Remote work offers a lot of flexibility and allows people to have more control over their schedules. I personally prefer normal work hours, but this is beneficial for those who are more productive when at the comfort of their home during specific times of the day and for those trying to achieve a better work-life balance. Coupled with the fact that there is no longer any commute time, it greatly reduces wasted time, stress, and travel costs.
Another advantage that I am yet to explore is that remote work can allow access to global opportunities, which can be utilized to expand our network and reach different locations. When I moved to a time zone 10 hours ahead of Airdrie, I decided to work synchronously during the evenings, which kept the earlier part of the day free for time outside of work or any leftover tasks.
A few challenges I faced, however, are that social interaction is a very important part of your work life. It is crucial in building relationships and increasing collaboration. While virtual meetings are a good substitute, they can never replace the connection that is developed when meeting in person. To combat this, we would meet every few weeks in a conference room or over lunch to discuss projects and build relationships. Communication and scheduling were also challenges when I moved to a different time zone. It can be hard to find synchronous time for meetings, especially when unplanned, and the time difference can also delay communication among team members. However, this wasn't too bothersome since we decided early on that my work hours would be in sync with the local time in Airdrie. If one learns to manage their time properly around unorthodox hours, this challenge can be tackled easily.
Like any other scenario, working remotely has its own pros and cons. With the right mindset, work ethic, and most importantly, the right management within your company, most scenarios can be fine-tuned to maximize productivity while also maintaining a healthy working environment.
