools & essential productivity tips.

Read full interview from Interview with Sarah Archer, a content marketing manager & remote work techie.

Interview with Tara, a remote director of research and administration

Sometimes it can feel isolating. We live in a beautiful rural cottage community on the shores of Lake Huron, and during the winter it’s very quiet here.

I need to make an effort to see people then, and as an introvert, sometimes it’s difficult.

A move to be closer to a spouse's job led Tara to remote work—see her tips for staying productive and organized as a full-time remote director.

Read full interview from Interview with Tara, a remote director of research and administration.

Interview with Paul, a remote product designer who has found his zen

As humans, we have a need to belong and feel connected.

Admittedly, there’s an energy you can only get when you meet with people face to face. I miss that—but it is my belief that in a time when COVID is less of an issue, that will return.

I feel that there can be a balance between working from home and going to the office.

The COVID-19 pandemic drove Paul to embrace remote work. See how he has adapted his routine to this new normal, and the one tool that keeps him organized.

Read full interview from Interview with Paul, a remote product designer who has found his zen .

Interview with Emma, a freelance marketing consultant

Honestly, nothing! I think more companies should do it and more employees should push for it too. I really hope the remote revolution that’s taking off now continues because it’s so much better for both mental and physical wellbeing.

Emma is thriving as a freelance marketing consultant—see her tips on managing client demands & making yourself marketable as a freelancer.

Read full interview from Interview with Emma, a freelance marketing consultant.

Interview with Audrey, a military wife thriving as a marketing manager

I don’t like the fact that remote-work is still sometimes viewed as ‘less-than’ by people who aren’t familiar with the concept.

It’s 2019, and still, when I tell people I work from home, I get a sideways look; an automatic assumption that I must work for a multi-level-marketing company or am a starving freelancer.

I wish more people could understand how incredibly easy and efficient technology has made working from home, and that there are legitimate, amazing companies that realize its benefits and run flawlessly with a fully-remote team.

As of yet, I have not found a downside to remote work. I can counter almost any argument someone might have about the cons, and I’ve made it my mission to do so.

Some people mention feeling isolated or out of the loop in their remote job, and I’d say that is more a cultural problem than a remote work problem. My company, Boldly, is 100 percent remote and recently won two awards for team happiness and fulfillment (Great Places to Work and When Work Works).

If you have a company who is dedicated to solving any of the challenges remote work brings, you’ll find any negatives seem to melt away. I’ve seen it work. I only advocate for things I believe in - and remote work is always close to the top of the list.

Marrying an active-duty army officer sent Audrey on the search for a remote work position—see how she has established her career while staying on the move.

Read full interview from Interview with Audrey, a military wife thriving as a marketing manager .

Interview with Tammy, founder and CEO of Workplaceless

The hardest part of working remotely for me is setting clear boundaries between “work time” and everything else.

It’s way too easy to fit in work in the evening or on the weekends, even when I know some things can wait until the following workweek. However, this is not an insurmountable challenge—every week, I get better about setting boundaries.

Learn how this founder and CEO of a remote work resource and certification program handles the triumphs and trails of location independence.

Read full interview from Interview with Tammy, founder and CEO of Workplaceless.