Whether its increasing commuting costs, the ability to control one’s time, or the freedom to pursue their passion, more people now than ever are creating opportunities for working remotely. And it’s certainly a good time for this movement, as it’s supported by technological advances like cloud computing, collaboration, and improved communication tools.

As of 2016, about 25% of the US workforce has worked remotely in some capacity, and this number has more than doubled since 2005. You can almost guarantee this is a trend that isn’t going to slow down any time soon. For many, the cubicle lifestyle is something of the past.

The Benefits of Working Remotely

Creating physical separation from a micromanaging boss is just one of many benefits that go hand-in-hand with working remotely.

Here are a few others worth mentioning:

  • Take advantage of flexible working hours. Before the internet, new parents didn’t have much of a choice when it came to being with their babies during the day or holding a full-time job. Now, parents can spend more time with their children, while doing their jobs from home—no trade-off necessary. For those without kids, the freedom of flexible working hours means that you can sleep in if you’re not a morning person, or work into the night if that’s your preference. Just make sure to draw a clear line between work and your personal life!
  • You can work from anywhere. The beauty of a remote working set-up is that you can literally work from anywhere: your couch, a coffee shop, poolside, or from another part of the world (as long as it has an internet connection!).
  • There’s no dress code. Since you can work from anywhere, what you wear doesn’t necessarily matter, unless you have an important client meeting. And even then, as long as your top half looks professional, you’re good to go. So yes, one of the perks of working remotely is that pants are optional and pajamas are encouraged.

    Working remotely dress code
    Working remotely dress code (Image source: Imgflip)

  • You’ll inevitably learn new skills. If you’re a remote worker who’s working for themselves, as part of your transition, you’ll have to pick up new skills that aren’t necessarily part of your core expertise, such as bookkeeping, project management, and even a little legalese. And if you’re working for a company that lets you work remotely, you’ll also be learning new methods of communication and project management skills to bridge the physical gap between you and other team members.
  • Save money (and the earth). For many in today’s workforce, the prospect of a daily, multi-hour commute is enough to make you countdown to Friday as soon as Monday rolls around. Time spent in your car or on public transportation can be made productive but it can’t make up for time taken away from your family. Who wouldn’t want to get that time back? Not to mention all the money spent on gas, train tickets, and so on!

Drawbacks of Working Remotely

Every rose has its thorn. 🌹 Working remotely seems like a dream come true but it comes with a few gotchas:

  • You’ll deal with limited social interaction. If you’re someone who likes indulging in gossip around the water cooler, going on lunch dates, and meeting new people around the office, working remotely may not be for you. While you’ll still meet with and interact with clients, many of these conversations take place over phone calls or video chats—not a conference room or coffee shop. To be sure, those living the cubicle life often complain of distractions in the form of regular interruptions, but sometimes distractions are preferable to isolation!
  • Everything is on you. If you’re working remotely for yourself, you’ll be tasked with finding leads, pitching, and closing prospects, then doing the actual work, taking care of finances, and managing your time—all without the oversight of a boss or the assistance of another department.
  • There are so many distractions. Many fantasize about the prospect of working remotely but can’t actually see themselves doing it—they just don’t have the ability to self-manage without letting distractions get in the way. If you don’t think you can act as your own boss, remote work may be a recipe for disaster when it comes to growing your career.

    Working remotely distractions
    Working remotely distractions (Image source: