Background Link to heading
For the first five years of my career as a software developer, I commuted to an office five days a week. I spent hours in meetings, worked alongside my team in person, and dealt with the daily office rituals—coffee breaks, impromptu brainstorming sessions, and, of course, the dreaded open-office distractions. Then, I switched to a fully remote role, and everything changed. After a year of working remotely, I’ve gained insights into what works, what doesn’t, and how this shift has impacted my career, my personal life, and my mental well-being.
The Productivity Myths That Didn’t Hold Up Link to heading
Before going remote, I bought into the common myths: that remote workers struggle with discipline, that productivity takes a hit, and that without constant supervision, teams would fall apart. The reality? I was far more productive at home than I ever was in the office.
In an office setting, distractions were everywhere—random chats, unnecessary meetings, noisy coworkers. Remote work eliminated those. My deep work hours increased dramatically, and I could focus on coding without interruption. It turned out that structured autonomy, not micromanagement, was the key to efficiency. Sure, I had to be intentional about communication, but well-documented discussions on Slack and async stand-ups were infinitely better than being pulled into endless meetings.
Collaboration Is Different, But Not Worse Link to heading
I won’t lie—collaborating remotely is different, but it’s not inherently worse. The biggest adjustment was shifting from spontaneous, in-person conversations to structured, asynchronous communication.
In an office, I could tap a colleague on the shoulder for a quick chat. Remotely, I had to learn to be more deliberate—documenting everything clearly, overcommunicating when necessary, and making better use of tools like Slack, Jira, Confluence, and GitHub Issues. Over time, I found that this actually improved team efficiency. Instead of relying on tribal knowledge locked in people’s heads, we built a culture of documentation. The quality of our communication improved because we had no choice but to be clear and intentional.
However, I did miss the spontaneous brainstorming sessions. Whiteboard discussions and quick problem-solving chats are harder to replicate online, even with tools like Miro or Figma. Some of our best ideas used to come from informal chats over coffee, and while we tried virtual coffee breaks, they weren’t quite the same.
The Blessing and Curse of Work-Life Balance Link to heading
Remote work gave me something I had never truly experienced before: freedom. No more commuting, no rigid 9-to-5, no dress code. I could wake up, start my day slowly, and dive into deep work at my peak productivity hours. This flexibility transformed my work-life balance.
I was able to integrate life into my workday—going for a walk in the afternoon, running errands without taking a full day off, and spending more time with family. These small freedoms added up, and I felt like I had control over my time for the first time in years.
But with freedom came blurry boundaries. It’s easy to overwork when your office is also your home. I caught myself working late into the evening, answering messages on weekends, and feeling guilty for taking breaks. Unlike in an office, where leaving at 5 or 6 PM signals the end of the day, remote work required me to actively set boundaries. Once I established strict start and stop times, my work-life balance improved significantly.
The Unexpected Impact on Mental Health Link to heading
At first, I assumed remote work would be amazing for my mental health. And in many ways, it was—I had fewer daily stressors, no commute, and more control over my environment. But there was an unexpected downside: isolation.
I didn’t realize how much casual social interaction at work kept me connected. Remote work made me feel disconnected at times, especially at first when I was settling into a new role, and a new industry. There was a lot of ground to cover, and having that shoulder to tap on would’ve made life easier ;) To combat this, I had to intentionally build social interactions into my work day, scheduling virtual coworking sessions, and making more of an effort to build better relationships with my colleagues.
On the flip side, my mental well-being improved in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Office politics, toxic work environments, and unnecessary stressors disappeared. I had more energy to engage in hobbies, exercise, and simply exist without the exhaustion of daily commutes.
Would I Ever Go Back? Link to heading
After a year of remote work, I can confidently say that I would never willingly return to a fully in-office job. The autonomy, flexibility, and deep focus time have made me a better developer and a happier person. That said, hybrid work—perhaps going to the office once or twice a week—could be the ideal middle ground for maintaining social interaction and spontaneity.
For anyone considering remote work, my advice is simple: be intentional. Set boundaries, prioritize communication, and create a structure that works for you. It’s not a magic bullet, but when done right, it’s an incredibly powerful way to work.
As a thank you for reading this, please enjoy a photo of my favourite animal :
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Kenya)
Only elephants are in need of tusks; nobody else in the world does.