8 Things to Consider When Working Remotely in a New City

The long-term remote work trend is on the rise, with more flexibility than ever to work when you want and where you want. If you're dreaming of living in the best cities for remote workers, you’ll have more possibilities to succeed from anywhere. Before packing your bags, learn more about what to consider when working remotely in a new city.

What Does Working Remotely Mean?

Remote work is when someone works outside of a traditional office, including 9-to-5 employees, freelancers, or contractors. Sometimes remote workers choose to rent their own shared coworking space, coffee shops, on vacation, or at home.

Pros and Cons of Working Remotely

Before starting remote work, learn about some of the pros and cons.

Pro: No Dress Code

There's no dress code to contend with when you're working remotely. You can even roll out of bed and work in your pajamas! Have a zoom call scheduled? Just throw on a reasonable shirt, and no one knows you're still wearing your sweats and slippers underneath.

Pro: More Flexible Working Hours

Remote work usually offers more flexibility than a traditional environment. Unless you're working a regular 9 to 5 remotely, you can structure your work around your desired hours. It's an ideal set-up whether you're a night owl or early bird and want to complete your work around your life.

Pro: You Can Work From Anywhere

There's no need to go to the same office every day when you work remotely. Instead, you can work from anywhere, whether at the beach on vacation or at home. Remote workers also have the flexibility to mix up their location and hop from coffee shop to library to park to stay motivated.

Pro: You Can Save Money

Working remotely means spending less money commuting, lunches out with coworkers, and a work wardrobe. Unfortunately, work expenses tend to add up, like last-minute lattes around the corner or an after-work drink. You can still budget and plan for those things, but they're no longer a spontaneous indulgence.

Pro: Live Wherever You Want

Living wherever you want opens up new opportunities to see more of the world. Apply for a digital nomad Visa in areas like Costa Rica or the Czech Republic and spend months in another country. Or you can stick to your local area and move somewhere cheaper or trendier without worrying about long commutes.

Pro: There's No Time Wasted Commuting

It's not unusual to spend hours a day commuting by car or public transportation. But, instead of sitting in traffic, you've already knocked out hours of work at your remote gig.

Con: More Distractions

Despite all the upsides to working remotely, one of the biggest downsides is more distractions. You never knew there was so much to do in your apartment, including taking a nap, doing laundry, cooking lunch, working out at your on-site gym, or cleaning. Working remotely requires a system to eliminate distractions and keep your mind on work.

Con: More Responsibility

There's more responsibility when working remotely. If you have a traditional job with a W-2, your supervisors expect you to be diligent, meet deadlines, and stay available throughout the day. Freelancers and contractors need to be self-starters who wisely manage their time and finances. When you work remotely, you are essentially your own boss, no matter who you work for.

Con: Limited Social Interactions

Working remotely often comes with isolation and loneliness. When you're busy or the weather is unbearable, you're often stuck inside with just you and your furry friend for company. Make sure to plan plenty of social outings or set up your laptop at a coffee shop for a few hours to interact with others.

Con: Need for Ongoing Self-Discipline

Remote work requires non-negotiable self-discipline. When your hours are your own, dragging yourself out of bed or staying up late to complete your workload can be challenging. Using a calendar and bullet journal can help you stay on track, but make sure to schedule some downtime and breaks.

Con: It Can Be Harder to Stand-Out

When you're rarely face-to-face with your boss or clients, it's more challenging to stand out. You may get all of your work done, but don't always see your hard work when you're working remotely. Checking in regularly with your bosses, coworkers, and clients can help you stay top of mind and make sure your work is recognized.

Con: Boundaries Disappear

Working remotely offers more flexibility in building your career while maintaining the lifestyle. However, it's easy to overwork and leave little time for friends and hobbies. Or you may discover you've failed to prioritize your work because you’re so distracted by remote work with kids or having your roommate hanging around.

Self-discipline can help with boundaries but usually requires ongoing tweaking. Part of keeping boundaries is holding yourself accountable and learning how to say 'No" to work, your social circle, and yourself! Close the laptop when it's time to end the day and stick to your set boundaries.

8 Things to Consider When Working Remotely in a New City

Once you've weighed the pros and cons, here's what to consider when working remotely in a new city.

1. Make Sure You Have a Dedicated Work Space

Not all apartments offer office space, and it may not even be within your budget.

Fortunately, room dividers and creative rearranging can also create a workspace in your apartment. Or you can explore rates for coworking spaces nearby. You can also consider working for free at a local library or setting aside a coffee budget to get set up at a remote-friendly cafe.

2. Networking in Your New City Will Be Harder

Networking is more challenging when working remotely in a new city. You're not running into people at the office, meeting new coworkers, and drumming up a relationship with the office next door. Put yourself out there by exploring MeetUp groups and professional organizations that throw events with networking in mind.

3. Consider the Time Zones

You may have always dreamed of living in Seattle but have an east coast job. However, if your employer and all your clients live in New York City, remember you may be starting work at 6 am instead of 9 am. The time zone may not seem like a big deal until you have early morning meetings to contend with.

4. Make Sure You Know When to Log Off

You won't always know when to log off for the day when you work remotely. Ask your employer or clients about hours. You may discover they want to work into the evening hours but only expect their remote employee or contractors to put in 8-hours across any time frame.

Beyond the expectations of your employer and clients, you need to set a personal boundary for when to stop working. Set your schedule and allow a small grace period to wrap up any outstanding tasks and stick to them.

5. Don't Be Afraid of Making the Move

Don't be afraid to make the jump and move to the city you've always dreamed about. Remote work opens up the entire world to you. You can always rent a short-term apartment to test it out before making a long-term commitment.

6. Think About Taxes

Remote work may create a tax liability you're not expecting. For example, if you're living somewhere short-term, you may owe taxes in both your current city and home base. You may also need to pay taxes if your full-time employer is located in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, and Pennsylvania.

If you're self-employed or a contractor, your taxes may be challenging to do independently. For example, the general rule is you can't write off your home office if you have a W-2, but you may be able to if you're a freelancer.

On the upside, you may have scores of new write-offs to consider when working remotely that you had not considered before. Speak to an accountant with experience in remote workers who can help determine your tax liability.

7. Understand the Expectations

It's easier to understand the expectations of employers and clients when you work alongside them. Make sure you communicate about working hours, turn-around time, and availability. Some employers may want to see you online during traditional hours, while others only want you to meet set deadlines.

8. Figure Out How to Take a Vacation

Unless you work for a traditional company, working remotely usually means you have no set vacation time. So it's up to you to figure out how much time you need off and how to cover your responsibilities.

Let your clients know when you need time off and how long. Creating systems and processes can help streamline basic tasks while you're gone. You may also decide to slightly shift your work hours to get everything done early and then enjoy the rest of the day at the beach or on a hike.

7 Tips for Working Remotely

Get some tips for making a seamless transition if you're ready to dive into remote work in a new city.

1. Enjoy the Perks of Working Remotely

While there are some downsides to working remotely, the perks are outstanding. Embrace them! Take an afternoon walk, go swimming at your apartment pool, meet friends for an early drink, or finish up apartment chores before the weekend.

2. Understand Your Working Style

There's no point in fighting against the grain. Make sure you understand your working style and what you need to succeed. You may thrive in busy environments and want to work in a bustling coffee shop from your laptop during the week. Set up a home office or find a quiet coworking space if you need intense focus and quiet.

3. Put Thought Into Your Workspace

Your home office or workspace isn't just a place to open your laptop and work. It should also offer the support and focus you need for your workday. Think about your office chair, how much surface space you need, and if you want to sit by a window or the corner with no distractions.

Beyond creating dedicated space, adding a little decor or upgrading your WiFi to something more robust may be a necessary step in a successful remote job.

4. Don't Be Afraid to Lean on Your Community

There's no need to reinvent the wheel when working remotely in a new city. Instead, lean on your virtual and in-person community for support, quick questions, and best advice.

Look for remote workgroups online or reach out to coworkers to set up periodic chats or Zoom calls. Or try asking around your city to find out where the remote workers hang out or any groups that could help support you.

5. Paying for Reliable Tech is Always Worth It

Remote jobs need reliable tech, no matter what. There's no way to complete your work with intermittent, weak wireless. Free software may work okay for a while but usually needs an upgrade to tap into its full potential and streamline your systems and processes.

Adjust your budget and make room for reliable tech that helps you thrive in your remote career. It's an expense you won't regret and one you can probably write off during tax season. Check with your accountant to find out how to plan.

6. You Can Never Over-Communicate

Communication is key to building a successful remote career and keeping your boss, remote team, or clients happy. Set daily reminders of when to check in with your people and ask any questions to document the progress of your project.

If your boss or clients don't prioritize communication, keep them posted about what you're working on and what kinds of deadlines to expect.

7. Don't Forget About Self-Care

One of the most challenging aspects of remote work is prioritizing self-care and separating yourself from your work. It's not necessary, and its also unhealthy, to be online all the time to keep clients happy.

Focus on creating good boundaries and a work-life balance you love and prioritize self-care. Go for a walk, have lunch with a friend, sleep in, and reward yourself with a spa day to celebrate your success.

Final Thoughts

Working remotely in a new city is a big thrill but requires some balance and setting yourself up for success. Ready to find a place in your dream city? Sign-up for Apartment List to find the best places to live for remote work.