Remote working: How my home became my workplace!

For almost half a century, I worked up in the sky. And up until a few months ago, I would never have imagined that I would become a remote worker. But life does tend to surprise you, doesn’t it?

I was previously a flight attendant with our national airline, a job I always believed I was born to do. I love helping people...period! In fact, during my flying career, serving people and ensuring they had a memorable flight experience provided me with a job satisfaction I thought I would never find anywhere else.

I’m not saying it was an easy job at all. The long hours, the exhausting night duties, the fun weekends and events I missed out on because I was working, the health repercussions of working in a pressurised tube for years—these all took their toll. Not to mention the endless demands from difficult passengers, and all the times I was used as a figurative punching bag for their complaints. No—like many careers, it wasn’t a walk in the park.

But obviously, it also had its share of unforgettable experiences, which more than compensated. The friendships I found with the other cabin crew, some of which led to strong bonds which I still cherish today; the funny escapades and high jinks on our stopovers in other countries; the connections I made with the people I met onboard and the celebrities who flew on our aircraft. These, and much more, made my workplace a truly fun and sociable environment, with amazing views to boot!

So, what made me want to change?

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact time when I realised something was amiss. Though I still loved my job and could not imagine myself doing anything else, the long hours were starting to drain me. Maybe I was getting older. Perhaps it was the fact that I was feeling mentally exhausted trying to please people who could never be satisfied, no matter what I did for them. Maybe...I just needed a change of scene! I admit it was still an extremely difficult decision to make, but about two years ago, in October 2018, I worked my last flight, went down those aircraft stairs, put my hat and uniform to the side—and took a well-earned break!

It felt strange at first. No alarms going off at all hours of the night while I stumbled around half asleep in the dark to get ready. No calls at 5am to pull me in from my standby to work a long flight at the last minute. All my weekends and public holidays—and indeed, every single day—with no work! It felt quite freeing, and I truly enjoyed having those months to unwind and relax. Suddenly, I understood why people take gap years in their studies. Sometimes, in this bustling life, we need to just pause!

Obviously, there came a time when I had to start thinking about my next step.

What work could I do subsequently? I balked at the idea of working in an office. One of the things I had loved about working as cabin crew was the variety of hours when I was on duty, which gave me a lot of free time during which other people were working. This lack of work routine was always ideal for me, and I could never picture myself working a regular 9-to-5 job. And so, I decided that my next step would be to work remotely, so that I could set my own routines while enjoying the comforts of home and still be able to fit in the extracurricular activities I loved so much. In actual fact, remote working had been my preferred option long before Covid-19 reared its ugly head and made this kind of work a new reality for many people worldwide.

People frequently compliment me on my writing. When I was at school, my teachers sometimes thought that my parents were helping me write my essays, but it was my fertile imagination and love of language that gave me my good grades. I have been writing short stories for years, and in fact, I have amassed a collection of my best work with the hope of publishing them soon. Writing is something I truly enjoy, along with reading, and I am forever spotting errors in written text, even when I’m not looking too hard. All this made me realise that I could make a career doing something I truly loved. And so, that is how I decided to become a freelance proofreader and content writer.

How do I make remote work...work?

At first, it took a lot of effort to get myself out of bed in the morning. Without a proper schedule, it’s very tempting to have a lazy lie-in, to dawdle and dither before starting work. No one is looking over my shoulder. No one can see what I’m doing. I can allow myself to get distracted—by my dog or cat, by those plates that need washing, by that fridge that has to be scoured for goodies.

Funnily enough, whereas I always preferred to work without a routine, I did need some sort of structure to be able to work from home and make a success of it. The trick is to make sure I set aside some time every week to dedicate to my work. Having said that, I try not to put myself down when I do not follow my schedule to the letter. Because at times, my best inspiration comes when I’m least expecting it—late in the evening, just as I’m dozing off, or in the early hours before dawn.

I am lucky to be presently living in a very peaceful rural area, so the only noise around is mainly the sound of birds. The views of the countryside from our roof make it an ideal spot to be creative while enjoying the beauty of nature. And if I need a break or get writer’s block, all I have to do is walk down the road to the sea, enjoy a quick refreshing dip, and then stroll back home ready to pick up where I left off.

So, if you’re stuck in a rut or feeling uninspired by your present career, I encourage you to take that step and make the change, even if the future seems uncertain. You never know what exciting new prospects may be waiting around the corner!

Visit my website for more details about me and my services, and check out my portfolio, which shows a variety of samples of my written work!