Working remotely has now become mainstream in the world we know today. The ability to work from outside of the boundaries of a corporate office has been feasible for some years, but these days it appears remote work is on the rise. You have probably heard the phrase remote work being thrown around, but do you know what it means?

Remote work, also known as telecommuting, is a working style that can be described as a type of flexible working arrangement that enables a worker to do their job from a remote location outside of the boundaries of an office. This arrangement can help ensure access to career opportunities, reduced communication costs, and a good work-life balance. Employers can also benefit from this arrangement with increased employee retention and satisfaction, increased productivity from workers, and cost savings on some office resources. Remote work can be done on a temporary or permanent basis.

Try to think of it this way; remote employees can execute major projects and meet their deadlines wherever they please, instead of commuting to an office each day. Having the flexibility to design their workdays can allow employees to experience their professional and personal lives to the fullest extent.

HOW DO PEOPLE WORK REMOTELY?

More and more people are choosing to work remotely, and there are a variety of ways that they can decide to do that. The beauty of remote work is that people can decide to work in the way that works best for their lives. For instance, some remote workers have the opportunity to work remotely for four days of the working week, but they have to make the commute to the office for physical meetings one day a week. On an average workday, these individuals can work from their home offices or a nearby Starbucks. When it becomes necessary, they can always go to their company’s office.

Other remote workers rely on what they call “coworking spaces” to get their jobs done. These spaces act as hubs of creativity, productivity, and community. They usually offer great network connectivity with many opportunities to meet others who work in a variety of industries. Freelancers, as well as people with full-time jobs, can use these spaces for themselves, or a small crew of staff. These spaces are more like a meeting point between a traditional workplace and the home—they give you the comfort of working from home while combining it with the professional resources and networking opportunities that you would find in the office environment.

Whether remote employees stay at home or make use of a coworking space, they still enjoy the benefits of being in control of their time and having location flexibility. In addition to being able to set their schedules so that they can work whenever they are most productive, some remote employees can decide to leave their routines behind and hit the road.

HOW REMOTE WORK BENEFITS EMPLOYEES

1.  Flexible Lifestyle

This is easily the most obvious reason for opting to work remotely. It offers employees a more dynamic lifestyle where they are not required to be in an office at a set time. They can focus on the things that matter to them outside of the office. Parents, for instance, can start their work earlier in the day to be present when their children get home from school. Other workers may even choose to take time off during the day to meet a doctor’s appointment, or possibly, a scenario in which an employee wants to attain further education in their field.

2.  Better Health

Remote employees are reported to be less stressed. The nature of their work schedule allows them to have higher morale than their in-office counterparts. The rigors of a commute can make employees feel more stressed. By letting remote employees work in an environment they prefer, and eliminating the commute to work, employers can nurture less fatigued employees. Healthy and happy employees can do their jobs better and feel more committed to their companies. When looking at it from this perspective, remote work is simply good for business.

3.  Renewed Passion

Remote employees tend to come up with their best work outside the office. The opportunity to work alone brings put a new way of looking at a problem from the remote worker. It acts as a source of motivation or a reward for their good work. Working remotely ensures workers are stimulated to continue and exceed their goals to keep on living the flexible life they have gotten accustomed to.

4.  Cost Savings

Remote employees are perfect for saving companies money. Companies can see significant savings from costs like office furniture and rent. To give you a better perspective on that, Flexjobs reported that companies can save $22,000 per remote worker every year, even if they do not have an entire team of remote workers.

5.  Higher Productivity

The most famous argument for remote work is the increased productivity that comes with flexibility. Remote employees are more inclined to put extra effort into their work, going beyond the call of duty to ensure their work gets done. Based on reports from the State and Work Productivity Report, a large percentage of full time employees believe working remotely boosts their productivity…even the bosses are likely to agree. More than half of managers who were interviewed admitted an increase in productivity from their remote workers.

HOW TO WORK REMOTELY

If this lifestyle has appealed to you, and the idea of living a life that is most suited to your professional and personal goals is calling you, then you can check out our article on seven tips to become a digital nomad. Remote jobs can be found in almost any industry if you look closely enough. There has never been a better time to delve into working on your own time. You may never know what opportunities are waiting for you.

We are waiting to hear all that you would accomplish when you start living the life you want to.