I’ve been working from home for 3 years. Here’s what I learned.

Remote work. Working from home. Hybrid.

The majority of us were enthralled by these terms during the COVID-19 season. However, it’s even fascinating to know the history of remote work dates back to 1973.

WHAT?!

Jack Nilles, a NASA engineer lays its foundation by finding ‘telecommunication’ in 1973, which we now modernly use as remote work, WFH, digital nomad, distance work etc. It is estimated with an even higher growth in the future. Quite the trend! I had known it quite before the COVID, frankly even before starting my first job. However, I had not known the unlimited opportunities, and where to find them exactly back then. It is during the COVID season, I was more compelled to gain experience in the remote field through legit resources such as LinkedIn, Google SEO, and relevant job sites.

Guess what? I ended up in a company where I did not know that exists since 10 years ago! It never appeared on my Google search results! (Perhaps, I searched wrong back then when I was 18!).

So, it’s been 3 years exactly (spoiler alert: it’s my work anniversary tomorrow — Jun 14th) ever since I have officially become a remote worker, and I wanted to reflect how working from home is actually like. We often hear about the advantages about remote work, the disadvantages, the further perks. We also often may have heard it’s not much to do, there’s lesser work and etc. Although reality can be different. Dear reader, what you are going to peruse from now on is written with experience. With practical experience.

Remote work is awesome! Yes, it is spectacular. Though, it depends on the kind of work you do, the company you work for, the growth opportunities, and how what you do integrates with your passion. First off, let me start with the confusions I had when I started my work in my current (and my first) remote company. Initially, similar to everyone else I was anxious of the legality of the company, if it’s a scam, and I did research to cut-off the doubts. For e.g., the registration numbers, it’s history, its LinkedIn activity, employee reviews on Google, Glassdoor, and client feedbacks. Once it is all confirmed, the next doubt I had was about the support, the autonomy, and the familiarization. One could be anxious how do we get all this support by working under our own roof. Well, for the record you get the same support, same leave entitlements (don’t worry!), same familiarization programs, and same level of concern as you would receive in an ideal physical environment. Personally, my familiarization program lasted 2–3 weeks, and it is then I got to do the real stuff.

How a day of remote work looks like?

Let me brief to serve your curiosity. Well, I have a fixed schedule to start my work. I work 3 hours at night, and 5 hours at day. However, thankfully my management is very flexible, so yes you can change your shift hours if it’s a critical situation, and you also have a grace period if you are late to work. Although, be mindful that remote companies have policies, vastly that requires adequate reading. Some companies provide you all the equipment needed to work online, however some do not. It is something you need to discuss during your recruitment stage. If we work in a physical setup we usually use the biometric technology to scan time entries.

However, remote work is totally independent and autonomous. Of course, it’s monitored and the strictness depend on each company and their management.

A simple summary of a day of my remote life would be as below:

1. I start work at 08.30 a.m. by signing in to Slack. It is the platform where all of our teammates connect through messaging. I sign in to Kayako (the ticket management software that has all tasks of my clients), check my emails (around 120–200 in average), listen to any calls or read any texts if available for my clients (there’s a separate CTM software). I create a Canvas where I enter my start time, and what I do within the day.
2. I prepare a daily planner for the day. For e.g. this includes everything I’m supposed to do within the day based on tasks I must complete. Then I submit my daily planner to my manager, and work according to it.
3. We are allowed to take few minutes’ break, but we are also obliged to not misuse any rule during our work hours. Your ethics matter! Most of the time I work autonomously and I’m always responsible for my work. There’s no micromanagement at all! (Again depends on the management and your performance).
4. Once I’m done with my work, I sign off at my finishing time.
5. I start my evening shift, and continue working on the rest of the plans I have set for the evening shift. Once my shift is over I enter the timesheet. It is a separate time management system, where we are supposed to enter everything we have done for the day as entries. These entries are then cross checked by our managers and it is them who approve them. Once approved the HR teams process with the payroll. The same applies to when taking leaves. Once you have informed to the relevant authorities, you need to enter your leaves to the TMS. So, less paper wastage as well!

As you see, I have a 6 hours difference between my shifts, and this is where the work-life balance falls in. When you work remote, you have the complete privilege to spend quality time with your loved ones, to engage in recreational activities, and perhaps even the complete access to manage your own business (without affecting your regular work hours). It is inherently beneficial, however the productivity depends on how well you use and manage your time.

One of the very few disadvantages of remote work is lack of physical contact with your work colleagues. Again it depends on how well you connect with each other, and with that you can even organize weekend meet-ups, or monthly meet-ups. Although, it seems working remote may also form a lackadaisical attitude for some; making them more lazy. But for some it creates an engaging, exploring attitude. It’s our duty to focus on our health both physically and mentally regardless where we work. Again, depends on the individual. Some companies mitigate this issue by bridging the distance through online activities; building up engagement on a weekly/monthly basis, conducting mental health awareness webinars etc. A personal con for me is, well the terrible migraines.

Out of my remote experience, based on what I’m entitled with I’ve been able to focus more on the personal savings aspect, as costs incurred during physical work (mainly commuting) is no more in remote work. The skill of managing finances evolved in me through remote work, to be honest. However, there maybe other costs such as electricity, equipment, food, unless if the company you work for provide you a reasonable allowance. Some might deduce working online detaches you from people, or might assume it is an impediment to your communication and confidence levels. But, trust me, my confidence levels have increased ever since I’ve started working online. I believe it is the very fact of autonomy that’s made me this confident. Because even if a client complains, you handle it first on your own. There’s that ‘sole leader coming out moment’ every time you do your work.

After all, confidence is trying something and during my tenure I’ve tried a lot of things. I’ve been able to set up my own self-care blog on Instagram (not quite popular, but still popular enough to pop in the Google SERP if you search for ‘ManishaMotivates’), Spotify podcasts, and YouTube, where I coach people with pep talks, and create content. I’ve been able to focus on romanticizing my life, my physical fitness, education without any hassle, develop spiritually, learn more on the technology, extract the entrepreneurial skills in me by at least starting something little as freelancing. Quite recently, I’m back on track on my writing journey as well on Wattpad, and I’m also trying to focus on affiliating with brands, and its possibilities.

So, there’s a broader horizon, and the limit is limitless. As to any career, whether it’s physical or remote, it’s all in the balance we co-create to our life. If anyone asks if I would choose another remote career — YES, I would. Like, it would totally be the perfect work environment and lifestyle you would wish for (even until your retirement), if you make a very good living out of it. That’s what digital nomad life is about. You work, you travel, you simply enjoy (if you make hefty perks). But I would also like to explore more possibilities in the physical setup as well depending on the comparison of the takeaways. There’s more opportunities rising, more trends emanating, and the marketplace keeps evolving. Henceforth, with enough focus on all of these, and competency development — remote work could be of greater success and joy! It could be your next rollercoaster ride!

There’s yet to discover more, and share, obviously. Till next time, and with more experiences…