What do you not like about remote work?
Interview with Digital Nomad Sage, an entrepreneur and UX consultant
It gets pretty lonely. I like the peace and quiet of working from home, but you start to miss being around people that aren’t your family.
With a traditional company, there’s almost something new or interesting that happens to everyone when they come back from the weekend. You can joke around with them during lunch. With remote work, you kinda lose out on that experience and miss it.
The other thing that I don’t like about remote work is that your income is dependent on others and you don’t have the security that a stable paycheck from a traditional job provides.
From e-books to blogging, Digital Nomad Sage has become an expert on making money online—see his advice for developing an online business.
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Interview with Betsy, a head of content and remote work routine expert
As a huge introvert, I was surprised by how lonely I felt when I first started working remotely. It definitely took time to build both online and offline friends as well as making the additional time to prioritize that.
It also takes a lot of discipline to work remotely and I think that can be a big adjustment for many people, especially if you're used to a typical 9-5 work environment. This concept is a big reason why I started writing about remote work on my blog. It was to help others who found themselves struggling with the transition to remote work.
Betsy Ramser is a content manager, blogger, and teacher who helps other remote workers thrive while creating a daily routine that works.
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Interview with Kristi, a CEO and remote team leader
It can occasionally feel lonely and a bit disconnected.
When I think back to days working in offices with some very funny and likable past coworkers, I sometimes wonder if I'm missing out on that day-to-day camaraderie.
But video chats, virtual networking events, and even being active on Twitter all help to alleviate that somewhat.
Kristi is a CEO, remote work author, and speaker. In this interview, she shares the impact of new motherhood and remote team leadership on her work.
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Interview with Laurel about helping companies transition to remote work
That so many workers are using location flexibility as an excuse to avoid work.
I have reviewed thousands of job applications in which the candidate says they want a virtual role just because they crave the freedom to travel, want the flexibility of working less hours, or feel the entitlement of not having to report to a boss. It is these attitudes that create the perception that remote workers are lazy and untrustworthy - because the perks of the job are being valued more than the job itself.
Too many people fail to remember that remote work is still work.
No one can build a business or a career without grit.
The remote workers that prove the stigma wrong are those that capitalize on location independence to fuel productivity, spark creativity, and maintain better work-life balance (which, in turn, enhances their job performance).
Flexibility and independence aren't the substitute for hard work, they are the reward for it.
Laurel is an advocate for remote work and helps companies learn how to work remotely through her consulting and writing.
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Interview with Laura, a communications specialist and travel writer by night
Sometimes I do feel stifled and want to change my atmosphere. That's when I go to the restaurant right across the street and work from there.
I live in a country club, and there are landscapers often working on the property. The loud noise of leaf blowers can be bothersome.
Laura Coronado discusses her method for juggling her career as a communications specialist by day and her side hustle as a freelance travel writer by night.
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Interview with Gino, a founder skilled in building remote teams
I have to be honest and say that there are times when being face-to-face with someone on our team is much more productive. For personal reasons, outside of work, I’m working on developing a game with a few people. This is where I’ve noticed face-to-face really goes a long way.
For my work at TECLA, I don’t think there’s ever a moment where I’ve said, “I wish I were face-to-face with this person. It’d be so much easier to get this done.” However, in terms of the game, I’m working on, I do have to say it has been a factor. Still, nothing outweighs the benefits of working remotely within our team.
Gino realized how important remote work could be to finding the best talent—see his strategies for building remote teams.
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Interview with Katerina, a team collaboration consultant who sees the value of discipline
When working remotely, you need to be active in reducing the feeling of isolation. Also, professional development or informal learning requires more effort.
I'm not sure I would say that these elements make me not like remote work. It is just part of work that is not an issue if you work in an office. However, good remote work companies, those that are fully remote, will take care of this.
My biggest learning experience was to turn off the computer. I began using a tool that will shut off the computer at a set time. That helped to establish a pattern.
Katerina fell into remote work by accident - she reveals how easy and straightforward it can be to make discipline a daily part of remote work.
Read full interview from Interview with Katerina, a team collaboration consultant who sees the value of discipline.
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.
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Interview with Dane, a freelance writer and author with 7 published books
When I left my old job to go full-time freelance, I used to joke with people that I was trading all of my colleagues for a single cat – and that the cat would be more useful to have around. I’d heard a lot of people talking about how freelancing can get lonely but I’d never paid too much attention because I like my own company anyway and tend to get more done when I’m alone because I’m not being stopped every five minutes and asked for favours.
Still, perhaps I should have listened some more because it does get lonely sometimes and it also means that I spend a lot of time indoors. I often go a few days without going outside, and most of the time I don’t even realize it.
I’m also not particularly happy with my current living situation, but I’m trapped in a contract here until March and so I’m pretty much making the best of a bad job until we can move out to somewhere with a little more space. And hopefully a garden so that at least I can take my laptop and go and work outside.
Maintaining a work/life balance isn’t easy either, although it’s something that I’m working on and getting better at. But despite the cons, I don’t think I could go back to working for someone else because the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and I value the freedom that remote work gives to me.
Dane is a freelance writer and author who works remotely, and balances client work with writing his own books.
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Interview with Vaishali, a content marketer and a productivity tool expert
Sometimes you can end up working 10+ hours a day for seven days a week when you always carry your laptop.
There are also times when on a relaxing Sunday, I get tempted to check emails and send replies.
The only drawback of remote work is that you have to strive to have control of your work hours and have strong work ethics.
Remote work is not for everyone.
Vaishali persevered until she found the right remote work job for her lifestyle—check out how she uses productivity tools and time management strategies to stay productive.
Read full interview from Interview with Vaishali, a content marketer and a productivity tool expert.