Gone are the days when you need to go to the office everyday to be considered a responsible grown-up. Nowadays, the ideal career is one you can take with you wherever you may want to roam. So what exactly is remote work and why do many people find it preferable?

What is Remote Working?

Remote working is defined as “a situation in which an employee works mainly from home and communicates with the company by email and telephone.”

While not a recent concept, it’s quickly gaining traction as more professionals aim for better work-life harmony—which is much easier to achieve away from the hustle and bustle of the typical office environment.

There’s also a boom in coworking spaces currently. Remote workers now have more options if they’re looking for a comfortable workspace, a reliable internet connection, and great coffee, along with other convenient amenities.

The Benefits of Working Remotely

Starting your workday when you feel most productive.

There are those that prefer working late into the night and those that enjoy waking up early to seize the day. Working at a remote location means you can choose the time you’re comfortable with.

By working at home, you can avoid the rush to and from the office. No need to wake up super early to prepare for work — as soon as you get up from bed, you can start getting tasks done! And while we can’t promise stress-free days, by eliminating the daily commute, you can focus your energy on being productive.

Small, but considerable freedoms.

We’re not all fortunate to be able to wear a t-shirt and jeans to work. Bigger enterprises often require their staff to wear business casual at least and corporate attire at most. But when you’re a remote worker, you have the freedom to wear pajamas to work, if that’s what tickles your fancy.

This also applies to your workspace. At a traditional office, you’re typically assigned a desk or cubicle to use day in and day out. Remote workers have the option to work at a desk, a couch, a beanbag chair, in bed or in a hammock in a tropical paradise, should they please.

A healthier and happier lifestyle.

Outside the traditional office environment, you can avoid office politics, an unhealthy workspace, and the people that might be contributing to making it so.

Aside from the problems that often arise at a typical office, you also get to avoid the stress and pollution of your everyday commute. You can set aside more time to prepare fresh food (instead of resorting to fast food), work out more often, spend more time with your loved ones, and so on.

A productivity boost from some peace and quiet.

In a traditional workspace, chatting and other distracting conversations can interfere with your productivity. Apart from the noise, you also have to deal with the occasional disruptions from your coworkers.

By working remotely, you can pick and choose where you set up your tools and you get to decide how to manage distractions. It can be quiet and cozy, busy with a buzz of energy, or as loud as a populated city street. It’s up to you.

Experience new things in and out of work.

Remote workers are no longer limited to cafés like Starbucks. There’s now a range of options for you to choose from, including coworking spaces that offer a reliable internet connection, convenient business services, free-flowing coffee, and a cool community with which to network.

Since you’re not tied to a desk, you’re free to come and go as you please. Whether you’re working at home, a cafe, or a coworking space, you can pack up your stuff and work wherever you feel like for the week, the day, or the hour!

And because you get to go places and meet all kinds of people, you’re constantly experiencing different things that you might not have experienced if you’d been at the office all day.

Traveling remote workers become resourceful; they get to be quick on their feet when hustling for stable internet or even just a decent cup of java. Digital nomads at coworking spaces can also network with entrepreneurs that share their space.

There’s no telling what sort of street smarts you acquire working outside of an office. Wouldn’t you like to find out?

It’s an affordable alternative.

This goes for both the employee and the employer.

As an employee, you might be surprised about how much you can save once you scale down on your everyday expenses, like fares for the commute, gas and lunch money, and so on.

For employers, you won’t have to build out an office for your team or worry about operational costs. It’s considerably cheaper to provide an allowance for your staff’s work tools, instead of renting out a bigger space. If you’d prefer the team to work in a common area, you can opt to put them in a coworking space where they can collaborate in person.

Considering remote work?

Some things to keep in mind!

Make sure you have the right equipment on hand, namely your computer, tablet or phone, and a stable internet connection among other essentials. If you need help in being more productive, there are plenty of apps to help you stay on track during the day.

As a remote worker, you can choose a space that’s neither too quiet nor too loud. Find one that can provide great connectivity so your manager or your clients can contact you when necessary.

And last, but not least, remote working is not the one-size-fits-all solution for modern professionals. Some might find the structure and stability of the traditional office space preferable. At the end of the day, it’s more important to find what works best for your productivity, building up effective efficient habits, and sticking to it — whether you’re sitting at a desk or lounging on a couch.