Courtesy of Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
- I moved back home after college and started a freelance business from my childhood bedroom.
- I love the freedom of remote work, but I worry I'm missing out on the professional world.
- This isn't the life I imagined for myself, but I'm making the best of it.
I began writing as a freelance journalist halfway through my degree when I was 20. This was mid-COVID, with the world shut down and lectures online. At the time, it seemed totally logical to build my career remotely. I'd ping off pitches, complete remote internships, and build my portfolio — all from the haven of my childhood bedroom, specifically from bed.
For context, my childhood room has no desk. And with my parents working from home, there was no quiet space to work apart from my bedroom. I'm on the extreme end of the Gen Z remote worker movement; I've quite literally built my career from under my covers.
I sometimes head out to my gym's café or local library and travel lots for work. But overall, you'll find me in that same spot when I'm home. It's comfortable, but I'm missing out on part of the professional world.
I can't deny the positives of my remote, freelance life
As a journalist living in the UK, I could be in a much more difficult financial situation. Luckily, I don't have the expense of living in London, the UK's main hub of journalism, because I live at home with my parents.
There's no doubt that I've saved tons of money. I'm in a stronger financial situation because I've been able to stay outside London, and I've still made some genuinely wonderful long-distance connections.
Secondly, I built my career entirely remotely, so nobody expects me to actually be anywhere. There's no entering negotiations over hybrid work agreements; I've been at my own location of choice from day one. This means I travel when I want and have no tedious commute.
I love the freedom that comes with remote working. In reality, I'm not curled up in a "bed office" all the time. This process has given me the flexibility to pick other unorthodox "offices" all over the world. Perhaps I wouldn't have taken that risk if I'd gone straight for an in-person role.
I have a nagging feeling I'm missing out on a huge part of the professional world
I'm feeling a bit left out of traditional career building, and I'm also feeling a sense of isolation and loneliness. Is it purely fear of missing out or a genuine sense of loss? I'm not too sure.
Gaining professional development and feedback has been an uphill battle; it's easier to learn and improve with that hand-me-down knowledge from senior staff. I missed out on those casually dropped pieces of golden wisdom over coffee breaks and computer screens.
I did manage to secure some great online internships to learn the ropes. But there's no denying that an in-person, full-time role would have been much more rewarding. In-person feedback and presence are just so valuable.
Looking at the abundance of work experience placements and on-the-job staff training available now, I have a slight tinge of regret. I'm also frustrated that I missed so much organic networking and friendship-building.
Networking is important because of how my career has developed
Most recently, I've started consciously trying to dress professionally for myself and work from an outside-my-four-walls location for a few hours a day. That's definitely shifted the loneliness.
I also make a point to attend industry events. I've got to be much more conscious of networking and socializing; otherwise, the days just slip away in my bedroom with no connections to show.
As an introvert, entering those networking events feels even more daunting as I know almost nobody. Instead of having team connections to fall back on, I'm constantly in free fall mode. I've missed out on having that safety net that most professionals develop in the workplace.
It's not the career progression I imagined for myself
Is it what I envisioned as a young teen? Was I scurrying around on coffee runs as I elbowed my way up the journalism ranks? Definitely not. Pinging emails off asking for internships while swinging my legs off my bed has been my reality instead. It didn't mirror that Hollywood trope that every young journalist secretly craves.
I've missed out on all the office dynamics, and there's no denying it; sometimes, staring at a laptop screen alone can feel like Groundhog Day.
Still, I'm grateful for the remote opportunities and freedom my career path has given me. I love jumping straight out of bed, boarding a plane, and sitting on a beach — all within a workday. I just have to remind myself to pencil in some industry events soon so I don't become a total recluse.