The future of work is here – and the world is changing.
Remote work is about much more than where and how you choose to work. It has opened up a world of possibilities where you no longer are tied to one location, and contributes to a significant shift in how we look at life.
How we think about our careers, our relationships, and the ways we spend our time.
The following are a few ways remote work transforms the way we live.
Lifestyle design becomes a bigger priority
Photo credit: As more people realize that it’s possible to design your ideal lifestyle while doing your best work, many are reconsidering how they live their life.
People start to question how things “should be done” and experiment with new ways with a focus on happiness, family, friends, and spending their time in meaningful ways.
A study by Upwork shows that lack of commute alone saves remote workers up to 51 minutes every day. Time that instead can be spent on side hustles, passion projects, or whatever makes you happy.
Instead of looking at our career in isolation, a more holistic approach is becoming more common. Where the question essentially is: How do I want to spend the little time I have here in a way that makes sense to me?
Systems and structures in society become more flexible
Photo credit: Until now, one of the factors holding people and businesses back from embracing remote work is that systems to manage the practical stuff, like visas, taxes, insurance, etc, are lacking. This is starting to change.
At the beginning of 2021, 21 countries had digital nomad visas in place or in process. Now, 1,5 years later, that number has gone up to over 40 – and is still growing!
Several companies offer specific services for remote workers to manage taxes and more. As the world becomes more flexible and remote work becomes the standard for many industries, new systems will continue to emerge.
In the future, we predict schools to become more flexible, collaborating across borders, to make it easier for families to relocate. There is still a lot of work to be done but one thing is certain – structures in society have to adjust.
Creative solutions to support a freer lifestyle are being introduced
Photo credit: New solutions to manage real estate, travel, events, relationships, work and everything in between are being introduced. With the common goal of making a more flexibile lifestyle easier and technology more accessible than ever before.
We’ll see lots of creative solutions supporting a more international lifestyle – from efficient language learning to apps that make it smooth to get up to speed on new cultures, destinations, and get to know people across the world. Creative VR solutions and more makes it easier to network and keep in touch, no matter where you are based.
Recruitment is changing forever, entrepreneurship becomes more common, and wealth gaps decrease
Photo credit: As more brands embrace remote work, talents and businesses across the world are able to connect and collaborate. You’re no longer limited to whatever is available where you happen to live. This helps to level the playing field a bit.
A developer in a small town in Bangladesh can suddenly generate thousands of dollars from brands in San Francisco or Stockholm. When people work from home, they’re also able to save on things like transportation.
The hurdles to starting a business are lower, since you don’t have to worry about hiring a team or renting an office space. All you need to get started is a good internet connection (and well, great ideas and discipline – but that’s a topic for another article). This makes entrepreneurship and global success (and competition) more accessible, which in turn boosts innovation.
Businesses will face new challenges
Photo credit: While working remotely offers a lot of advantages, it also presents new challenges for businesses. Within areas like creating a culture, fostering meaningful relationships, performance management, employee wellbeing, taxes, and more.
Other types of benefits will be expected and valued, like time and freedom. A survey of remote workers by GitLab showed that 1 in 3 respondents would quit their job if remote working was no longer an option, and 52% would consider leaving their company for a remote role. 82% claimed that remote work is the way of the future.
Moreover, research still shows that many leaders base performance management more on presence than results. If your “remote opportunities” slow down progress, your talents will choose to progress somewhere else. As people demand more flexibility, companies have to reconsider how they operate.
Also, as competition is no longer limited to wherever you’re based, prepare to get creative with your strategies!
Smaller towns become more vibrant
Since where you live is no longer dependent on where you work, moving to a paradise island or to a little mountain village to enjoy a slower pace while working for a leading brand is now possible.
Sleepy small towns are transforming into hotspots bustling with new businesses and a thriving arts scene. And it’s all thanks to remote work!
While I’ve always loved spending time in smaller places, I could in the past miss the exchange you usually get in a bigger cities. Meeting people who are well-traveled, networking events, lots of high-quality restaurants, and so on. Now you can base yourself in smaller places and still have access to a global community.
Property developers are also taking advantage of this trend and are building housing outside of big cities. This is good news for smaller towns and rural communities, as it boosts their economies.
The way we travel is changing (and sustainability becomes more important than ever)
Photo credit: With a growing community of digital nomads, tourism operators are seizing the chance to attract visitors by marketing themselves as remote-working hot spots, rather than vacation destinations.
While it’s great that more people are able to live in places they always have dreamt of, similar challenges that come with mass tourism and immigration also arise. For example, thanks to the wave of remote workers flocking to certain destinations, median home prices have reached new highs, making it nearly impossible for some locals to afford living in the best neighborhoods.
Just as for any place that is becoming more popular, it’s key to have a plan in place focused on integration, sustainability, and protecting the authenticity and local culture.
The future of remote work
Photo credit: Flexibility, lifestyle design, and more time are just a few reasons why remote work is on the rise. As more people start to realize the benefits, it will only continue to grow.
What makes location independence so special is that you can design your ideal lifestyle. No matter if that means more time at home, working, or traveling.
On the one hand, it presents many challenges, like increased competition and big crowds overwhelming popular nomad hot-spots. There’s also no denying that working remotely isn’t possible for everyone. You need a good internet connection and a comfortable place to work from – so it’s still a luxury.
On the other hand, it spoils us with opportunities and empowers people to take more control of their lives.
A lot of things still need to be figured out for remote work to be sustainable long-term. What’s for sure is that it isn’t a little trend that is about to pass. It’s a big shift in how we live and approach our life – and the future is exciting!
Remote work transforms the way we live,
what does this mean for you?
How can you overcome the challenges and tap into all the opportunities remote work presents?
The first step is simply being aware of remote work trends, and being willing to adjust accordingly. Take the time to understand how the world is changing, and use that data to fuel your strategy – for your business and life.
What challenges and opportunities do you see? Let me know in the comments!
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