How Remote Work Can Help You Overcome Challenges

I've been working at an office for about ten years now. It worked well for me when I worked with other teams. This employment arrangement has been modified to remote for two years because of the epidemic. It was hard for me to switch back to a hybrid arrangement after the change.


For over ten years, I've worked in a regular office. It was normal for me to work from 9 to 5, have coffee in the morning, talk to people in the hallways, and work with people in person. And it mostly worked. I did well in that setting. I liked the rhythm and structure of the workplace, and I was proud to be part of a team where you could see the results of your labor.

Then the pandemic hit, and like many of you, everything changed.

I was suddenly working from home, exchanging my desk at the office for a makeshift desk at the dining table. What started as a two-week adjustment morphed into two years of working from home. The change was shocking. The stillness was so loud that it hurt. It seemed like collaboration was far away. I missed the excitement of the workplace, but I started to learn something new: a different approach to work. A alternative way to life.

Now, we're at a hybrid phase, which means we can work from home and meet in person. And to be honest, I'm still getting used to it. But during all of this shift, I found a book that helped me understand what I was going through: Cal Newport's Why Remote Work Is So Hard: And How It Can Be Fixed.


Let me tell you what I've learnt, not just from the book but also from my own life.




The shift to remote work: Technology made it possible.
We live in a time when broadband internet, video conferencing, and tools for working together have made it not only feasible to work from home, but also easy. This type of setting would have appeared like something out of a sci-fi movie not too long ago. But even with all this equipment, a lot of businesses were hesitant to use it until COVID-19 made them do it.

This change wasn't our choice; it picked us.

But isn't it true that change frequently leads to new ideas?

A Personal Battle with Change

For me, working from home wasn't easy. At first, I had trouble with limits. I worked through lunch, which made it hard to tell the difference between home and work. I missed the team meetings and the ideas that came up in hallway conversations. It felt like productivity was alone. I had to learn how to concentrate again in a new place that was full of things that kept me from doing so, including barking dogs and youngsters who needed help with their schoolwork.

But as time went on, I found new rhythms. I liked talking to people asynchronously. I was happy to be home for supper with my wife and kids every night. And I began to see how flexible remote work can be, not just in terms of when you work but also in terms of how you think.

The Trust Gap in Working from Home
Newport talks about one of the hardest things about working from home: trust. A lot of bosses still think that if they can't see you working, you aren't working. I've felt the pressure too, that I constantly had to show that I was working and that I was "online" to show that I was there.

But here's the truth: being observed doesn't make you more productive. It's all about the outcomes.

A Reminder from History: Change Always Feels Dangerous at First
The book makes a comparison that truly hit home for me. Many manufacturers were against electric motors when they were originally used in industries. They were used to steam power, so they were OK with it. But the factories that changed experienced huge growth and efficiency.

Today, remote work is like an electric motor.

It could seem dangerous. It might need to be changed. But the chance? It's huge.

Finding the Right Balance Between Hybrid and Non-Hybrid
Not all jobs will be done from home in the future. And it's not all in the workplace either. Newport calls the "sweet spot" "workflow innovations," which means discovering hybrid solutions that work well in both situations.

We need systems that let people work together while also letting them focus deeply. We need to be able to change things without losing the link that keeps us going.

And most importantly, we need to remember that different workers do better in various settings.

Building Culture Outside of Work

One thing I've learnt is that culture doesn't come from a building. It comes from making connections on purpose.

That's why working from home needs more than simply tools; it needs trust, empathy, and creativity. Remote culture is achievable, but it needs to be fostered. You may do this through weekly check-ins, virtual team-building, or shared digital rituals.

The Personal Side of Working from Home

In addition to metrics and workflow, I want to say this: working from home and in a hybrid setting has given me memories that I will always treasure.

I've been present for my boys' big moments. I've had more meals with my wife. I've had more time to write and think about things. Work isn't easier, but it is more important.

Final Thoughts: What Do We Really Want from Our Jobs?
Remote and hybrid work is making us think about a broader topic at its core:

What type of life do we wish to make?

There will always be work in our life. But shouldn't it be our lives that technology serves, not the other way around?

Call to Action: Accept the Change and Make the Future
If you're in charge, think about what productivity means. Make systems that help people, not simply procedures.

Don't be scared to set your own pace if you work like I do. Find out what works for you. Stand up for balance. Even if it means doing it from your living room, grow where you are.

Every choice we make today shapes the future of employment.


Let's make it not just better, but also smarter and more human.