I did work remotely for around 5 years and I loved it.
No surprise to me but most people need a village to be happy. That means having neighbours, familiar strangers, a regular routine and social bonds between all of those things. Remote work doesn't isolate you from the village.
I think it should be the predominant way of working. It can encourage villages and less commutes. When I worked remotely I found an office in a co-working space. I made friends with other people who worked in that space. I could walk, bike, or take public transit to the space. I had a mix of friends, acquaintances, familiar strangers, and strangers throughout my day.
It's better for the environment and for people.
I also know people who sail around the world and live a nomadic lifestyle. They all face the same difficulties with mental health: they need a village. The ones who manage to stick it out build a village around their lifestyle. However it's always a risk and one that should be planned for.
I started a company in 2008 where all the founders were remote. We didn’t force location on anyone but gradually we settled on three offices where gatherings took place and people who were local would check in. Eventually the company developed a unique office culture in each and you generally identified as belonging to one or the other. I liked the way it developed because we didn’t enforce a set of rules, we let people be adults. The ones you knew that were more preoccupied with marathon training rather than getting things done worked their way out of the company pretty quickly anyway — usually they were so detached, forcing them into an office wouldn’t have mattered. As for me, I lean remote especially when I need to stay focused. But I do like the ability to see a new office and be a part of a larger in-person community.
No surprise to me but most people need a village to be happy. That means having neighbours, familiar strangers, a regular routine and social bonds between all of those things. Remote work doesn't isolate you from the village.
I think it should be the predominant way of working. It can encourage villages and less commutes. When I worked remotely I found an office in a co-working space. I made friends with other people who worked in that space. I could walk, bike, or take public transit to the space. I had a mix of friends, acquaintances, familiar strangers, and strangers throughout my day.
It's better for the environment and for people.
I also know people who sail around the world and live a nomadic lifestyle. They all face the same difficulties with mental health: they need a village. The ones who manage to stick it out build a village around their lifestyle. However it's always a risk and one that should be planned for.