The Benefits of Remote Work for Productivity (and Happiness)
In 2021, I was an exhausted, overworked, and unfulfilled office worker struggling to face the reality of this same eight-to-five routine for the next four decades. So I changed that reality: I became a full-time remote worker and never looked back.
I was re-energized and present in my day-to-day life, a more productive and efficient worker, and my career prospects opened up in ways I had never imagined. It’s so clear why remote work is on the rise around the world, and the benefits don't stop here.
What Are The Benefits of Remote Work?
Since Covid, corporations have been trying to deny that remote work is here to stay. We hate to say 'I told you so', but it turns out they were wrong. According to this Upwork Study, 22% of US employees will be working remotely by 2025, with the expected growth rate of full-time remote work more than doubling over the next five years.
In other words, we're not going anywhere.
Whether companies like it or not, remote work is here to stay. More and more of us are discovering that there is another, and better, way to live that doesn't involve commutes, depressing offices, or nosey coworkers. Working remotely can improve so many areas of life, including:
- Lifestyle
- Health
- Environmental
- Financial
- Economic
Making the change to no longer work from an office is quickly becoming one of the best decisions you can make for your overall mental, physical, and economic health, all without sacrificing productivity, income, or career potential.
Don't believe me? Keep reading to discover the real benefits of working remotely.
15 Advantages of Remote Work
There has truly never been a better time to start working remotely. 98% of workers told Forbes that they want to work remotely in some capacity, and this post will tell you why:
1. Increased Happiness
Hands down the biggest benefit of remote work for me has been my increased happiness, and I'm not the only one: Flexjobs's study of 8,400 individuals found that 93% of workers reported that working remotely had a positive impact on their mental health.
Not being tied to a desk or forced to work from an office doesn't just sound good, it is good for us! My mood isn't only better during work hours either, I'm happier throughout the day, hugely increasing my overall quality of life.
2. Reduced Stress
It’s a well-known fact that working remotely can increase a person’s comfort levels by wearing what they want, removing the stressful commute, and reducing face-to-face interaction with - how do I put this nicely - difficult colleagues.
According to a study published by the NIH, not working in an office can “reduce psychological and physical stress” with significant mental and physical health benefits in the long term. Let's face it, who doesn't want to be less stressed?
3. A Healthier Lifestyle
Reduced stress is not the only health benefit of working remotely. Not working in an office leads to healthier eating with more options for meal times and snacks. When I worked in an office, I was far more likely to buy a quick and unhealthy lunch than remember to bring something in from home. And even if I did remember, I usually went for the fast food option anyway.
Now I have the bandwidth and time to cook more often and make healthier decisions. I also walk so much more during the time that used to be wasted commuting or spent rotting in an office during lunch breaks.
4. Travel While You Work
Working remotely doesn’t have to mean working from home. Instead of being tied to a desk, building, or city, remote work opens up the opportunity to travel the world while pursuing your career. I’ve traveled Europe, Asia, and North America as a remote worker, taking meetings and completing tasks from hotels, coffee shops, and planes and if I'm honest, it's just as amazing as it sounds!
Learn how to create your own portable remote office below:
Adam Mace
5. Heightened Productivity
There’s a common myth that remote workers are less productive and more susceptible to distraction than if they were forced to be in the office. I'll be the first to tell you that this couldn't be further from the truth.
Quantum Workplace reports instead that 78% of remote workers would describe themselves as having “high engagement” with their work compared to 72% of on-site workers. In other words, switching to remote work could have a positive effect on your productivity.
Learn how to be even more productive with our dedicated guide:
Luca Mussari
6. Better Work-Life Balance
Before working remotely, my life was ruled by the workday. My Monday to Friday routine was dedicated to the office, leaving me with essentially no energy, social battery, or hours in the day. Now, weekdays are entirely different experiences.
Creating a healthy work-life balance that doesn’t revolve around deadlines and meetings is an entirely different experience. You have more control over how you organize your day to fit in the things that really matter, like exercising, socializing, or picking up your kids from school.
Check out our best tips for work-life balance as a remote worker:
Thalia-Maria Tourikis
7. Working Remotely Saves You Money
From money not spent on commuting, buying lunch, or refreshing your office-appropriate wardrobe, to saving through potential tax breaks, there are real financial benefits to working remotely.
The US Careers Institute believes that the average US employee can save up to $12,000 a year by working remotely! That's a lot of money to spend on the things you actually enjoy.
Want to save more? Check out our budgeting tips for remote workers:
Liam Carnahan
8. Gain Time to Spend on You
Money is not the only thing you’ll save by working remotely. The USCI has also shared that the worldwide average commute time is 72 minutes, with remote workers saving over 5 hours of time every week.
With a little math, that builds up to over 288 hours saved in a year, that’s 12 full additional days’s worth of time gained just by not going to the office.
9. Less Accessibility Hurdles
22.5% of people with disabilities in the US were employed last year, the highest number on record. Bloomberg thinks that’s down to the surge of remote work opportunities.
Commuting to an office creates countless accessibility issues, from anxiety barriers to the lack of accessible public transport. Remote work benefits those who struggle to work traditionally but still want to be a part of the workforce.
10. Greater Opportunity
To work in an office, you have to live near that office. Your job prospects are limited by geographic factors, which either keep you in one place or force you to move to another. The cool thing is that with remote positions, there are no location limitations.
With many companies choosing to hire fully remotely, you can now apply from any city - or even country - worldwide. I work with clients in Europe, North America, and Australia, which created opportunities I would never have had in my in-office position.
11. Lower Carbon Footprint
Something I never expected from changing the way I worked was the environmental benefits of remote work. Turns out that telecommuting can reduce a worker’s carbon impact by up to 58%.
From having fewer cars on the road to an increase in paperless communication, as remote workers we are making a positive impact on the environment every single day.
12. Save on PTO
And did you know that working remotely is one of the greatest travel hacks when it comes to PTO? The flexibility of not being in an office means working while you travel and avoiding expensive weekend flights. Instead, you can leave during the week, work from the road, and return whenever you want.
For example, when you're craving a weekend away, you could leave on a Thursday afternoon, work out of your hotel room on Friday and return Monday afternoon, turning a two-night quick trip into a four-day vacation!
13. Multiple Income Streams
With the additional time and mental bandwidth created by working remotely, you can also consider launching a side hustle to bring in some additional income.
There are so many options when it comes to making money online from remote tutoring to affiliate marketing, or you could look into transferring the skills you already have into some freelance projects. My digital nomad journey started with a single freelance job that paid $50 and now I'm in my third year of full-time remote work - the possibilities are endless!
14. Avoid Burnout
90% of employees report that they are dealing with some level of burnout - that’s an astounding number of people experiencing an extreme level of mental and physical exhaustion.
Those same workers believe that more flexibility in the workplace, otherwise known as working remotely, would directly address and reduce their burnout symptoms.
15. Join the Remote Work Community
Some people worry that by opting out of an office, you also opt out of a work community. I'm here to promise that this isn't a concern. By choosing to remote work, you are opting into a vast new community of remote workers and digital nomads just waiting to meet you.
Through Facebook groups, Slack channels, and subreddits, you can find in-person and online communities of like-minded people offering support, ideas, and friendship. Some of my most inspiring and exciting conversations have come from meeting other digital nomads in cities all across the world.
You may also be interested in:
Jessica Saabor
The Future of Work is Remote
There is no denying that the workforce is becoming more and more remote. Workers around the world are becoming empowered to favor remote positions and companies have little choice but to change the way they hire.
The number of remote work opportunities just keeps going up and tech is no longer the sole option for those of us who want to work from anywhere. Unexpected industries like finance, healthcare, and HR are already shifting their approach to remote roles with so many more following suit.
Telecommuting as an employee is also not the only way to work remotely. Starting your own business remotely has never been easier. If there is not yet a remote work position that works for you, consider creating your own opportunity to join our digital nomad community and start enjoying the benefits of remote work.
Looking for ways to live your best remote work life? Check out our top tips:
Luca Mussari
Are You Ready to Start Working Remotely?
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We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads!
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