Today, we hear a lot about the remote working lifestyle, in that today many people are making the most of modern advances in technology to enhance their lives by working or studying remotely; meaning they can be anywhere in the world, providing they have a laptop and a decent internet connection.
There are many benefits to working or studying remotely and in Britain alone, there are 5 million people embracing the remote working lifestyle (that’s almost as many as who live in London).
This trend in remote working and studying is seeming to be a long term societal shift that’s here to stay; and it’s not just the working world that’s becoming more remote; students are opting for this more flexible way of working too.
Indeed, there’s a huge rise in the number of virtual enrollments to online courses vs. physical enrollments at campus based universities. Nowadays you can even study an online FNP course from the comfort of your own home, or hammock on a remote beach somewhere, if you so choose.
Today, academics are tapping into the remote working lifestyle just as much as the authors, freelancers and entrepreneurs you normally find in coffee houses around the world.
The benefits of the remote working lifestyle are pretty clear and today, there are many people who have already exchanged their cramped office cubicle and congested commute for a beach hut in some tropical land, where they’re able to live like a king due to the difference in cost of living.
That said, it doesn’t have to be so extravagant – indeed, it can be the case that you simply want to spend more time with your family, and work from home on more flexible terms so that you can be there for the school plays, sports games, and so on.
Remote working could indeed be the future; particularly if you consider the time saving and lifestyle enhancing benefits, yet there can be disadvantages such as having less social interaction with colleagues – which can lead to a feeling of isolation.
The challenge is that for some people the remoteness of the remote working lifestyle becomes a little too much to the point they begin to feel cut off and as though they are living an insular life cut off from the outside world.
The main challenge however, is that often the trend in remote working is fueled by the trend in people working freelance rather than having a stable job that guarantees a monthly income. Indeed, the notion of a “job for life” is now somewhat archaic to the point it seems to have been replaced with the likes of zero hour contracts.
Furthermore, you’re now no longer competing within the local job market where you are compared against a few local candidates. The internet has opened the door to a global labour market.
It’s therefore important to be realistic about how challenging it can sometimes be to find work, or enjoy the remote lifestyle, if you have a tendency to feel withdrawn and isolated if you’re not physically part of a team.
That said, with so many compelling reasons to embrace the remote working lifestyle it’s often the case that the rewards outweigh the potential struggles, and maybe now is the perfect time to get on the bandwagon as the world becomes much more remote.
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