In early 2020, office chairs across the world sat empty. As the coronavirus pandemic spread, companies like Google, Apple, and Twitter instructed their employees to work from home. What seemed like a temporary measure soon turned into a fundamental shift. Suddenly, remote work was no longer a corporate perk or a rare privilege; it was a necessity for millions.

But while some celebrated the newfound flexibility, others quickly found that working from home was far from utopian. The challenges of isolation, blurred boundaries, and the constant pull of digital distractions soon came into focus.

The Double-Edged Sword of Flexibility

Even before the pandemic, remote work was on the rise. In the United States, the number of remote workers had more than doubled since 2005, reaching 4.7 million by 2019. The allure was clear: no commutes, more time with family, and the potential for better work-life balance. Advocates of remote work painted a picture of liberation from cubicles and fluorescent lights.

Yet the reality wasn’t so simple. Critics warned of the downsides: the loss of social interaction, reduced teamwork, and the risk of decreased productivity. When IBM, a pioneer of remote work, decided to bring employees back into the office in 2017, the company cited the need for better collaboration and innovation.

For some, remote work has opened new doors to entrepreneurship. The rise of online business models, like dropshipping, has allowed people to set up ventures with minimal upfront costs. Learning how to start a dropshipping business can be a pathway to financial independence, offering the flexibility of remote work with the autonomy of being one’s own boss. Yet even here, discipline and boundaries are essential. Without them, the freedom of remote work can quickly turn into an all-consuming grind.

Recent research highlights how quickly remote work can sour without the right approach. One study followed over 50 digital nomads — people who work remotely while traveling from country to country. These participants, employed in fields ranging from graphic design to travel journalism, experienced an initial honeymoon phase. But for over 25%, isolation quickly set in. “Some aren’t naturally self-motivated, and no end of self-help books will change that,” one participant noted.

Creating Structure and Avoiding Burnout

For many remote workers, coworking spaces became a lifeline. These shared environments offered more than just a desk; they provided community and the subtle motivation that comes from working alongside others. As one remote worker put it, “Just being around other folk working turbocharges your day.”

But during the pandemic, coworking spaces weren’t an option for most. For some, home offered an alternative. Shared living spaces could mimic coworking environments by setting up quiet zones for focused work and separate areas for calls.

Yet, structure remained key. Successful remote workers often created disciplined routines. One graphic designer walked 15 minutes to a coworking space each day to “mentally gear up for work” and to decompress on the way home. Even when coworking spaces were closed, incorporating a brief walk at the start and end of the workday helped maintain a boundary between work and home life.

Without this discipline, the risk of burnout loomed large. The same technology that made remote work possible also blurred the line between work and personal time. Many workers felt the pressure to be available 24/7. One participant, reflecting on his burnout, recalled: “I didn’t have the concept of free time until I found myself scheduling four-hour meetings in my diary titled ‘downtime.’”

Finding Balance in a Remote World

Psychologists and sociologists have long warned about this trend. Judy Wajcman, a sociologist at the London School of Economics, argues that our constant drive for productivity has reshaped how we think about time itself. Apps, devices, and notifications pull us into a never-ending loop of work, even during moments meant for relaxation.

The pandemic accelerated a trend that was already underway. Many companies, eager to cut office costs, may make remote work permanent. Some workers might never return to their old offices. However, as remote work becomes more entrenched, the need to address its challenges grows more urgent.

The freedom to work from anywhere holds undeniable appeal. But if we’re not careful, that freedom can erode into isolation, burnout, and a lack of balance. As we look back on 2020, it may not just be remembered as the year we left our offices. It could be the year we began to rethink work itself — not just where we do it, but how we sustain it.