Have you ever wished you could pack up your belongings, buy a plane ticket, and start traveling the world? If so, now may be the perfect time for you to take action on your dream.
In part because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the shape of remote work has changed dramatically in recent years, making it possible for more people than ever to travel while working remotely. The digital nomad lifestyle doesn’t have to just be something you witness other people doing on social media – many of us now have the power to make that lifestyle a reality.
Here’s why remote work and travel is the future and how you can make it a part of yours.
More People Than Ever Are Working Remotely
There has been a steady trend in favor of remote working for a long time now. According to a study done by Global Workplace Analytics, the number of remote workers has increased by about 150% since 2005.
This means that in many industries, it’s not uncommon to work remotely anymore. Because there’s an established precedent and culture of remote work, it’s much easier now for employees and entrepreneurs alike to make the switch to remote work.
It used to be the case that if you wanted to work remotely, you had to fight an uphill battle. It wasn’t common for workplaces to allow their employees to work from anywhere. If you were approved to work from home, your lifestyle was likely pretty lonely since most of your peers were chained to the desks at their workplaces.
But now, thanks to innovation and cultural changes, there are more resources available to remote workers than ever before. More employers are used to employees making requests to work remotely, and there are remote working teams and communities that provide social support.
This not only makes it easier for people to start working remotely, but it also gives them the tools and infrastructure they need to do their jobs well when they’re not at the office.
Employers Have Changed Their Opinions About Remote Work
In the past, it was extremely difficult to achieve the flexibility and freedom of working remotely if you worked for a large company. Employers wanted their staff on-site during work hours with very few exceptions.
Throughout the course of 2020, the majority of businesses were forced to adapt to working from home. As a result, they needed to develop new protocols and systems to allow teams to work remotely.
To the surprise of many employers, teams were just as productive (if not more productive) when working from home as they had been when working from the office.
As the world has begun to recover from the pandemic, countless employees have learned to love working from home, and they’ve proven to their employers that they can do so successfully. Because of this, more and more businesses are realizing how much their employees value the perks of not having to show up at an office every day, and many of them are incorporating remote work options into their plans for the future.
In fact, a survey done by Gartner shows that 74% of CFOs plan to shift some employees to permanent remote work. So, even if your boss was hesitant to let people work remotely a year ago, he or she may have a new outlook on the idea in light of recent events.
Remote Workers Have More Options
One former obstacle to remote work was that it was rare for people to not have to go into an office. Those who were able to do their work remotely faced unique challenges like not having a traditional work community, struggles to find work-life balance, and figuring out how to stay motivated.
These days, remote work has become so common that there are countless different ways you can operate as a remote worker.
For example, coworking spots have cropped up around the globe, providing fully equipped workstations for remote workers. You can stay in your city and head to a coworking space whenever you’re in need of some community and socialization.
Also, many businesses now offer hybrid working situations in which employees can come into the office for important meetings and collaborations, but they’re able to work remotely on other days.
You can become a digital nomad and travel solo while working from your laptop, or you can join a traveling remote work community and see the world with other like-minded professionals.
The options are truly endless! There are so many ways to make remote work fit into your desired lifestyle. As these options expand, working remotely becomes attractive to more and more people.
Remote Work is Becoming Available to More Industries
You might be thinking, “This all sounds great, but it could never work for my job.” Maybe your workplace is old-school, and they’ve been insistent on employees coming into the office.
But there’s hope even for companies and industries that have no history of allowing employees to become location independent.
If working remotely is a strong desire of yours, but you’ve been unable to swing it in the past, it’s time to get creative. If your current job responsibilities truly require you to be at your workplace, try thinking of other positions you could step into or create for yourself that would allow you this flexibility.
Sometimes, all it takes is the willingness to step up and ask. Remote work is becoming commonplace in all kinds of industries, and yours could be next if you’re willing to take the initiative.
What This Means For You
So, what exactly does all this mean for you?
It means the world is wide open to you. You no longer have to work and live in one place to have a successful career! If you’re a hard-working employee or entrepreneur who’s ready to break free from the typical workplace, now is the best time to make the leap and start working from wherever you want.
Take control of your career and life, and experience the freedom that comes from working and traveling on your terms.
Ready to see the world while you work? Apply today or schedule a call with us to learn more!
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