Let’s go back to 2006, the year that Google bought YouTube, Pluto lost its planet status, and the year I discovered remote work.

Remote work seems to be something associated with COVID-19. However, it all started many years before. In 1979, 5 IBM employees were allowed to work from home as an experiment. By 1983, the count rose to 2000 and in 1999 modern-day remote work policies were formulated and adopted by many companies.

In 2006, I was living in Costa Rica where traffic at rush-hour traffic can be a hurdle. I accepted a great job offer across the city, but as a college student without a car, I spent over two hours a day taking multiple buses to work. Even after I bought a car, I kept spending countless hours behind the wheel.

At that stage of my life, flexibility made perfect sense. There were days I barely made it to my evening classes, I wasn’t exercising, and I felt my work-life balance slipping.

In 2008, I changed jobs within the same company. My manager was located in the U.S., and my peers were across the Americas. My manager was flexible from the start and allowed me to work from home a few days a week if I wanted, which I did.  Thanks to that opportunity, I was able to squeeze in three swim workouts a week, spend more time with my family, save money, and even study more. My life dramatically changed, and my work performance improved.

Fast forward to the post-COVID-19 era, which has proved that much of our work can be done from anywhere, without long commutes on crowded trains or highways. Many have been able to do more exercise, save money, trade cars for bicycles, and spend more time with family. Quality time and mental health are being prioritized more than ever.

From a company standpoint, a Stanford study found that employees who work from home are 13% more productive compared with their in-office counterparts. Companies are also saving on office supplies, snacks, and utilities. Furthermore, they can now hire the best talent no matter where they are.

Remote work isn’t just a pandemic-era trend, it’s a lifestyle and mindset shift that continues to redefine how we live and work.

For me, this journey has shaped the way I collaborate, lead, and solve  problems. It taught me that trust, flexibility, and clear communication are the real drivers of productivity, whether we are in the same room or across time zones.