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RailsConf 2019 - Things I Wish I Knew Before Going Remote by Marla Brizel Zeschin

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Remote work is just like working in an office - minus the soul-crushing commute. How hard could it be?

Spoiler: it's actually pretty hard.

When I went remote, I was so excited to not pack a lunch that I didn't consider the implications of a quasi-reliable Internet connection or the psychological impact of spending so much time at home.

As it turns out, going remote isn't just trading a highway commute for a hallway one. It requires new skills and a mindset shift. In this talk, you'll learn how to assess your needs as a remote worker and gain a set of tools to help you succeed for the long term.

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In her talk at RailsConf 2019, Marla Brizel Zeschin discusses the challenges and lessons learned after transitioning to remote work. The presentation, titled "Things I Wish I Knew Before Going Remote," highlights the difficulties one can face when moving from an office environment to a home office, emphasizing that remote work is not simply advantageous due to the absence of a commute but presents its own set of challenges requiring new skills and a mindset shift.

Key points discussed include:
- **Initial Excitement vs. Reality**: Marla shares her initial enthusiasm about remote work, valuing the absence of a long commute and the flexibility it offered. However, this ideal quickly faded as she began to grapple with social isolation, blurred boundaries between work and personal life, and the pressure of self-management.
- **Work-Life Balance**: She emphasizes the difficulty of maintaining separation between work and home life when both take place in the same space. Creating dedicated physical workspaces and setting defined work hours were strategies she implemented to restore that balance.
- **Social Isolation**: Marla reflects on how remote work led to reduced social interactions, noting that while blessed with a dog for companionship, she missed human interactions vital for emotional wellbeing. To combat this, she made a commitment to schedule regular social events, thereby ensuring some form of regular interaction outside of work tasks.
- **Communication Challenges**: The importance of clear and frequent communication grows in a remote setting, where visibility is limited. Marla illustrates how she adapted by over-communicating updates and nurturing informal communications to foster relationships with her colleagues.
- **Mindset Shift**: Ultimately, Marla discusses how remote work necessitates a personal reflection on work habits and environments, requiring individuals to define their own work needs and adapt their strategies accordingly.

In conclusion, Marla encourages remote workers to acknowledge the unique challenges that come with remote work as part of the learning curve involved in becoming successful in this arrangement. She emphasizes that struggling with remote work does not signify a failure but rather a crucial skill that must be developed over time, urging everyone that they are not alone in facing these difficulties and that there is always a path forward for improvement.

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