The real benefits of working remotely

I have worked fully remotely since 2017. In that time I have taught English to professionals in Europe, North America and Latin America without ever sharing an office with them. I have lived in different places, including the past year in Manizales, in Colombia's Coffee Region, while keeping a steady professional routine. Before that, my career was very different: I started working in 1981, in corporate finance in Canada, with long days in offices, commutes and fixed schedules. Having lived both models, I can tell you honestly what remote work gives you, what it asks of you, and why, for me, the balance is clearly positive.

This article focuses on the personal side: the real advantages I have experienced, the ones my students and colleagues describe, and what you need to enjoy them. For job options and how to find remote work, read remote work: advantages, challenges and job options, and for practical routines, my complete telework guide.

1. Freedom to choose where you live

This is the advantage that changed my life most. When your work depends on a laptop and a good connection, you can live where your life makes sense: closer to your family, in a city with a lower cost of living, by the sea, in the mountains, or in another country. I have lived in Egypt, Malaysia, Uruguay and Colombia, and the freedom to choose my environment has given me experiences no salary could buy.

Freedom of location also has practical value. You can move to be near an elderly parent, follow a partner's career, escape a difficult climate or simply start again in a place that inspires you, without starting your career again.

2. Time recovered from commuting

In many cities, people spend one, two or even three hours a day in traffic or public transport. Over a year, that can add up to hundreds of hours. Remote work gives that time back. You can sleep more, exercise, cook healthy meals, spend time with your children, study or simply rest. For me, the time I used to spend commuting now goes into walks, reading and preparing better classes.

Those numbers are simple arithmetic, but they show how much life a long commute consumes.

3. Access to international employers and better markets

Remote work erases many geographic barriers. A professional in Colombia can work for a company in Canada; a teacher in Manizales can coach managers in Germany. This gives access to larger markets, more interesting projects and, often, better pay. The main condition is communication: most international remote roles operate in English. Read how English can boost your salary.

4. Flexible schedules

Many remote roles allow you to organise your day around your energy. Some people are most productive early in the morning; others concentrate better in the evening. Asynchronous work, where colleagues do not need to be online at the same time, gives even more flexibility. In my case, I organise classes in blocks according to my students' time zones and keep other hours for preparation and personal life. Read working across time zones.

5. Fewer interruptions and deeper focus

Open-plan offices can be noisy, with constant interruptions. At home, or in a quiet coworking space, many people find it easier to do deep work: writing, analysing, programming, planning. When you control your environment, you control your concentration.

6. A healthier lifestyle, if you design it

Remote work can be healthier: home-cooked meals, time to exercise, more sleep and less stress from traffic. I emphasise "if you design it", because remote work can also lead to sitting all day and working too long. The advantage is that you have the freedom to build healthy routines; you need to use it.

7. Savings

Remote workers often save money on transport, fuel, parking, work clothes and meals out. If you also choose a place with a lower cost of living, the savings can be significant. Of course, there are new costs: internet, equipment, electricity and sometimes a coworking membership. In most cases, the balance is positive.

8. More time with family and community

Being present for breakfast, picking up children from school, caring for a relative or simply having lunch with your partner: remote work makes these moments possible. It can also strengthen your connection with your local community, because you spend more time in your neighbourhood, at the market, at the gym or in local activities.

9. Inclusion and opportunity

Remote work opens opportunities for people who face barriers in traditional workplaces: people with disabilities, caregivers, people living far from large cities and professionals in regions with fewer local jobs. When talent can work from anywhere, opportunity becomes more fairly distributed.

10. Personal growth and cultural learning

Working with international teams teaches you to communicate across cultures, to write clearly, to manage your time and to take responsibility for results. For digital nomads, living in different countries adds languages, friendships and perspectives. These skills make you a better professional and, I believe, a more open person. Read the digital nomad life.

The other side: what remote work asks of you

To be honest and useful, I must also describe the challenges. The benefits above are real only when you manage these well.

• Discipline: nobody watches you, so you need routines and clear goals.
• Isolation: without office conversations, loneliness can appear. Schedule social time, join groups and consider coworking.
• Boundaries: when the office is your home, work can invade every hour. Define start and finish times.
• Communication: remote teams depend on clear writing and proactive updates.
• Technology: a reliable connection, a good headset and a backup plan are essential.
• Legal and tax questions: working from another country may require a specific visa and can affect your taxes. Always check official sources.

Remote work and English: an inseparable pair

In my experience, English is the single skill that most expands the benefits of remote work. International teams use English in meetings, chat, documentation and email. Professionals who communicate clearly in English access more roles, collaborate better and are more visible to managers. That is why many of my students are remote workers or professionals preparing for remote roles. We practise video calls, written updates, asynchronous messages and job interviews. Read English for remote work and basic English for any job interview.

How to start enjoying these benefits

1. Identify the remote potential of your current job. Could you work remotely one or two days a week? Make a proposal to your manager focused on results.
2. Strengthen your remote skills: written communication, digital tools, time management.
3. Improve your English if you want international options.
4. Create a proper workspace: stable internet, a good chair, a headset and good light.
5. Design your routine: fixed hours, breaks, movement and social contact.
6. Start small and grow: a hybrid arrangement, a freelance project or a part-time remote role.

A day in my remote life

People often ask me what a normal day looks like. There is no single answer, because it changes with the season and with my students' time zones, but here is a typical weekday from my year in Manizales. I wake up without an alarm, around six, when the light comes over the mountains. I make coffee from a farm nearby, read the news in English and Spanish, and write for half an hour: notes for classes, ideas for articles, messages to students. At eight, my first class begins, often with a professional in Europe who connects after lunch in their time zone.

Between classes, I take short walks. Manizales is a city of slopes, so even a quick walk is good exercise. Late morning is for preparation: I review the emails or presentations my students sent, choose vocabulary to practise and prepare role plays. After lunch, which is often a simple Colombian meal at a local restaurant, I have an afternoon block of classes with students in the Americas. In the evening, I close the laptop, call friends or family, read, or join a cultural activity in the city. On weekends, I explore: a hot spring, a coffee farm, a small town in the region.

None of this is spectacular, and that is precisely the point. Remote work did not make my life a permanent holiday; it made it balanced. I work seriously, and I also live where I want to live.

Remote work for companies: why it also benefits employers

The benefits are not only for workers. Companies that adopt remote or hybrid models often report advantages too:

• Access to wider talent: they can hire the best person for the role, not only the best person within commuting distance.
• Retention: flexibility is one of the benefits employees value most, and it helps companies keep good people.
• Lower costs: less office space, lower utilities and fewer relocation expenses.
• Business continuity: distributed teams can keep working during transport strikes, storms or health emergencies.
• Diversity: teams that include people from different countries and backgrounds bring more perspectives to problems.

When I teach Business English to corporate teams, I see these advantages in practice. Many of my students work in international teams spread across several countries, and English is what holds those teams together. Read my experience teaching English to companies.

Myths about remote work

"Remote workers work less"

In my experience, the opposite risk is more common: remote workers often work too much because the office is always there. Results, not hours of presence, are what matter.

"You need to be a technology expert"

You need basic digital skills: video calls, shared documents, chat tools and email. Most of these can be learned in a few weeks.

"Remote work is only for young people"

I started working remotely after decades of experience in finance and teaching. Many of my students in their forties, fifties and sixties work remotely with great success. Experience is an advantage, not an obstacle.

"Remote work means being alone"

It can, if you allow it. But with coworking spaces, online communities, local activities and regular calls with colleagues, remote workers can build rich social lives.

What remote work gave me

When I look back, remote work gave me the freedom to follow my curiosity across continents while doing work I love. It allowed me to live in Colombia, to learn from new cultures and to keep teaching students in many countries. It gave me time for walks in the mountains, long conversations with neighbours and quiet evenings preparing classes. It also taught me discipline and clear communication. For me, it is not just a way of working; it is a way of living.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main benefit of working remotely?

For most people, it is freedom: of location, of schedule and of time recovered from commuting. Those freedoms make it possible to design a better balance between work and life.

Is remote work good for productivity?

For many roles, yes, especially focused work. Productivity depends on a good workspace, clear goals and routines that protect concentration.

Do I need English to work remotely?

Not for every remote job, but most international remote roles use English. Strong English significantly increases your options.

What are the risks of remote work?

Isolation, blurred boundaries between work and rest, communication gaps and, when working abroad, legal and tax issues. All can be managed with good habits and information.

Can I work remotely from another country?

Often yes, but you must respect immigration and tax rules. Several countries, including Colombia, offer visas for remote workers or digital nomads. Check official requirements before you travel.