So, you’re interested in working remotely. Many of us have given up the 9-5 life for the flexibility and freedom that comes with working remotely. That could mean working from your house, a local coffee shop, a co-working space, or even a hammock on a far away exotic island (#goals). Before permanently changing your work habits, it’s important to consider the pros and cons.

Potential Cons:

Spotty Wifi. This can especially be an issue if you are traveling to other parts of the world. Many places don’t have great wifi (or you have to purchase it) so make sure to do research before heading out the door.
Distractions. From crying babies to people watching, there’s generally more going on when you work out and about than at an office. If you’re working from home, the temptation could be to stay in your pajamas and work from bed, or to start working on household duties instead of being focused on your work.
Not having a designated meeting space. “Can I meet you at your office?” “Yep! I’ll meet you at the Starbucks down the road at the third table from the back.” While most people are fine meeting you out and about, this could be viewed as potentially unprofessional or inconvenient depending on your occupation and the nature of the meeting. Luckily, co-working spaces are growing in popularity and often offer meeting rooms for rent by the hour.
Isolation. Are you a big people person? Do you get your energy from collaborating and being around others? Then you might not enjoy working remotely on your own. I’d recommend joining a co-working space where you can interact and sometimes even collaborate with others in the shared office.

Potential Pros:

Increased Creativity. I believe that where you work has a big influence on how you work. For me, being in new environments each day increases my creativity and productivity.
Flexibility and Travel. Depending on the nature of your job, working from your laptop may allow you to work out of state or out of the country without having to take vacation time.
Reduced Expenses. If you are comparing working from home or a coffee shop to an office space, you can definitely save money on overhead costs like rent and utilities.

If you’re working from a coffee shop or some other similar establishment, mind your etiquette. Remember, you don’t own the place and there are others trying to enjoy their visit, too.

A few best practices:

Read the Room. Are there only two tables in the space? Is it more like a restaurant where you should eat and leave? Then it might not be best to set up shop and hog a table for half a day.
Purchase Something (more than a small drip coffee). While this isn’t a hard rule, I try to support the establishment by either purchasing food and a drink, or a higher-priced drink or two. I justify the pricey latté by knowing I’m not being stingy and taking up a chair for several hours without really paying, and I also view it as part of my “office rent” expense.
Be Seen and Not Heard. While it’s okay to take the occasional phone call, by all means, DO NOT have a FaceTime call where you’re using earbuds that prevent you from knowing how loud you’re talking… or shouting.
“Table for one, please.” Try to condense what you bring with you so as to not take up a large amount of space, especially if the establishment is busy. Blog post on this topic coming soon!

If you have considered the pros and cons and feel like it’s the right fit for you, go for it! I have been working remotely for almost two years now — everywhere from Scotland to Utah to my apartment — and I love it.

Cheers,

Emily