5 Things Nobody Tells You About Working from Anywhere

“You can work from anywhere” sounds like a dream come true. 

And in many ways, it is. You can wake up and go to an office, a cafe, or the next room. Or, if you’re the adventurous type (and don’t mind getting a bit of sand on your laptop), you can move to a beach Airbnb and work from there. 

The world of remote work is limitless. Not only does it allow everyone to work from anywhere, but it also opens the doors to possibilities for people in disparate geographical regions, thus pushing economies further. 

More people have the chance to make their dreams come true today than ever before in human history. And that’s no short of amazing, really. 

And yet, there are a lot of things nobody tells you about working from anywhere. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. You need to be very organized 

If you want to work from anywhere, you need to be organized. Period. There is no way around it. You need to have a system for everything, whether it’s your email, your  to-do lists, your calendar, or your projects. 

2. You need to be disciplined 

Good planning is one thing. Sticking to the plan… well, that’s a bit harder. Discipline plays a key role in making remote work really work. There is nobody breathing down your neck, so it’s up to you to make sure you get things done. 

Yes, you can set up your own schedule. Yes, you can take days off when you need it (and you absolutely should). And yes, you can definitely work in your pajamas if you want. But at the end of the day, it’s still work. And if you don’t put in the effort, nothing will get done. 

3. You need to have a support network 

Working from anywhere can be lonely. Even if people constantly surround you, there will be times when you will feel like you’re the only one working. And that’s okay. 

But it’s important to have a supportive network, whether it’s friends, family, or even a group of like-minded individuals to help you through the tough times. Because believe me, there will be tough times. 

Thankfully, the same medium that makes remote work possible can help you stay sane and social too. Facebook groups, LinkedIn, chat rooms, Slack communities, Reddit threads, they can all help you connect with like-minded professionals and make the remote journey feel less solitary. 

4. You need to be patient 

If there’s one thing working from anywhere teaches you, it’s patience. Patience with the internet connection, patience with yourself, patience with the people you’re working with, patience with the microphone not working in meetings or simply patience with the time zone differences. 

Everything takes longer when you’re not in the same room (or even the same time zone) as the people you’re working with. And that’s okay. Just take a deep breath and be patient. Everything will work out in the end (usually). 

5. You need to know when to disconnect 

Lastly, it’s important to know when to disconnect. When you’re working from anywhere, it’s easy to feel like you’re always “on.” But it’s important to set boundaries and know when to “turn off” work mode. 

 Otherwise, you’ll never be able to enjoy the place you’re in or the people you’re with. And what’s the point of working from anywhere if you can’t do that? Even worse, you can end up burned out (as 75% of remote workers say they’ve been at least at some point.) And when that happens, doing anything productive, creative, or even pleasant can feel downrigh impossible. 

Undoubtedly, working from anywhere is now as real as bread and butter. What used to be a far-fetched dream just a couple of short decades ago is now slowly becoming the norm. 

With the Great Resignation driving more people outside the boundaries of traditional employment and with a pandemic that has changed everything about the way we view work, remote arrangements are definitely here to stay. 

And yet, working from anywhere is not a life-long vacation nor should it be a confinement in front of your laptop, wherever you are. Balance is key, and the advice mentioned in this article will help you maintain it. 

How about you? How do you deal with remote work and what are some of the challenges you’ve faced (and maybe overcome) along the way?