We’re a remote company, so we’re based all over the world. We live different lives and come from different cultures, and our ways of working are unique. This is a place where we talk about the challenges of working remotely, as well as share our experiences.
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Name, job title, and location?
My name is Shey and I’m a Finance Specialist at Bunny Studio I live in Montevideo, Uruguay.
How long have you worked remotely?
For over 6 years, since March 2012.
Is Bunny Studio the first remote company you’ve worked for?
Yes.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
Ooh yes, okay. So, I keep a quite strict work schedule. I have a son, Sammy, so organizing my work and my non-work time well is a priority.
I start work at 10 am. Sammy is at home then, so I work on things that take less intense focus — answering emails, that sort of thing. Sometimes Sammy needs my attention, and that’s okay. My husband is also around during the day, so we split the responsibility of looking after him in the morning.
My husband and I take Sammy to daycare just before 1 pm. I look forward to this all day! I love taking him to daycare, as it’s an opportunity for us to have family time and bond. We also walk there if it’s good weather, as it’s nice to be outside in the fresh air. While he’s at daycare, between 1 pm and 5 pm, I do my most focused work. Financial things, meetings… basically anything that needs my full, uninterrupted attention.
At 5 pm, I pick up Sammy from daycare. He loves daycare and tells me all about his time there during the walk back. We get home and I finish up any last tasks that need completing by 6 pm.
After work, time is family time, so I keep my computer closed after 6 pm. It can be hard, sometimes, to keep that separation between work and the rest of my life. Now that Sammy’s around though, that after-work time is even more precious. He is always my first priority.
What does your workspace look like?
Ah, let me show you!
[Shey picks up her laptop, the world blurs as the camera spins around, and then a desk comes into focus.]
My work desk is in the hall just outside my bedroom. Look, you can see my bed!
[The world blurs again and a bed comes into view through a doorway. In front of the doorway are a bookshelf and some paintings hanging on the wall.]
I keep my books here and…
[The world blurs one more time, then comes to rest on the desk again. There’s another bookshelf next to it.]
Here. I just got a new desk, too. It’s got a photo of New York City printed on it. At first, I thought that photo might be too distracting, but I’m loving it!
So, yeah, this is where I work. At this desk, with my laptop, surrounded by books and art. Sometimes, when Sammy’s home, I work standing up at the kitchen counter, but I’m mostly at this desk. It’s my comfortable, safe space, you know?
I basically just work from home, or from my sister’s house. I don’t think I’ve ever worked from a cafe or a co-working space. I’m a homebody, what can I say? I like having my own self-contained workspace.
How does working remotely benefit you?
Oof, in so many ways. Especially now that I have Sammy, I appreciate working remotely even more. I’ve been able to be with him since birth. His mom is always around, you know? I get to see my baby grow up, hear his first words… it’s such a fantastic benefit. If I worked in an office, I don’t know how we would cope, not being able to be together most of the day, every day.
If you’re a parent, working remotely… it’s so wonderful, I’m telling you. It’s such a privilege.
What challenges do you face when working remotely?
This is a tough question, actually, because I don’t feel that I face many challenges. Mmm… possibly the internet? Working from home, you’re very dependent on your internet connection being fast and reliable enough. I’ve been having issues with my provider recently actually, and my internet hasn’t been as great as it usually is.
When your internet goes down, ooh man, it’s such a panic. Even though everyone at work is always so understanding, so you’re essentially panicking for nothing. But still, when you depend on the internet so closely in order to do your job… it’s not fun when it goes down.
Do you have any advice for someone who is thinking about making the change to remote work?
Make a work schedule and stick to it. It’s very easy to never leave your desk because there’s always just one more thing that needs finishing. Don’t do that, don’t let work consume you. Take advantage of the fact that you can work from anywhere to enjoy life! Hang out with your children, travel, whatever. Working remotely brings so much freedom, so savor it.
Did your life change when you started working remotely? If so, how?
Oh yeah, it changed for the better! I have a lot more freedom now — to be with my family, to live anywhere, to do what I want to do… even if it’s just doing laundry while I’m working. I’m very lucky.
Thanks so much! Anything else you’d like to add?
Yeah! I’m an extrovert and, honestly, I’ve never felt isolated while working remotely. I mean, there’s calls, chats, live video streams from our co-working hub in Bogotá… I’m never lonely. You need to make an effort to connect with people sometimes, sure, but it is totally possible to be an extrovert and work like this.
If you have the chance to work remotely, do it, take the job. You won’t regret it, I promise.
Does work adapt to your life? It should. Interested in working remotely?
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Please note this blog is a copy of the original published in Medium by Emmy Tither.
