What I Wish Every Aspiring Remote Worker Knew Before 2026

2025 is nearly over, and if there’s one thing this year has made crystal clear, it’s this: more people than ever want a life that feels like theirs.

A life with movement.
A life with choice.
A life where you’re not counting down to weekends just to feel alive again.

And if you’re reading this, maybe you’ve been feeling that too.

I’ve been working remotely for a decade now, across cafés, beaches, city views, quiet apartments, hotels, co-working spaces, airport lounges, and places I didn’t even plan for, and there are so many things I wish someone had told me when I was still dreaming about this lifestyle instead of living it.

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So before we close out 2025, here’s what I wish every aspiring remote worker knew before stepping into 2026.

1. You don’t need everything figured out to begin.

Most people don’t go remote because they think they’re “not ready yet.”

But here’s the truth: clarity is something you build, not something you wait for.

Your first client won’t be perfect.
Your first remote job might feel like a stepping stone, because it is.
Your systems and routines will evolve as you do.

What matters is starting, even if it’s messy. Forward is forward, even when it’s small.

‍2. Your skills are more valuable than you think.

If you’ve ever said:

“I don’t have any skills to offer.”
“I’m not creative enough.”
“I don’t know where to fit in.”

… please breathe.

Remote work isn’t only for tech bros or content creators. The online world needs admins, customer support, writers, editors, marketers, community managers, virtual assistants, designers, organizers, problem-solvers. Everything.

You probably already have skills people will pay for. You just haven’t learned how to package them yet.

‍3. Freelancing isn’t as scary once you begin.

I used to think freelancing meant constant uncertainty, like a never-ending race for clients.

But when you break it down, freelancing is simply:

You offer a skill → to someone who needs that skill → in exchange for money.

That’s it.

And once you land your first client?

Your confidence shifts.
You realize you’re capable.
You realize you can repeat it.

Freelancing is a muscle. You get stronger as you go.

‍4. Remote work isn’t just travel; it’s structure, systems, and intention.

Yes, the views are dreamy.
Yes, the cafés are cute.
Yes, the lifestyle is lighter.

But the reality behind those aesthetic Instagram and TikToks?

Remote work also means:

• building your own structure
• knowing how to manage your energy
• setting boundaries
• creating systems so your freedom is sustainable

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Freedom feels better when it’s held by intention.

‍5. Slow progress is still progress.

We don’t talk about slow seasons enough.

Some months you’ll feel unstoppable.
Other months you’ll feel like you’re moving through mud.

Both are normal.

Building a remote career isn’t a sprint. It's a rhythm.
And slow doesn’t mean stuck.
Slow often means building the kind of foundation for the future-you will thank you for.

‍6. Your environment shapes your motivation.

Sometimes all it takes is:

• a quiet café
• a new view
• a short trip
• a calm morning
• an unexpected moment at a bus stop or while you are exploring

These small shifts remind you that you’re allowed to live differently.

Your environment matters.
It shapes your creativity, your energy, your courage.

Surround yourself with things, and places that pull you forward.

7. The biggest truth: You get to redesign your life.

Remote work isn’t just a career change.
It’s a lifestyle reset.

When you start working from anywhere, you start asking different questions:

“How do I want my days to feel?”
“What kind of life am I building?”
“What would happen if I chose myself?”

And that’s when everything changes.

You stop performing.
You start living.

‍If you want to go remote in 2026, this is your sign.

If 2025 made you crave more freedom;  more ease, more options, more you, let this be the moment you choose it.

And if you don’t know where to start, I created something for you.

My Remote Work Playbook is the guide I wish I had when I was figuring all of this out, the steps, the systems, the mindset shifts, and the practical pieces that actually make remote work sustainable.

You don’t need to do this alone.
You just need a roadmap.

Start here: Remote Work Playbook: Travel and Thrive

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P.S. Get the FREE Remote-Ready Checklist: a quick 9-page guide to help you know exactly where you stand (and what to do next).