I was thinking about remote work and how it’s discussed daily. Here are a few thoughts:

1. Please don’t trust everyone on social media who says they can “show you” how to get a remote job — especially if they’re charging exorbitant amounts for it.
2. The same goes for buying online courses to improve your skills. Just because a course is $1000 doesn’t mean it’s great. Start with free courses from reputable platforms (e.g. Google, HubSpot, FreeCodeCamp, etc.) If you must pay for a course, start with a low-cost one on Udemy, for example. It saves you money and is a good way to build your commitment to finishing courses.
3. It will take a long time to find a good remote job — especially if you don’t have experience. The job market (in-person, remote, etc.) is extremely competitive. And you need time to find your footing.
4. Please don’t suddenly quit your job with the belief you’ll find an amazing new one in months — unless you can afford to.
5. Remote work is not for everyone. It is not the 100% new normal because there are cases where working in person helps.
6. Your job is not crappy or unfulfilling because it isn’t remote. Again, different things work for different people.
7. Remote work won’t solve all your financial problems. There are companies that underpay remote workers — especially if you’re a person of color or live in a 3rd world country.
8. There’s a high chance you’ll work from your actual house more than a cafe, co-working space, or a beach in Cancun. Because sometimes working remotely requires a consistent, steady environment.
9. You don’t have to work in tech to become rich — or work remotely. Yes, a lot of tech companies do support the remote model, but so do other companies in energy, retail, consulting, etc. Choose your field according to what you can do, what environments make you thrive, and what types of work interest you.
10. Did I mention that remote work is not the ultimate paradise some people paint it as?
11. Working in your PJ’s is fun only half the time. But you’ll find a lot of remote workers have a morning schedule to prepare for the day because this can maximize productivity.
12. Remote work requires a hectic amount of time management. If you don’t schedule your working hours and set hard boundaries, you’ll find yourself working 18-hour days.
13. You may hate your first couple of remote jobs and that’s okay. Remote work is still “work”. Not every company is amazing.
14. When you can, invest in a good working space — a sturdy desk, agile computer, supportive work chair, a monitor as a second screen, and a mug warmer for the winter.
15. Working remotely will require you to onboard some kind of fitness (walking, swimming, running, gym, etc.). Sitting at your desk all day, in front of a bright screen, will wear down your health and deeply impact your spinal cord.

That’s all for today’s list. Anything I missed out on?