While it’s true that many people enjoy working remotely from home there are MANY other remote location options that are just as popular. International remote work/volunteer programs, such as our Venture With Impact programs, are a way to live in other countries while maintaining your income. If you’re looking to stay a bit ‘closer to home’, look for locations such as co-work spaces and even libraries, coffee shops and wifi-enabled public parks as remote options. It depends on your work requirements but most digital nomads can sustain their professions anywhere they can find internet and a cell signal which opens up a world of possibilities outside of the cubicle.

MYTH #2: NO OFFICE = TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS

It’s understandable to think that working remotely with no consistent office space or boss checking in on you could lead to a less focused work morale. But there’s a whole other side to the factor I’d like to point out. Sometimes the redundancy of working in an office puts you into a subconscious routine; or the ‘breakroom effect’, as it’s called. The daily coffee breaks and catch-up with coworkers around the office can be a form of distraction unto themselves. Many remote workers find that working independently can actually streamline their focus throughout the day. Additionally, having a rotating work setting (anything from nomadic workers traveling the world or remote workers in different hometown co-work spaces) can spark inspiration and creativity.

MYTH #3: VIRTUAL COMMUNICATION = LESS PRODUCTIVITY

It’s common to assume that having a team of coworkers that aren’t meeting face-to-face means that communication and efficiency will decrease. But, with today’s virtual communication options, that’s far from the case. With easy to use virtual video/chat options such as Skype, Google Hangout and even FaceTime, anyone with an Internet connection can communicate in no time. Remote teams often find many benefits to communicating virtually that would otherwise be impossible face-to-face. The convenience of global digital meet-ups helps coworkers in different time zones plan communications to fit everyone’s schedule. Virtual meetings may also be recorded for note taking and feedback at a later time and many workers find that non-physical communication can be less distracting and lead to more focus on the tasks at hand.