many people romanticize the idea of working solo and remotely.

imagine not having to leave your house or wake up as early as 6 am just to earn money. you start your day slow. you don’t have to deal with traffic or rush yourself every day, or force yourself to socialize just to keep a job. you don’t have a boss telling you what to do.

this is the ultimate dream for an introvert like me.

but as with anything, it’s not always easy.

working solo means i have to figure most things out by myself. i don’t have a workmate i can go to when things get hard. no one to grab a drink with or to chat with on a heavy day at work. you don’t have anyone. it’s just you, sitting at your computer desk.

working solo also means there are days i feel isolated. as a matter of fact, it’s the least i expected to feel. i’ve lived alone for years, so i’m used to spending days by myself.

but having no one to go to at work… it hits differently.

but i realized it also taught me to trust myself more. to understand that there’s always a resource online i can turn to. to be more resourceful, and more patient with myself as i learn new things and new tools. to be more independent.

that there’s no one else to listen to but my own voice.

it has also taught me to reach out. to be more proactive in maintaining friendships and connections outside work. it made me appreciate myself more, and the people who are still with me.

i realized that no one is going to motivate me but myself. no one is coming to tell me, “girl, you need to sort your life out.” it’s on me.

so i learned to rely on myself even more. i saved consistently, started investing, and built my emergency funds, all while enjoying the flexibility that comes with working solo. i keep building something solid, something that can’t easily be taken away from me: good mental and financial habits, and stability.

and i think that’s the most beautiful thing it has given me.

it might get lonely at times, but hey, you can always go to a nearby coffee shop.

and the best part? the slow mornings. i usually start my day at 10 am. and i can go on a trip on a random tuesday. i wouldn’t trade that for the world.