10 Benefits of Remote Working

Today I wanted to share a few of the benefits of remote working.

I’ve been remote working for over 12 months now, but collectively about 2 years in total for various tech startups across the world. My experience with remote work has been overall, positive, with a few constraints but nothing that hasn’t taught me valuable lessons to continually improve.

There are clearly many disadvantages, but I wanted to share some of the advantages in this piece, and maybe I’ll share the downs of remote working in another blog piece.

So here are some of those benefits to remote working:

1. Expressing Creativity

Since remote working, my creative instinct has been much better. Being able to use my sketchbook in a coffee shop to draw out my ideas then ping them to the team makes things a lot easier to do. Although briefing might take a little longer via email, the overall design result is much higher in quality.

2. Coffee!

At least 2–3 times a week I love to work from a coffee shop. It boosts my productivity working around others. It has its negatives like bumping into people you know etc. but being able to grab a coffee, work in good lighting and see the world around you, it’s so nice!

3. Zoning out

If I’m home, during lunchtime I’ll try and grab 5-minutes to zen-out. This consists of a short meditation or just lying on the sofa. These few moments help to micro re-charge my batteries for the afternoon ahead. In an office environment, doing this is more embarrassing.

4. Picking up Shopping

A very minor benefits. Shopping.

If I’m working from a coffee shop, I’ll be able to swing by the supermarket to grab some shopping before the shops close. Then finish up any items I interrupted at home that I missed from leaving early. So minor, but handy!

5. Beating traffic

Being stuck in traffic is awful! Although I’m not a driver. I’m able to avoid any traffic or even people on the pavements by leaving a little earlier. Beating traffic is a huge winner for remote workers, even pavement traffic! Being able to skip the busyness and finish what I need to at home is ideal.

6. Day Trips

I work day to day in Plymouth in the UK, but if I wanted a day trip to work from the coffee shops of Exeter, UK, I’m able to book a train journey up there. I do this every month or so, that way I can visit my older sister at lunchtime, clash any Exeter based meetings and visit some new coffee shops to work in. Ideal for visiting new places, but working too.

7. Cost-effective

Not owning a car is cost effective for me. Combine that with the bonus of not taking pubic transport you’ve got yourself a recipe for saving a little money. Although I spend between £3-£6 in coffee shops daily, I figure this is like paying rent with an added bonus. No office expenses too. Much cheaper for the companies I work with and me.

8. Out of work transition

With the daily commute almost eradicated. I’m able to transition a little better from work mode to home mode (best I can). The walk home from the coffee shop, or the run I’m able to go on as work finishes helps me to transition to relaxing more in the evenings.

9. Improve Engagement

Over the last year or so, I’d say my conscious efforts of being engaged in the work have improved. Due to having more time. I’ve been able to boost the amount of attention I’m able to place on new projects, work and items. This might be due to factors like improved sleep patterns, less stress etc. but I feel much more engaged with the activities I’m involved in.

10. Less distractions

Distractions are riot in the office. Sometimes they are great and perfect for idea generation or other such activities, but for personal productivity, they are a pain. Eliminating these distractions with your environment is the ideal productivity boosters.

Remote working involves you having a lot of smaller conversations with your employee or a review of your freelance situation. It took a lot of efforts (and ongoing efforts) to make sure all parties are happy with me working from anywhere.

Additionally a lot of respect needs to be given to this opportunity. I don’t abuse the honour of being able to work anywhere, making sure I give the correct time to each party I’m working with and making sure my attention is there each time.

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