Franz ElizLike many other digital nomads, I, too, had a full-time office job. It wasn’t long until I realised it wasn’t really for me. I started working from home after quitting my job in 2014.
In 2016, I returned to being a full-time writer at a travel booking company based in Malaysia. But I left my job in 2017 and returned to freelancing. I realised that sitting at my office desk all day long on a daily basis was sucking the life out of me.
Even though I wasn’t fully satisfied with my previous job, I’m glad to have had the opportunity to contribute to the company. My ex-colleagues were great. I was surrounded by hardworking and talented people every day.
“Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.” -Albert Camus
Note: I wrote this article because I get asked about my lifestyle a lot, especially from boomers. With this article, I hope I don’t have to explain myself all the time. So, keep reading.
Reasons Remote Working Is for Me
Before leaving my full-time content writer office job, I shared with my colleagues that I enjoy being location-independent. The following explores the reasons I turned to remote working:
1. I Want More Control Over My Time
If I could work on my computer and get everything done with it, I don’t see the need to be in the office every day or at all.
Remote working allows me to manage my time better and be more accountable for my own work. I can choose to start work anytime I like—whether it’s 8 a.m., 9 a.m., or even 12 p.m.—just as long as I get my work done.
I can choose to work as early as 7 a.m. tomorrow, have lunch at 3 p.m., or sign off from work at 4 p.m.
And if I want to take a 30-minute nap or finish work at 11 p.m. to catch up with deadlines, why not? All that is possible because I have full control over my time.
2. It’s Easier and Cheaper
By working remotely, I can choose to work wherever I like; from home, in a coffee house, or even at the beach. I’m good to go as long as I have a good Internet connection and a laptop.
So many things can be done online now, from paying bills to voting, thanks to modern technology. Since I dislike commuting to work, I prefer to be a location-independent worker, also known as a digital nomad or remote worker.
As a remote worker, I get to save more money on food by cooking my meals at home. I can spend less on transportation, too. Furthermore, I don’t have to worry about the way I dress. I can always work in my pyjama.
3. I Like To Challenge Myself
When I started freelancing, I was at the point in my life where I didn’t care much about living a stable life. What I mean is going to work every day knowing that I will always receive a paycheck at the end of the month.
With freelancing, I don’t get that security. It’s not always easy to tell how long my projects will last or how stable my income stream will be in the next few months. Perhaps that’s why I enjoy being a freelancer or a remote worker. It’s pretty much like being on an adventure. And I love adventures.
With remote working, I can still maintain a routine, like waking up early in the morning to work, taking breaks for stretching and exercising, cooking, reading, etc., without feeling restricted by someone else’s rules.
4. I Like To Explore
Anyone can travel if they want or if they can. How often one travel is a different story.
I enjoy travelling for extended periods. It’s possible as long as I keep my expenses low.
Not everyone is pleased with my lifestyle. It isn’t uncommon for others to criticise me for not taking my future seriously. I don’t blame them for that. People have the tendency to question things they don’t understand.
The truth is, I can travel so often because I don’t have many commitments holding me back. I stopped owning a car, so I would always take public transportation.
I haven’t bought a house, so I’m just renting a room. I’ve got no kids. The only person I’m currently supporting right now is my mom.
Having very few commitments makes it easier for me to live a simpler life, and at the same time, I get to travel more.
Since I always work remotely, I get to move around more often. The fact that I get to work while travelling justifies why I would rather work from anywhere than in the office.
I need to spread my wings and fly.
5. I’ve Trained Myself Not To Get Too Attached to Anything or Anyone
I’m quite a minimalist, so I don’t have a lot of stuff that holds me back. As mentioned earlier, I don’t have a car, a mortgage, or kids. That said, I can easily go anywhere I want, thus, becoming a remote worker.
Before I decided to practice this lifestyle, I asked myself if I would be okay with the below instances:
- not having a long-term relationship with someone
- constantly saying goodbye to my friends and family
- living outside of my comfort zone
- being physically far from the people I love
I decided that none of the above would stop me from fulfilling my thirst for travelling. In addition, I believe I could still build long-lasting relationships and friendships even when I’m always moving.
Living in the moment and learning how to let go is very important to me. I had to learn all these the hard way. No regrets, though.
6. I Get To Eat Healthier
One of the advantages of working from home is the ability to cook your own meals.
I often heard office workers complain about what to eat. They ate out every day and were simply tired of eating the same food. They wouldn’t have had this problem had they prepped their meals before work.
But not everyone likes prepping meals in the morning. I did the same, too, despite knowing how unhealthy eating out can be.
But thanks to remote working, I can cook more often and prioritise healthy meals.
7. Remote Working Challenges Help Me To Stay Motivated
As discussed earlier, remote working has helped me save more money on food and transportation. I don’t need to eat out as often and commute daily anymore, allowing me to save money for travelling.
And I can always work in a cafe if I don’t want to work at home. Sometimes it’s nice to be surrounded by people.
At the beginning of my journey, I must admit that I struggled to gain a decent and more stable income. But remote work’s quality of life helped me stay happy and motivated.
8. I Can Visit My Family and Friends Anytime
Since I travel so often, I’m rarely at home.
My friends and family don’t always get to catch up with me. But thanks to social media, I can share my stories and whereabouts with my loved ones.
Even though it’s not always easy for my friends and family to keep up with me, I always make time for them whenever I’m home. And I enjoy making time for my loved ones.
I could be in the UK next week. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll go have dinner with my friends Rob and Simon in Manchester. Or I could be in Borneo next. Who knows? Maybe I’ll go on a road trip with my mom and aunt.
Then, I could be flying off to KL to say hello to Joey, Gaby, and Jesseca. Who knows?
And the list goes on.
You see, I always try to make time for my friends and family whenever possible. I can do these things because I can work from wherever I want.
9. Remote Working Allows Me To Explore My Passion
Remote working allows me to have more control over my own time. I can work on more freelance projects and gain experience in different fields with different companies. Furthermore, I can work at my own pace as long as I stick to my project deadlines.
Speaking from experience, remote working has taught me to be more independent at work. I get to learn many things on my own. It has also made me a better researcher, as no one is spoon-feeding me information. I have also picked up several new skills.
Apart from all that, remote working has also helped me make more time doing the things I love: blogging and making music.
Previously, I rarely had the time to do these things. My energy was drained mostly from working overtime and going through daily commutes.
Thanks to remote working, I get to wander around new places. Along the way, I find new opportunities for myself. I’ve come across many opportunities, from employment to falling in love. The possibilities are endless.
10. Remote Working Encourages Me To Acquire New Skills
One of the reasons I chose this lifestyle is because I understand how easy it is for someone to go from being employed to unemployed.
My mother has always tried to convince me to work for the government as they typically offer job security. To many people I know, having a job with the government means a more secure future and better retirement options than employment in the private sector.
I do have a fear of losing my job should there be an economic crisis. With that in mind, I’m always looking for ways to help me make money. Suppose I lose my job someday; at least I’ll be prepared for it.
Modern technology has opened doors for more people to make more money. As a content writer, I’ve learnt to find customers who will pay for my writing service. I also tried teaching myself basic coding, video editing, language learning, etc. The skills I’ve acquired – even if they’re on a basic level – may assist me in finding different opportunities anywhere in the world next time.
Would I Ever Return to Working Full-Time in the Office?
Life is unexpected, so I’m not surprised if I ever return to working full-time in the office. But as of today, I don’t have any plans for that. I shall continue working as a freelancer or remote worker and invest my time into the side hustles I care about.
