🪦 They want you to think remote work is dead

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One small thing that makes our first travel day easier: landing with 500 MB of free mobile data already waiting for us. Thanks to Virgin Connect Roam, you can open maps, message your host, and order a ride straight away. It works in 190+ countries, takes a couple of minutes to set up, and lets you top up only when you actually need more data. Learn more at roam.virginconnect.com.

Hey Freaking Nomads,

It’s been a few months now where it feels like every other headline is trying to convince us that remote work is over just because they have decided to.

With big companies announcing return-to-office policies and CEOs literally saying “Get in line or get out”, LinkedIn feeds and publications are full of hot takes on the imminent "death of remote work".

But you know what? The remote work trend is actually having a comeback!

If we actually look at the searches for remote work, the search demand is at an all-time high. Not declining. Not plateauing. Higher than ever.

Google trends

To me, this clearly shows a power struggle.

Many companies want control back. Offices make that easier. And return-to-office policies are far more about keeping employees under control (and surveillance), rather than productivity.

At the same time, interest in remote work keeps growing because people have already experienced something they can’t unsee/ unlearn.

They now can:

  • Choose where to live instead of organizing life around an office
  • Design days that actually fit their energy, health, and priorities
  • Realize work doesn’t have to consume everything

From my own experience, once you’ve had even a small taste of autonomy, it’s incredibly hard to go back.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Remote work for sure isn't being handed out as freely by companies like it was in 2021–2022, right after the pandemic.

What that means, if you ask me, is that the future of remote work will belong more to people who actively choose it, build around it, and protect it.

And honestly, that might very well be what the majority still wants post-COVID, even if companies are pretending otherwise.

Cheers to you remoters who keep fighting for your freedom 💪


🌍 Fresh from our Blog

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  • Bhutan just launched a digital nomad residence programme built around mindfulness, sustainability, and purpose. It’s not your typical digital nomad visa, and that’s exactly what makes it interesting.
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🧑‍💻 The Nomad Resource of the Week

Remote Nomad Jobs

After writing about how remote work is just getting harder to access, this one felt obvious.

Remote Nomad Jobs comes from the same people behind Freaking Nomads, and it exists because most “remote” job boards are… not really remote.

This job board cuts all that noise.

Every role on Remote Nomad Jobs is 100% location-independent, meaning you can genuinely work from anywhere without worrying about return-to-office policies or hiding where you’re logging in from.

If you’re serious about building a life around mobility, go check it out and use the code LINKEDIN50 to get 50% OFF (limited time).


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We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads 👋


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Irene Wang
Written by Irene Wang

Digital nomad and co-founder of Freaking Nomads. She shares raw, unfiltered stories and helps nomads find resources to thrive while traveling and working remotely.

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