Hybrid to Remote with Angi

Going from hybrid to fully remote changed how Angelica Balbuena works and lives. After relocating to Barcelona and joining Remote, she shares nine honest lessons, from life-work integration and asynchronous work to flexibility, productivity and health. Here is her first-hand take.

The wonderful Angi (Angelica Balbuena) wrote a post about her experience going from hybrid to fully remote, and we could not resist sharing it. Follow her on LinkedIn and her #remotewithangi series for more.

New Year, new job, new city: embracing life-work integration

This picture on my blue couch perfectly describes the changes the past few weeks have brought. Relocating to Barcelona and joining Remote has been an exhilarating adventure.

Here is what I have learned so far.

1. Life-work integration

It is not about achieving a better work-life balance, but about integrating life with work. Happiness and overall satisfaction should always come first. Life should be above work, because you come first.

2. Setting realistic expectations

Starting a new role with minimal expectations can lead to positive surprises. I was impressed by the structured onboarding at Remote, the startup life, the culture, the people and their eagerness to succeed.

3. Embracing ambiversion

As an introverted extrovert, I have found that the remote working model suits me well. It allows me time alone to recharge while being part of a supportive team.

4. Asynchronous work

With proper documentation and communication, urgent queries are addressed efficiently, making remote work feel like you are right there in the office.

5. Flexibility and freedom

Choosing your workspace at home or in a coworking space with colleagues is liberating. I have already co-worked with fellow Remoters and friends in different office spaces, and at home on the blue couch (because my table is still missing).

6. Time flexibility and no commuting

This saves costs, reduces environmental impact, and allows for a more personalised work schedule.

7. Increased productivity

A customised work environment and the option to change scenery enhance concentration and overall productivity. The concept of a workation is a great perk, try that out with Driftawave.

8. Access to global talent

Expand your hiring into other countries with Remote's EOR model, which promotes diversity, equity and inclusion, benefiting everyone, especially those with caregiving responsibilities.

9. Health benefits

Remote work has also allowed me to reintegrate my favourite activities like Pilates and Lacrosse into my routine, boosting my overall health.

This year, I plan to share more insights about remote work to help everyone seamlessly integrate work into their lives. Stay tuned for more #remotewithangi updates, and let's make 2024 a year of growth and balance.

Want to bring your remote team together?

Driftawave designs workations and team retreats that turn flexible, remote work into real connection and momentum. Schedule a call with us here or reach out via info@driftawave.com.

TL;DR

• The shift from hybrid to fully remote work continues, driven by global hiring and employee demand for flexibility and autonomy.
• Expanding remote-first models unlock access to diverse talent, boost retention and improve satisfaction.
• Challenges persist, like synchronous communication across time zones and preserving team culture at scale.
• Angelica Balbuena, a Remote account executive, emphasises life-work integration over balance and credits real-world insights with redefining hybrid norms. Her top takeaway: intentional language shapes organisational mindset.
• Actionable frameworks include codifying communication norms, investing in team rituals, and designing intentional offsites to maintain alignment and clarity.
• Transitioning fully remote is both a structural and cultural shift. Teams thrive when leadership guides with clarity, values and shared purpose.