What do you not like about remote work?

Question: What do you not like about remote work? Read answers from remote workers to learn.

Interview with Taylor, a marketing director and intentional digital nomad

It can be isolating and lonely if I'm not intentional about building my community.

In-person community takes a lot more effort than it used to because it doesn't just happen naturally.

I do not default into a community because I have to build and nurture my own. That actually makes for a more meaningful community, but it takes a lot of work. It can be exhausting.

Taylor shares how co-working spaces, digital nomadism, and work flexibility gave her the work environment she always wanted.

Read full interview from Interview with Taylor, a marketing director and intentional digital nomad.


Interview with Michelle, an organizer of digital nomad experiences

It is challenging to deal with the fact that people come and go. I am quite social and mostly work in coworking spaces, but people travel, so it is hard to really get to know people.

A solo backpacking trip led to Michelle organizing co-travel experiences for digital nomads—hear how she manages working while traveling.

Read full interview from Interview with Michelle, an organizer of digital nomad experiences.


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 Steven Wade, a software engineer working on a remote team

"With great power comes great responsibility".

With the flexibility and freedom offered by remote work, that also means that you're accountable for that time. It can be easy to let it slip - start work a little later each day until now you're an hour or two late and have to make up the time. That's why I stick to my 8-5 schedule with some flexibility built in.

Learn more about how Steven works remotely, including his work routine, habits and how he found his remote job

Read full interview from Interview with Steven Wade, a software engineer working on a remote team.


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 Deborah, a remote entrepreneur changing perceptions about remote work

That the word 'remote' has too many negative associations which colour people's perceptions and judgments... and that there's a minority out there who abuse it and give the rest of us a bad reputation.

Deborah has traveled the world sharing her research about the pros of remote work. See how she is helping companies and clients understand the importance of location independence.

Read full interview from Interview with Deborah, a remote entrepreneur changing perceptions about remote work.


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 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 Mehmet, a nomadic digital maker and entrepreneur

Less concentrated physical time together. We try to conduct company retreats but they are rare. Often we get too excited about some ideas and I find myself thinking, "oh man, only if we were together so we would pull a hackathon, or weekend trip together to just design and code for some fun project and have a good time together as a team."

Logistically, it becomes hard to bring the team together.

We’re a small team and not making tons of profits, but whenever we do a large project and have some budget, team retreats are the very very first thing we try to plan.

Mehmet has embraced his remote team leadership style. Hear about his most helpful productivity trick and why he has "quiet" days for his staff.

Read full interview from Interview with Mehmet, a nomadic digital maker and entrepreneur .


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.

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