Remote Work and the Myth of “Easy”

“Must be nice to work remotely…
Must be nice to work from home and skip the traffic…”

That’s what people say.

But the reality is, it’s not that simple.

Some people feel comfortable—and end up less productive.
Some struggle to focus because of constant distractions.
Some feel low on energy due to limited face-to-face social interaction.
Miscommunication happens. A lot.

There’s a Javanese proverb:
“Urip iku mung sawang sinawang.”
Life is about seeing and being seen.

We often look at something and think it looks easy,
without knowing what it’s like to actually live it.
And from the outside, everything may seem smooth
while in reality, there are always stones along the way.

The same goes for remote working.

It requires internal adjustments to truly make it work, such as:

• strong communication skills (this is essential)
• proper devices, a functional workspace, and reliable internet
• accountability
• self-management
• and many others

The word “easy” is subjective.
Everyone has their own standards and preferences.

No need to be judgmental.
Be grateful and find your own way to stay grateful for what you already have.