Working Remotely Is a Double-Edged Sword

I’ve been working remotely for over four years now, and the truth is I still don’t fully know how I feel about it. Some days I love it, other days I hate it. That’s because working remotely is exactly that: a double-edged sword.

The Upside: Freedom and Flexibility

Whenever I tell someone I work remotely, their first reaction is always: “You’re so lucky!” And honestly, they’re right.

There’s something incredible about being able to work from anywhere in the world (as long as the Wi-Fi holds up). I’ve worked from coffee shops, airports, and even different countries. That flexibility is priceless.

And then there’s the simple gift of avoiding LA’s infamous rush hour. By skipping the daily commute, I save at least 10 hours a week—time I can spend with friends, family, or doing the things I love. That alone makes remote work feel like a dream.

The Downside: Isolation and Laziness

But here’s the part people don’t see: the loneliness.

My very first job in Lebanon wasn’t remote, it was in a tiny office with just five of us, all sitting around one table. It was simple, but it was fun. We bonded over football (soccer) every Monday, laughed about weekend matches, and grabbed lunch together at the cafe downstairs. Work felt alive.

Later, when I transitioned into remote work, I found a co-working space in Beirut. It was the perfect mix: I had flexibility but was still surrounded by people. We weren’t colleagues, but we became friends. We’d eat lunch together, go out after work, and bring life into what could’ve been an isolating experience.

Fast forward a few years, and I moved to the US. This time, I worked fully from home and the experience was different. No shared laughs over football, no lunch with co-workers, no spontaneous after-work hangouts. Just me, my desk, and my computer.

The truth is, remote work can make you lazy without realizing it. Rolling out of bed right before work, staying in pajamas all day, forgetting to move for hours. My smartwatch has called me out more than once for sitting 3–4 hours straight without standing up. It’s not just isolating, it can feel unhealthy too.

Finding Balance

Thankfully, I’m not completely alone. My sister also works from home, and that’s been a lifesaver. We eat meals together, sometimes hit the gym in the morning, and keep each other sane.

I’ve also developed small rituals to break up my day. For me, that’s making coffee. I was never a coffee drinker, but I fell in love with the process of making lattes and even trying latte art. It forces me to stand up, take a break, and enjoy a little moment of calm before diving back into work.

Still, I miss the social side of work, the randomness of conversations, the spontaneous lunches, the small joys that don’t exist when your “office” is your bedroom.

The Sweet Spot

The way I see it, remote work is amazing if you know how to use it to your advantage. Work from a new place once in a while. Go to a cafe. Try a co-working space. Break the routine so it doesn’t consume you.

In a perfect world, I’d love a hybrid setup, an office close enough to walk to, with the flexibility to choose my days. To me, that’s the real sweet spot: the freedom of remote, with the energy of being around people when I want it.

What About You?

Remote work is just one example but almost everything in life has its trade-offs. Maybe for you it’s parenting, moving to a new city, starting a new job, or chasing a dream.

What’s something in your life that feels like both a blessing and a challenge?