By: Raj Vardhman

Until recently, a lot of us lived by one idea – find a job that suits us the most and stay there until retirement. Even though this brings a certain comfort knowing that you are safe until you decide to retire, after a couple of decades surrounded by the same ideals, things might get a little monotonous. Not to mention the fact that the days might start to feel repetitive and maybe even boring.

That said, recent studies have shown that the working world is changing drastically for the first time in a long time.

People are becoming braver and bolder when choosing their career paths. We no longer decide to take the highest paid jobs based on salary alone. As time goes by, we are learning that our mental health and happiness are much more important. 

Yes, we still need a paycheck to survive our modern, fast-paced way of living, but what we need more is to find a way to earn money from something we enjoy.

There is a reason why Mark Twain said once, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Thanks to the remote working possibilities, we better understand how to make it a reality.

Flexibility Is the Key

This is where remote working comes into play. The biggest benefit from remote working is the flexibility it offers. In a job that requires you to physically be in a specific place from 9 till 5 surrounded by others, it can be challenging to maintain a high level of productivity throughout the workday. 

There are so many distracting things – morning traffic, chatty colleagues, office politics – to name a few.  Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to finish your daily assignments. It’s no wonder that by the end of 2018, there were 57 million Americans working remotely. That’s 35% of the US workforce!

The best part? According to studies, 61% of business owners said that remote workers increased company profit. On the other hand, 83% of entrepreneurs said that flexible hours boosted employee productivity. In other words, 30% of remote workers accomplished more in less time.

And what do remote workers say about their decision to make this change?

• 51% said that no amount of money would make them go back to traditional work

• 83% believe they don’t need to be in an office to be productive

• 54% plan to work remotely for the rest of their careers

•  60% would leave their job for a remote position at the same pay rate

• 95% would, without a doubt, encourage others to leave their traditional job and try remote working.

The Advantages Are Not Negligible

First things first, we all need less stress in our lives. I suspect that’s one of the major reasons why people began choosing remote working over the traditional 9-to-5 office hours.

According to studies, 82% of remote workers reported lower stress levels! And that’s not all; 51% admitted that they spend more time with their significant others, 48% report getting more sleep, and 44% have a more positive attitude. This all contributes to better life satisfaction.

On the other hand, remote working also helps companies that decide to hire remotely. For example, they have better access to talent outside their respective cities and even countries. As a result, it helps them save money by requiring less office space. Not to mention the fact that their profits can increase due to the boosted productivity of their remote workers.

There Are Some Side Effects Too

Remote working can be a dream come true for many people, but some might experience struggles and difficulties. Not everyone is built for this type of working.

Some people can’t plan their own time in a way where they are most productive without supervision. Also, some people thrive only in a busy environment. And for some, talking with their colleagues might be the highlight of their days – these social butterflies simply can’t stand to work alone.

So what are the biggest struggles of remote workers?

• 19% are experiencing higher level of loneliness

• 17% are having difficulties with collaborating and/or communicating

• 10% are easily distracted in their homes

• 8% are living in the time zone their company operates in.

Final Thoughts

Remote working might very well be the future of work. It is expected that the remote worker population will surpass 105 million in the US alone. That means 72% of the total US workforce. 

This shouldn’t come as a surprise because of all the benefits that remote workers and their companies are experiencing. The world is changing every single day, and when it comes to our careers, it seems they are finally taking the right turn.

Raj Vardhman is a self-made white hat SEO expert and Wordpress virtuoso—passionate about developing new SEO strategies with nominal budgets on Wordpress. Raj loves designing, traveling, photography, fabulous food, and even better conversation.