Handling all seasons lifestyle as a remote-first Software Developer

I always believed that the remote-work gives you great flexibility to work with whatever company you want and be wherever you want. One day you are in the office of a busy downtown. Then you decide to spend time in a quiet cottage with a view of a beautiful lake. And the other day, you take off giant waves somewhere in Bali or Australia for a few months. Isn't it amazing? But is it actually that easy to have this lifestyle?

I wrote this article to highlight various obstacles you might face when try enjoying remote work lifestyle flexibility. Also, I will share valuable insights on how I handle them in my case. I believe it would help you avoid hardships hiding under the surfaces of a beautiful and calm ocean called "remote-work".

What I'm dealing with

Let me briefly describe my current situation. For the last 2+ years, I work as a remote-first Software Developer and digital nomad. I am a resident of Canada and working with the company in the US. To be able to work with abroad companies, I set up incorporation.

I spend most of the time in Canada, but when "winter is coming", I prefer to relocate to the warmer place in Europe. It also allows me to spend some time with family and friends there.

Here is a list of problems I usually need to solve when I plan to enjoy my life in another part of the world while working remotely:

• Internet
• Cell phone
• Postage management
• Finances management
• Relocation
• Stuff handling
• Productivity
• Sport and food

I know it is quite a few obstacles. But let me show you how I manage to handle all of them.

Internet

One of the most critical necessities for remote Software Developers is to have internet access everywhere and all the time. You need to participate in meetings, ship your work, perform some actions in remote servers, and more. So ensuring that you will have an internet connection everywhere is crucial.

How I solve it

In Canada, my must-have is the internet services from one of the providers available in the city where I am. Usually, it is one of the Bell/Rogers/Shaw, etc. They always have a good enough option for my needs.

Unfortunately, I have had a bad experience with the internet reliability from some of the Canadian internet providers. So I always have mobile internet as a backup.

For the last few years, I was using the Lifecell mobile internet in roaming. The package was 3GB of LTE internet per moths for ~30$. It turns out to be more cost-effective rather than use available options in Canada. Also, those 3GB are available for use worldwide, not just in Canada. It was enough internet to cover cases when the local internet provider was failing.

I have a subscription to the SetApp service, where I found a great tool called TripMode. I use the app to control traffic spendings while using mobile internet. It helps me to spend mobile internet carefully.

While traveling outside of Canada, I usually check what internet options are available in the city I am going to. There are always good options that cost a fraction of the cost I usually pay in Canada. Also, It is often the case that the apartment I stay in would already have the internet set up.

I noticed that the mobile internet options are also a lot better in places I go outside Canada (Europe as an example). During my last trip to Ukraine for the Lifecell package with 25GB LTE + calls + text, I paid only 9$ per month without any long-term commitments. That helps to secure internet access to the necessary level.

Cell phone

You need your phone number to be reachable everywhere in the world to either receive calls or get text messages. In my case, my Canadian phone number must always be reachable as I do business there.

How I solve it

A few years ago, I was using a Public Mobile in Canada. When planning my first trip, I was astonished when I revealed that they do not support roaming. So my phone number would not be reachable while I am abroad. Hence, all 2factor authentications I bind to that phone number would not be possible to process. It was frustrating as the globally reachable phone number was a non-questionable service provided by European providers I knew.

Now I do not use the sim card of any regular Canadian cell phone providers anymore. I set up a Canadian virtual phone number via Fongo. I believe there are similar services in the US, Europe, and other countries.

The Fongo allows you to get the real phone number, and you can transfer to another non-virtual provider if needed in the future. And this phone number is accessible everywhere in the world for free if you have an internet connection. I pay only 15$ per 6 months for global text messages. It is necessary to ensure receiving the codes sent during 2factor authentication.

Note that I would suggest not to bind phone numbers to 2factor authentication but use one-time code generators like Authy or even physical keys like YubiKey. Or at least have them in combination.

When I travel, I buy a local cell phone card to get the mobile internet that makes my Fongo phone number reachable. Also, I noticed that local providers provide better rates than I would have if I would use a Canadian cell phone in roaming.

For example, for the Lifecell package with 25GB LTE + calls + text, I paid only 9$ per month. It is enough mobile data to ensure my Canadian phone number is active all the time. One more side benefit is that I do not pay to renew the Lifecell package when I am in Canada, but the phone number will be active for another 1-2 years even if you did not use it.

Postage Management

Banks, Insurance, Migration Services, CRA/IRS, and the other government organizations. Although some of them finally included options to deliver postage via email, some still tend to send only physical mails. And there are often emails that you would not want to lose while you travel. So it is essential to have those handled while you are abroad.

How I solve it

I use the Virtual Mailbox services provided by Anytime Mailbox. After I started to use Anytime Mailbox and the attached physical address, I use it as my mailing address for most Canadian services.

The Anytime Mailbox allows you to recycle or shred, store, open and scan, or forward the mail they receive in your name. Also, If you have a family whose emails are also important, the service has an option to add additional authorized recipients. It is also a great help in my case.

When I change address within Canada, I use the Mail Forwarding service from Canada Post to forward all incoming postage from my old address to my Anytime Mailbox address. And then, if it is crucial, I redirect forward to the address I need. It works like a charm. I definitely recommend it.

Finances management

Being remote-first is not only opening the world via traveling and working from different beautiful places. It is also opening yourself to the world by providing services to those who need them worldwide. It means that you can receive payment in different currencies for your work, and you would need to have money in a variety of currencies while traveling. Does it sound like an uneasy task?

How I solve it

To work at an international level, which is in my current case as I work with a US company from Canada, I set up the incorporation. Then I signed an agreement, and I filled the W8-BEN-E form. Not only incorporation makes it possible to work C2C with foreign clients, but also to have business expenses.

To receive payments for my work, I use the Transfer Wise (their new name is Wise). The clients pay me to the Wise account and then distribute funds to other bank accounts if needed.
The Wise has adequate transfer fees that are a lot lower than in traditional banks. And they also provide a fair conversion rate that a lot better than in regular banks.

They allow creating personal and corporate accounts. And I use them both.

I transfer or convert funds from USD to the currency of the country I am at via the Wise account. And then I can use it there.

The only nuance of using this service in Canada is that it does not offer the Mastercard debit card yet. But they promise to make it happen soon.

The other aspect of finances is expense tracking. I have different bank accounts in a variety of currencies, and I have expenses in various currencies. I use Toshl to manage all that. I connect all bank accounts I have in all currencies, and the service keeps transactions synced.

The Toshl can automatically recognize movements between my accounts and distinguish them from expenses. Whether it is the payment to the credit card or transfer from Wise to another bank account. Although it is not always 100% accurate, it still outperforms other available options for a remote-first lifestyle.

Relocation

It is fascinated how many traveling desires pour into your head when you realize that you can work from everywhere. But each relocation needs to include a trip to a new place, adjustments to your regime, working schedule changes, etc. It an uneasy task when you also have commitments and deadlines at the projects at work. And it becomes even more difficult in the age of COVID.

How I solve it

First of all, I create detailed plans for all trips. I request necessary days off in advance. So the management can plan sprints accordingly. I book round-trip tickets, preferably on weekends or close to it.

Since I do Software Development in a team, and we do commitments for the sprint. And I consider it crucial to communicate that I will not be available on days where the trip intersects with working hours.

With the worldwide mobile LTE internet in conjunction with the growing number of free WIFI spots in airports, I can work even while traveling when necessary.

Nowadays, all the world experience impact of a new "black swan" called COVID-19. And a pandemic regulation of each country changes often. To stay in touch with the COVID regulations, I use the IATA Travel Centre website. It helps to define countries I am not able to travel through.

Stuff handling

When you leave at a place for a while, you definitely would have belongings that are not easy to handle when you travel. It could be a car, a piece of furniture, a bed, etc. There are also items that you love and do not want to give away. As an example, your favorite rocking chair. And there are also essentials you would need for a comfortable living when you return from the trip.

How I solve it

Currently, I solve this problem in 2 ways.

• I prefer to stay lean and have a minimalistic lifestyle.
• Use self-storage service providers to store essentials there.

I do not need a lot of stuff for happiness. I prefer to own as little as possible. Too many belongings suck out a lot of cognitive energy that I would rather spend on creative pursuits.

There are always items that I need to get rid of each time I go abroad.
I usually sell them via local community websites or donate to the nearest thrift shops.

Then I take what has left and pack it inside my car. Usually, it is the most important thing. So when I return, I have all the essential items for comfortable living right away.

Then I leave the car at the self-storage facility. I also prefer to pause the car insurance as no one will drive it for a couple of months.

Productivity

You can not use the fact that you traveling as the remote-first or digital nomad as the excuse for lack of productivity at the project you are working on. You still need to be productive and deliver the results you are committed to delivering.

How I solve it

First of all, let me share a list of essentials I use to be productive everywhere:

• Laptop
• Mobile internet
• Sound cancelation headphones - I am happy with Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2
• VPN - I use Nord VPN
• Password manager - my choice is the LastPass.
• Tasks manager - ToDoist
• Personal time tracker - RescueTime
• "Toolbelt" subscription - Setapp. There are plenty of great tools that help me to maintain my productivity. Like TripMode, Paste, CleanShot X, TextSnipper, TablePlus, Be Focused.
• 2-factor authentication hardware - YubiKey
• 2-factor authentication software - Authy 
• External SSD - The Transcend 1TB StoreJet works for me just great

I intentionally do not use multiple external screens while working. I always use only the 16inch screen of my MacBookPro.

The goal is to decrease the number of external tools I need for productive work. If I would use the external monitors and then got into the case when I do not have them with me, my brain would have created productivity "friction" because of regression of the workstation setup. So each time I travel, I would suffer from an additional productivity decrease.

In the current setup, to get to the productive work zone, I need only a Laptop + Headphones + Tools Installed on the laptop. And I can handle this setup everywhere.

And when I travel, I do not have this "gut feeling" that something is not all right with my setup. I open the laptop, wear headphones, turn on baroque music, and myself get back on track.

The VPN is indispensable while traveling. The project I am working on has strict security policies for accessing remote servers. And to access the necessary servers to do my work, I need to ensure that my IP address is permitted to access them.

Since when I travel, my IP changes often, accessing servers I need for work would have been a problem. But the VPN help me to solve it. I was able to set up a static IP address in the VPN. Hence, when I travel, I have a dedicated static IP address that allows me to access necessary servers regardless of where I am.

All the other tools are also worth describing, and I give them a shot in later posts. But you can always ping me in the comments if you are curious to know more about a specific tool.

Sport and food

I believe sport and food are crucial for a life full of energy, especially for Software Developers. Physical activity, at a minimum, energizes the brain and body and increases creativity and problem-solving skills. Food is the fuel for your brain and body that also impacts overall productivity in life and work.

It is vital to stay on track with sport and food while traveling, as it can negatively impact your productivity and overall well-being.

How I solve it

I have the rule to have a minimum of 3 heavy lifting workouts per week plus additional cardio days. I found that cardio is a handy tool for creativity boost and diffuse mode thinking. Countless ideas appeared in my head during the run that became great solutions for the complex life or work tasks I was working on at that point.

To minimize time spent for gym commute when I choose new apartments whether, in Canada or abroad, I select options nearby the gym.

In the COVID age, it became an uneasy task to have proper workouts as most gyms around the world were closed. To get along with this obstacle, I use resistance bands. The Set of 4 bands work just great for me. There was a learning curve on how to use them properly for full-body workouts. But learning this is a worthwhile time investment.

I decided on my food habits a while ago. I follow a high protein diet, and most of the time, I eat the same food every day. It reduced the enormous amount of the cognitive energy I would otherwise spend deciding: "what I want for lunch today?".

The bulk of my mills consists mainly of meat and cottage cheese. Hence, I search the retailers of chicken and cottage cheese around each time I am in a new place. Usually, there are plenty of them.

Do not get me wrong; I eat all the other food too. But having those two is a bare minimum, and the other food is supplemental. I also take different supplements to compensate lack of a variety of nutrients. 

To control the calorie intake, I use MyFitnessPal. The free version of the app covers all I need. I found that the food database works well for different countries.

I also practice intermittent fasting. And each time I have a long flight, I consider it as an opportunity to fast.

Summary

While writing about all the obstacles I go through each time I want to enjoy a new city or country, for a moment, I catch myself on the thought: "Is it worth the effort?". And it is a fair question.

You probably also under the impression that to fully enjoy the remote-first lifestyle you have to go through is a lot of work.

But like with most things in life, the hardest will be the first time. Then things will get on autopilot. And the enjoyment of the experience of a new place is what will be left. And I hope the experience I shared with you will contribute to it.

You may have heard the quote:

"The only constant in life is change" - Heraclitus

And each time you go through that list of obstacles, you train your "changes" muscle that is important in life. And it definitely worth the effort!