Making Remote Working Work Each Day

Andy Howard |
The Working Day
| August 20th 2008

After nearly five months, I’m now convinced: remote working is the best working arrangement I’ve ever had.

Living in different cities, finding inspiration in a constantly changing environment and always meeting new people sure is sweet. It’s not without challenges though, and my Remote Working Works for Freelancers post lead to some interesting questions.

How do you find accommodation? How do you manage client demands? How do you find work? I’ve taken the time to answer these questions–plus a few others–to help other aspiring freelancers make remote working a success.

Before we get started, be sure to check out my Remote Working Works for Freelancers post for tips on preparation, tools, management and some insights into why remote working can be so effective (and fun). When you’re done, read on.

Finding appropriate cities

In a world like ours, this is the easy part. There are so many amazing places to discover, and the decision on where to work from is very much like deciding where to take a holiday. The only additional requirement, of course, is decent Internet access. If you like the sound of a place, if it’s affordable and you’re confident of being online as often as required, why not get up and go there?

How long in each place?

Staying in one place for a long time doesn’t really suit me, as I like variety and a changing environment keeps me inspired. I usually aim to spend a week in any given location, but I may stay longer if; I like it, I’m particularly busy and/or I can leverage exchange rates such that staying there for longer is good value. The longest I’ve stayed anywhere was at a colonial village on the coast of Nicaragua. I stayed there for four weeks, a decision which ticked all three of these decision-making boxes. Oh, and the waves were pretty good too.

Finding accommodation

This may surprise some readers. I never book in advance. I don’t research accommodation before arriving in a city. I don’t even carry guidebooks. I just turn up, walk around with my backpack and have a good look. Why? I guess I just like it this way. It’s interesting to arrive somewhere with no expectations, and you never really know what your options will be like until you’re physically looking at them anyway. Website descriptions and travel agency brochures are seldom accurate, so I find it’s best to wait until I’m on the spot. I realise this may not be for everyone. It’s a personal thing.

There’s not much to it. Arrive. Ask around, and get yourself to a nice part of the city that feels comfortable. Acquire a tourist map with hotels and contact details–any tourist information centre will help you out with one. Grab a phone card, find a phone, and start phoning. Phone all of the hotels on the map. Negotiate weekly rates on the spot. Have a checklist of requirements–mine typically includes wifi, desk, fridge and breakfast included (all of these will save you money). Take notes. Phone the best ones back, re-negotiate, then go and take a look at a room at each one.

On your way, drop in to other hotels that aren’t on the map, and make enquiries there too. The rates I’ve achieved from phoning and walking in are way better than any Internet-only deal I’ve seen–when you’re in the lobby willing to hand over cash for a week’s stay, it’s amazing what a hotel manager will offer. I’m currently staying in a very well appointed hotel in Amsterdam, with all of the features on my checklist, for the same price per person as a nearby hostel with 18 person dormitories… with no wifi, no desk, a full communal fridge and a very ordinary breakfast. Shop around, it only takes a couple of hours and it’s well worth it.

Budgeting

This one’s pretty simple. Manage your personal cash flow as if you’re managing the accounts of a business (which, as a freelancer, you essentially are). Don’t spend money before you have it in the bank. Realise that just because you’re working on a big project, you won’t be paid for it for a while. Remember that not everyone pays within an invoice period. Don’t spend what you don’t have. Keep a well-stocked emergency account, and only use it in an emergency (unexpected parties are included–you still need to have fun!).

Client management

My clients know I’m remote working, and it often leads to some interesting banter… answering the typical ‘How was your weekend?’ question can spur some great stories. They’re all understanding, and if a project will run over a difficult time for me I let them know I’ll be out of action for a while–whether it be a couple of days or a couple of weeks. It’s never been a problem, and obviously it’s a situation I avoid at all costs. If a project is running over, I usually stay where I am to keep working on it. This works out better for everyone–clients get results, and I can move on to the next location with a clean slate. As for typical response time, I make sure I respond to all questions and enquiries within three days, but typically the response time is less than 12 hours.

Savings

I sold many of my material possessions before I began remote working, and the important things are safely stored for whenever I need them. I’m not into buying things for the sake of it–although I do have a weakness for new Apple products, nice cameras and fashionable clothes. So, I don’t often save for anything in particular (there are only so many things I can carry!) and most spare savings are either re-routed into investment, or used to purchase luxury goods whilst travelling. Even remote workers are rewarded with indulgence from time to time. Oh, and did someone mention retirement? That’s what my startup projects are for (no, seriously!).

Finding work

When you start dipping into the emergency account more often than you should, it’s usually time to find some more work. I find the best way to do so is from my existing clients–simply checking in and asking how things are can often generate a project that will help to keep things rolling along in the meantime. My other activity for quiet periods is working on my own projects–some are public, others are not. Remote working, travelling and experiencing different cultures does wonders for ideas and entrepreneurship.

How often do you work?

The big question. It really varies, mainly depending on my location and the projects I’m working on. Sometimes I work solidly for a week. Sometimes I take a week off. Usually, I work every day in the evening for a few hours before dinner, which slots in well after the day’s activities. Like many freelancers, I also like working late, so if I’m home on a weeknight I tend to work again after dinner. In writing this I’m bringing a long, productive night to a close.

Friendships

Travelling and constantly meeting new people is great, and I’ve made many good friends, several of whom I’ve made arrangements with to see again in the near future. Fortunately, I have close friends from home who are living abroad, and have been able to visit them as part of my travels. I’ve arranged to see others shortly. Remote working would be much harder without having friends in various corners of the globe, but more importantly, I’m travelling with a good friend from home so I’ve always got great company. Without this friendship, I’d find remote working extremely difficult.

I hope this brings some more clarity to managing the daily demands of remote working. Please ask any further questions below and I’ll aim to answer them in the comments or in a follow-up post.

Tags: remote work travel

Andy Howard |
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A remote worker currently travelling across the world, Andy Howard is part of a small online publishing company collaborating from various corners of the globe and works remotely as a website designer, strategist and consultant.