Our workforce is changing. Politicians are pushing for shorter work weeks, which we’ve seen work in other countries.

Our global connectedness is making working remotely easier. And it’s not only creatives, artists, and writers. The recent global pandemic has proven our workforce can be as productive remotely (if not more) compared to an office setting.

We’re in the midst of a work revolution and you’re going to want to be part of it because this new world of remote work opens up the possibility for more freedom and adventure.

Can you work remotely?

If you’re looking to get in on this new way of work, you’re going to need to look and see if your job has the possibility of remote work. Don’t confuse this with whether or not your job offers the potential.

Do a quick internet search for your job title and remote work. Does anything pop up? Do any other companies offer your role as a remote position? If they do, you’re in business.

Not able to do remotely?

What about those who’s job can’t be done remotely? It may be time to sit down and weigh out the pros and cons of leaving your position for one that offers the freedom to work remotely. If not, it could be time to start working towards more vacation time or shorter weeks. Whatever you’re comfortable with, it’s possible to get more time away from the office.

For those who need a change, need more time to experience new things, or need to regain control of time, in general, get a copy of “ The 4 Hour Work Week “ by Tim Ferris. It’s not what many people think it is. The goal isn’t to get rich quick or work as little as possible. The goal is to make use of the time you’re actively wasting. From extending your vacation time to talking to your boss about working from home, this book has tons of information to take control of your time management.

Self-employed

It didn’t start with Uber, but they really did get the ball rolling on the idea of working for ourselves as an everyday option. From there, we’ve had an explosion of self-employed workers. Only 10% of Americans were self-employed in 2015 but as of 2019, we saw over 30%.

The idea of setting your own schedule, determining how much money you make, and the freedom of not having a boss breathing down your neck sounds great, right? Doing your research and making sure it actually happens is better.

We’ve mentioned Uber and their jumpstart of the American gig economy. That’s where their help for the cause ends. The people who take on many of these types of jobs end up making less than minimum wage, must find their own insurance, and lose many of the perks regularly employed workers get, like vacation and sick time.

The reality is this type of work sounds great but once you dive deeper, people are worse off than before. Sarah Kessler wrote, “ Gigged: The Gig Economy, the End of the Job and the Future of Work “ for anyone wanting to learn exactly how the system works.

So, what can you do?

You have options. Never forget that. Everyone has a hobby, a skill, knowledge they can share, and a million other ways to become their own boss. You just need to figure out how to monetize it. Outside of that, be realistic. How much money do you actually need to live comfortably? If you want to be a part of the new remote way of work, get started by:

• Do the numbers first: If you don’t know how much you need to make, you can’t realistically understand how to structure pricing.
• Freelancers, start now: We’ve written about this before, and we stand by it. Don’t start freelancing because you need to, start before you need to. You’ve got an uphill battle on this front, and starting before you have to depend on it for a living is the best way to survive.
• Get niche: I’ve got a friend who builds tiny toy robots. Talk about niche; it’s genius. Whatever skill you have, talent you’re utilizing, or service you’re providing, more niche is always better than less.
• Learn a new skill: Don’t have anything you think will allow you to do remote work? Learn a skill that will. Through navigating the blog world, writing world, and everything in between, we’ve learned a ton of new skills. We’ve also had the opportunity to capitalize on these new skills. Especially if it’s something you enjoy, learning a new skill opens the door for remote work.

Remote work is the future

There’s no way around it, we are headed towards a new norm. Remote work and more flexible work is where the world is headed.

Figuring out how you can get on the train early will set you up for success later. Do your research to see if the job you have now works remotely. Talk to your boss about taking one day a week to work from home, ask for an extra week of vacation in lieu of a small raise, get creative.

We are the new nomads and working remotely will lead to a whole new generation of people being given the opportunity to experience more this life has to offer. The future of work doesn’t sit behind a desk, it doesn’t work 9–5 or more. The future of work is remote, and that opens a world of possibilities.