The Bellwether, July 1, 2023

By Catherine Kontos

Since I’ve adjusted to working remotely, I can’t imagine my life any other way. I can’t picture spending an hour each weekday morning getting ready for the office or spending an hour each way on the daily commute. Nor do I see myself adhering to other people’s schedules. Becoming location independent has added to my life the privilege of traveling anywhere without rushing back to work. I’ve closed deals while sailing on a yacht in the Gulf of Mexico and provided instruction to my virtual staff from a location near the rain forests in Costa Rica. The list can go on, but the important idea is that I’ve spent months away from home without missing a beat. The life of a retreat planner encompasses all of those perks. It’s a freedom like no other. When my husband came into the picture, he, too, began working remotely. So not only do I have company at home, but every time I pass by his office, I steal a kiss! Our schedule even allows us to have our lunch together. And yes, though we work remotely, we still follow a schedule. That’s the discipline I initially missed that got me in trouble all those years ago.

Working remotely from anywhere in the world sounds like a dream. Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity? Many people do and later realize they lack the discipline or the tools to work effectively, or maybe they simply miss going into the office.

Then there are the other people, the special ones who can handle it all.

Initially, I was the former and in over my head. At first, I loved working from home. I woke up on my own time, slacked in bed for a while, and found all kinds of things to do with my freedom. Then one day, it caught up with me. The growling list of unfinished items on my “to-do” list was overwhelming. Suddenly I missed the office and felt lonely. I’d run out of the house on weekends for any excuse to socialize. It took years before I got remote working right. It wasn’t easy to change and develop new habits, but when I finally did, working remotely became the dream I’d hoped it would be.

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