A love letter to future remote workers

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Dear future remote worker (or remote curious human),

First of all, congrats! You are about to enter the glorious world of remote work. Where your commute is 12 steps (or less, if you are really committed), the coffee is always your favourite roast and professional wear, at least from the waist down is entirely optional.

It is a beautiful place, filled with Slack emojis, mid-morning laundry loads and the occasional “Oops, I’ve been on mute this whole time” moment. It is where you can build your dream lifestyle while still delivering your best work.

Sounds amazing, right?

But before you light that “WFH Vibes Only” candle… we need to talk.

Because while remote work can be the best decision you ever make, it is not always as easy or glamorous as LinkedIn makes it look. There are a few plot twists, a couple of facepalms and more than one occasion where your Wi-Fi decides to moonlight as a magician (now you see me, now you don’t).

So, here it is: the letter every remote worker wished someone had written before they went fully remote.

Welcome to the world of remote work. It’s a journey. Let’s make it a good one.

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Lesson 1: Your chair is low-key the boss of you

The early days of remote work when enthusiasm is high, pyjama bottoms are fresh and we are determined to make anything with a flat surface a “desk”.

Dining chairs with zero lumbar support, stools that make us feel like medieval bartenders, the couch that slowly swallow us whole and of course, that trendy floor cushion that looked aesthetic but will have us sitting like origami by 2pm.

We will tell ourselves, “It’s fine, I’m flexible!”

But our backs will whisper, “Not for long”.

Within a few weeks, the rebellion begins! Sore necks, tight shoulders and the slow realisation that being 27 and feeling 87 is not a vibe.

Pro tip: Treat your back like royalty. Get the throne it deserves.

An ergonomic chair is not a luxury item, it is a non-negotiable. Think of it as an investment in your future self. One that pays dividends in comfort, focus and fewer weird clicking noises every time you stand up.

Bonus tip? Pair that fancy chair with a decent desk and a laptop stand. Your spine will send you a thank-you card. And your productivity? Instantly boosted.

Remote work is about freedom but true freedom means not needing a heat pack after every Zoom call.

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Lesson 2: Structure will save you

Day 1 of remote work:

"This is the life. No traffic. No awkward small talk. I might even start doing yoga!"

Day 17:

"What day is it? Did I eat lunch? Am I okay? Why am I answering emails in my dressing gown at 10pm?"

When you go remote, time becomes... fluid. There is no office bell ringing, no colleague packing up their bag to signal the end of the day. Just you, your laptop and the dangerously close proximity of your bed.

Suddenly, lunch is at 3:47pm (if you remember it at all) and your brain does not clock off because, technically, your “office” is also your kitchen, your living room and your accidental nap zone.

The result? Burnout sneaks in wearing pyjama and a hoodie. You feel like you are always on but never quite off. Productivity dips. So does your mood.

Fix it fast: Build a routine and actually stick to it.

It does not need to be military-grade. Just a few anchors throughout your day can make a world of difference. Think:

• Start time: Not “whenever I roll out of bed”, but a consistent time to log in.
• Morning ritual: Coffee, quick stretch, pretend to read emails while waking up.
• Scheduled breaks: Yes, actual lunch away from the laptop.
• End-of-day wind-down: Shut that laptop. Walk away. You are done.

Bonus move? Recreate the "commute", a walk around the garden, a quick playlist dance party or even just stepping outside. It signals your brain: work mode off, life mode on.

Remote work gives you freedom but structure gives you peace. And peace is the real productivity hack.

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Lesson 3: Your Wi-Fi will betray you (at the worst possible moment)

You have finally nailed it. The perfect idea. The kind of idea that is going to blow your manager’s mind. You unmute and you start talking. This is your moment and then, freeze-frame.

Your face is locked in a mid-blink expression that screams “confused but optimistic” and your voice? Lost somewhere in the digital abyss.

The meeting continues but no one hears you. You return to the land of the connected just in time to hear, "I think we lost you there... but anyway, moving on".

Crushing. Absolutely crushing.

We do not mean to be dramatic (okay, maybe just a little), but a dodgy internet connection is the arch-nemesis of remote work. And here’s the kicker: it always acts up when it matters most.

Client call? Buffering. Team presentation? Frozen. Friday memes on Slack? Delayed delivery. Tragic.

Rule of thumb: If your Wi-Fi network has a name like “PrettyGood123” or “WiBelieveICanFi”, it is probably a red flag.

Here’s what we have learned the hard way:

• Invest in a solid internet plan. This is your lifeline.
• Keep a backup hotspot. Your phone’s data might just save the day.
• Sit close to your router like it is your emotional support animal.
• Bonus: Learn to say, “I think my internet dropped, can you repeat that?” in a calm, casual tone that hides the inner panic.

Remote work is amazing but remote work with unstable Wi-Fi? That is just playing emotional roulette with your career.

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Lesson 4: Time zones are wild

Working with a global team? Absolutely incredible.

You have got teammates in Melbourne, clients in London and that one brilliant developer who lives on a mountain in Costa Rica and only logs in after 3pm. It is like the United Nations of productivity.

Until… oops! you accidentally book a client meeting for 4:00 AM your time and do not realise it until your phone alarm goes off and your soul temporarily leaves your body.

Suddenly, the “remote freedom” dream feels a lot like jet lag without the airport snacks.

Avoid the chaos:

• Use scheduling tools like Calendly, Google Calendar with time zone magic or even World Time Buddy (aka the unofficial MVP of remote life).
• Be kind. Respect everyone’s local hours.
• If someone says they are based in Toronto, do not hit them with a “quick Zoom?” at midnight their time.
• Add your team’s time zones somewhere visible. Sticky note, Slack status, tattoo, whatever that works.

And do not worry, you will make time zone mistakes at some point. It is a rite of passage. Just apologise, reschedule and maybe do not try to do mental math with time conversions ever again.

Remote work connects the world but it also demands a little clock awareness. Master it and you will go from time zone confusion to scheduling legend in no time.

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Lesson 5: You will become a productivity wizard (eventually)

Here’s the thing about remote work, it does not just give you freedom, it demands that you figure out what to do with it. And that, dear remote warrior, is where the real adventure begins.

You will start off thinking, “I’m just going to copy my old office routine but at home”.

Spoiler alert: That lasts maybe three days before you are sitting in your PJs, wondering why you are still in a video call while also making toast. Remote work forces you to learn how you work best. Not what your manager prefers. Not what the productivity gurus on YouTube say.

You, the beautiful, messy, snack-loving human that you are. You will experiment with:

• To-do list apps (and eventually settle on the one with the best colours)
• Time-blocking vs. Pomodoro vs. “vibe-based scheduling”
• Natural light vs. ring light vs. “mysterious shadow creature on Zoom”
• Snack schedules (beware the 3pm biscuit void)
• Lo-fi beats vs. nature sounds vs. absolute silence (except for that one loud bird outside)

It is chaotic, it is empowering and is weirdly fun. Once you stop trying to be perfect and just lean into your unique rhythm. One day, you will look up and realise that you have cracked the code.

You are not just working remotely but you are thriving remotely. And honestly? That is kind of magical.

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And finally… would you do it all again?

Yes, 100 times Yes…

Remote work is not just a change of location, it is a full-on lifestyle shift. One filled with freedom, flexibility, questionable snack decisions and the occasional Wi-Fi-induced existential crisis.

It is trial and error. It is learning how you tick. It is figuring out that yes, your chair does actually matter and no, scheduling a team call across four continents without help is not your core skillset (and that is okay).

But when it clicks, when you find your rhythm, set your boundaries and build a work life that actually **fits your life— it is magic. Remote work gives you space, space to breathe, to build and to balance. To work hard and still have time for the life part of “work-life balance”.

So welcome to the club. It is weird, it is wonderful…and honestly, you are going to love it.

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