Last week a neighbour asked if I was still working, as she hadn’t seen me commuting recently. When I explained I now work remotely, she replied, “I bet that makes things much easier for you.” This made me question: does remote working actually make things easier?
In short, absolutely yes. However, remote working isn’t perfect, and there are aspects of office life I genuinely miss after 20 years of commuting into London.
The Productivity Paradise
One unexpected benefit of remote working is how much I can accomplish without constant office interruptions. No more colleagues dropping by for “quick chats” that become thirty-minute conversations about weekend plans. No more pointless meetings that could have been emails. When I need to focus, I can put my head down and concentrate for hours.
The productivity gains are real. I can structure my day around my energy levels rather than arbitrary meeting schedules. If I’m most creative at 6am, I can start then. If I need to pop out to post a parcel, I can. This flexibility has transformed not just how much I get done, but the quality of what I produce.
Remote work enables better work-life balance. Instead of commuting daily, I participate in school runs and after-school pickups. I can start laundry between calls rather than spending weekends managing a week’s worth. It lets me weave personal tasks into my day without taking time off or stressing about it.
What Gets Lost in Translation
Yet I genuinely miss the buzz of office life. There’s something energising about walking into a building full of people working towards similar goals. Impromptu conversations by the coffee machine could kickstart thought processes that helped solve problems I’d been wrestling with alone.
I miss the ritual too. My commute provided thinking time to mentally prepare for the day and decompress afterwards. Now my commute is fifteen steps between rooms, and most days I start work in gym clothes rather than business attire.
Perhaps what I miss most is the human element: shared eye rolls with colleagues, celebrating team successes with impromptu after-work drinks, or simply bouncing ideas off someone without scheduling a video call. Those organic office interactions take much more effort to recreate remotely.
The Communication Minefield
Office communication, for all its flaws, was immediate and nuanced. A raised eyebrow across a meeting table conveyed more than three follow-up emails ever could. Now everything must be explicit, which feels both exhausting and inadequate.
Tone gets lost in written messages. Quick questions that I’d normally ask while passing someone’s desk now require Slack responses. I’ve become hyper-aware of how I write emails and messages, spending far more time crafting the right tone than when I could simply walk over for a conversation.
When Technology Turns Against You
Then there’s the technology. Nothing prepares you for your internet cutting out just as you’re delivering a crucial client presentation, or your laptop deciding to install updates during a morning check-in. My colleagues and I have mastered the apologetic smile while frantically troubleshooting issues that would never have been our problem with proper office IT support.
Finding Connection in a Distributed World
At Envizage, our team is scattered across Europe. We work hard to maintain connections through regular meetings in shared spaces and company offsites, but building relationships requires more intentional effort when you’re not sharing physical space daily.
The office also provided natural boundaries. When I left the building, work stayed behind. At home, it’s too easy to “just check one more email” at 9pm or feel guilty for not responding immediately because I’m already at my desk.
The Verdict
Remote working has made many things easier, but it’s also made me aware of what I need to thrive professionally. It’s taught me the importance of being intentional about structuring my days, connecting with colleagues, and creating boundaries between work and home life.
“Easier” doesn’t necessarily mean “better” in every aspect. The need to actively seek human connection, create rituals marking the beginning and end of workdays, and resist letting work creep into every corner of home life are all part of the remote work reality.
Sometimes that means taking time for informal colleague chats, meeting up to work from shared spaces, and remembering what it feels like to be part of something bigger than my home office—and using someone else’s reliable wifi for a change.
