Natue of Remote Work
I have never worked in an office
My entire career has been remote, thanks to the pandemic. I was part of the COVID batch in college — no placement drives or final-year camaraderie. We were all stuck at home, hoping to survive. Boredom set in, and I decided to study to kill time. That led me to a few remote gigs I thought I’d do for a few months. Well, fast forward a few years, and here I am, still doing the same ~ remote software contracting.
I get to work on multiple projects across teams, and I occasionally travel for workshops, meetups, or tech sprints. As this year marks my 4th year working remotely, I want to share my thoughts on the nature of remote work.
Office vs Remote Productivity
The question I get a lot ~ Does remote work actually work?
People see remote work as an outcome of the pandemic, and naturally expect everyone to come back to the office, especially for productivity sake.
But here’s the thing, software development works well asynchronously, and therefore, remotely. Open-source software is the proof. It’s been thriving with distributed teams long before the pandemic. Even now, top companies like Adobe, Facebook, GitHub, and Slack allow remote work. Clearly, it works. If remote work had a productivity problem, trust me, these companies wouldn’t be giving it the green light just to save on office rent.
But this doesn’t mean everyone working remotely will be productivity. Remote work, as enticing as it appears, isn’t for everyone. It’s a lifestyle choice. Some people need a separate space to focus — especially if they have toddlers crawling all over them. Others, like fresh graduates, might miss networking and career growth opportunities, which can be harder to find when working remotely.
Upsides to Remote Work
The single biggest upside of remote work is no commute. No traffic. No honking. No exhaustion from battling poorly designed city roads. Let’s break it down. If you commute for 1.5 hours daily, that’s 7.5 hours a week, 30 hours a month, or 40 days a year! Think about that. Forty days back in your life.
Remote work gives you the ultimate freedom to design your life. Want to travel and explore new places? Go for it. Prefer staying home and enjoying the comfort of your own space? That’s fine too. Whether you choose to roam the world or stay put, the flexibility is entirely yours. That’s the beauty of remote work—no rigid schedules, no office boundaries. It’s all about working on your own terms, given you deliver.
Remote work forces you to be more articulate. With fewer face-to-face interactions, clear communication becomes essential. Whether it’s through emails, messages, or documentation, you learn to express your thoughts with precision and clarity. This skill not only improves collaboration but also sharpens your ability to explain complex ideas effectively. Remote work turns you into a better communicator, which is a win both professionally and personally.
Downsides to Remote Work
Life after school and college is mostly spent at work. It’s where we make friends, mentors, and sometimes even the love of our life. This is especially true for people who are just starting out. They might have moved to a new city, only to find themselves isolated with no friends around. At least in an office, you have some familiar faces, and you might form connections, but in remote work? That’s tough. There’s barely time to connect with your peers beyond work topics. Bonding or networking with colleagues remotely feels almost impossible.
Remote work demands discipline, especially when it comes to avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. Without the structure of an office, it’s easy to slip into unhealthy habits. You have to be intentional—create a schedule, set clear boundaries, and resist the temptation to become a couch potato. Without these guardrails, you risk welcoming a range of health issues like obesity, heart problems, and back pain, especially as you age. Sitting for long hours may feel comfortable now, but it can seriously catch up with you over time. Balance is key, and it’s something you have to actively manage to stay healthy.
Remote work can blur the lines between work and personal time, especially if you’re working from home. Without the physical separation of an office, it’s easy to fall into the trap of working extended hours, whether out of habit or the constant pull of unfinished tasks. Your home becomes your workspace, and before you know it, you’re checking emails late into the night or tweaking that project long after your workday should have ended. This lack of boundaries can lead to burnout if you’re not careful.
Conclusion
Remote work can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you handle it. It requires discipline, self-awareness, and proper structure. But done right, it offers flexibility and autonomy, and, most importantly, no more commuting :p
For me, remote work has been a journey of constant learning and finding balance. Staying active — thanks to my cute bicycle and shooting hoops, helps me avoid the pitfalls of a sedentary lifestyle and keeps me sharp.
Whether you’re thriving or struggling with remote work, it ultimately comes down to how you approach it — building routines and prioritizing self-care can make or break the experience.
Seriously, you can’t let the sedentary lifestyle sneak up on you !