Remote working is becoming more popular every day, as people and companies discover you don’t need to be in an office to do a good job. These days, there are tens of thousands of remote workers around the world, doing everything from managing teams to answering customer complaints. But if you don’t work in an office, where should you work? Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the best places to work remotely. Try them out and see what suits you!
Home sweet home
A lot of people think that working remotely and working from home are the same thing. They aren’t, but they can be. Working from home can give you a lot of flexibility if you’re a parent or need to take care of someone. Working from home doesn’t suit everyone, though. It can be lonely, and the novelty of working in your pyjamas wears off after a while. If you do work from home, make sure to get out of the house every once in a while. You should also make sure to have a dedicated workspace- procrastination can be a big problem when there’s no-one around to keep you in check. A home office is great, if you have the space. If you don’t, just pick a space where you can work undisturbed, and walk away from at the end of the day.
Coffee shop
Who hasn’t walked into a coffee shop and seen half a dozen people working on their laptops? Coffee shops are a very popular place to work- you have coffee to keep you energised, and the busy atmosphere can make you feel less isolated than you would be at home. You’ll want to make sure the coffee shop you choose has sockets for your laptop and free, fast WiFi. The downside of coffee shops is that you’ll need to buy something every so often to hang out there. This can result in too much caffeine or a growing waistline. Coffee shops can also be a bit too loud- you can’t control who comes in and out, and a screaming baby during an important call doesn’t give off a very professional vibe.
Co-working space
Co-working spaces are popping up in towns and cities around the world- if you search for co-working spaces, there’s probably one closer than you think. A co-working space is basically an office for people who don’t have an office. They have desks, sockets, WiFi, and usually tea and coffee. Prices of co-working spaces can range a lot. Some are free, some require a monthly payment, and some allow you to rent a desk for a day. if you’re working remotely for a company, they might cover the cost of a co-working space for you. Co-working spaces are a great way to meet new people and have work friends without the usual office politics. Some spaces are more social than others, so try a few out and see which atmosphere you like best.
Library
Libraries are a great option if you’re on a budget. They’re free to use and always quiet. Most libraries have WiFi and desk space, but you might have to get there early to guarantee a seat. You’re not renting a seat like you would in a co-working space, so there won’t be one saved for you. Just remember that you’ll need to step outside for calls, so this isn’t a great option if you have a lot of phone or video interaction with clients.
A tropical paradise
Digital nomads are people who travel the world while working from their laptops. Sounds great, right? Who wouldn’t want to look up from their work to see they’re on a beach in Bali? Digital nomadism is a great way to live, but only if you’ve been bitten by the travel bug. Regular travel can take a lot of time and effort, so you need to be very organised and able to keep working while moving from place to place. Some digital nomads like to “slow travel”, meaning they travel slower than the standard digital nomad rate of every few weeks. If you have a remote job and want to see more of the world, there’s not much stopping you!
No matter where you work, you’ll need a few things for remote work. Make sure the space you choose has
- Fast (ideally free) WiFi
- Sockets you can easily use
- A comfortable place to sit- remember, you’ll be sitting there for a few hours!
- An atmosphere that doesn’t distract or bother you
Once you have all these things, you can work anywhere!
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Would absolutely love to be in any one of those places right now working for myself. The dream.
I’m sure you’ll get there, Grace! When you’re working for yourself in some great place, make sure to send a pic!
Rebecca,
I just stumbled upon your well-written and nicely-displayed blog. I have to strongly and sadly disagree with you about libraries being havens of quietude. My closest public library is within walking distance. That’s the good news. It’s the loudest library in the world! That’s the bad news. The library website’s url is ‘not a quiet library. Talking seems to be encouraged. This translates into patrons not being considerate of others trying to get their work done.
I’m showing my age here, but when I was a kid, the librarian would shush you just for walking over old creaky wooden floors. As someone who searches out and records natural quiet, I yearn for the day when libraries everywhere will be quiet again. Quieter than a coffee shop at least. That little rooms set aside for patrons searching out quiet can be used by patrons being loud. Give me ‘Silent Saturday’s,’ or at least, a ‘Quiet Corner.’
Thanks for your comment, Rick! I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog.
I’ve had personal experience with both loud and quiet libraries. I used to frequent a library that hosted a lot of parent-and-baby events, and those groups were encouraged to be as loud as they wanted. It sounds like your local library are going for something similar. While it’s great for local community groups, I’d agree with you that it’s probably one of the worst places you could go for a productive work session.
That said, I think it’s all about your local library’s setup. My current local library is much better suited to workers, and I’ve used it many times myself. I’ve also been to libraries where there were separate rooms for louder events, so the general reading public could continue uninterrupted. It all depends on what your local library offers, but I wanted to include it in my list because it might encourage readers to check if their library is suitable. Hopefully your library introduces a “Quiet Corner” at some point!