Last November was my third anniversary at my current company. It’s an online travel agency based in the Netherlands, with staff working from all over the world. For the last three years I have been working from home. It’s a sweet arrangement – I don’t have to deal with abominable traffic, I can work in bed in my pajamas, and I never have to leave my baby doggo! I’ve also met some pretty awesome people along the way, including my “partner in crime” Maya, whose words I’m featuring in this blog post.

Working remotely does present its own unique set of challenges. And when I first started out, there were a lot of doubters. But hey, you either get it or you don’t. I’ll leave it to Maya, who explains perfectly how lucky we are.

 

I never imagined I would end up as a remote worker or working from home, to be exact. People may think, “Where is the fun” or “Ahh it’s not cool at all”, etc etc. That was me…that was me when my best friend said she was hired by a company and she would be working from home. But thanks to her also that she introduced me to this company I’m working for, because I found myself more supported and motivated. The important thing is, it’s more peaceful (which is what matters most when you are growing older).

For me, the challenges are more about the time zone and distance, which may affect communication. But these two things have taught me how to be super clear and direct with what I’m going to say. And NO assumptions.

When I have to talk about the benefits, a lot of things come to my mind. If I should choose, the best three are: work environment, flexible time, and savings. I found myself in a more healthy environment: no office politics, no judgmental opinion, no gossip. All of these things I believe will give me more positive energy, help me be more productive, and help me give my best performance. Flexibility, yes, but you are also responsible with the schedule you have decided. Savings …yesss! Not much money spent on transportation, makeup, or business attire. Oh one more thing: reduce the pollution.

If you like meeting new people, remote working should not be a hindrance because you can work from anywhere with a good internet connection.

I work from where I’m happiest.
Tripaneer ❤