How I Accidentally Became a Remote Worker — And Why I’ll Never Go Back

I didn’t plan this. I didn’t set out to “live the remote life” or sip coffee by the beach with a MacBook. In fact, I had no idea remote work was even a real thing outside of tech bros on Twitter.

It all started when I lost my job during the pandemic. I was working in a local retail store, clocking in and out like everyone else. The shutdown came fast. One day I had a schedule, the next I was told, “We’ll call you when things reopen.” That call never came.

I spent the first few weeks applying to anything. Call centers, warehouses, even a delivery job that I never heard back from. I was frustrated. Scared. Not just for money, but for my future. Then I saw a random tweet — someone bragging about making $300 from writing an article on Medium.

The Day I Sent My First Pitch

I didn’t even know what a pitch was. But I wrote an email, shaky and unsure, to a small tech blog offering to write about “how people are adapting to remote learning.” They didn’t respond. But the second one did.

I was paid $50 via PayPal. I stared at the email in disbelief.

That $50 felt better than a month’s salary. It wasn’t just money. It was proof.

What No One Tells You About Remote Work

It’s not always pretty. I worked from my kitchen table, next to a noisy fridge and a cat that loved walking on my keyboard. I had no fancy desk, no ring light, nothing. But I had time. I had control. I had hope.

It wasn’t long before I landed my second gig. Then a third. I took a short writing course, practiced building a client-friendly portfolio (even though I had only three pieces), and started saying “I’m a freelance writer” without choking on the words.

It reminded me of this story I later shared — about my first 90 days freelancing. If you’ve been there, you know: every new client feels like a miracle. Every deadline missed feels like a crisis.

The Freedom I Didn’t Know I Was Missing

Last year, I traveled for the first time in years. I brought my laptop, worked from hostels and cafes, met people who were doing the same thing. I wasn’t rich — far from it — but I was free.

One night, in a small café in Sarajevo, I finished a blog post, closed my laptop, and realized: I didn’t need to ask anyone for time off. I didn’t need to wait for permission. I was working on my own terms.

What I’d Tell Anyone Starting Now

• You don’t need a degree to freelance remotely. You need proof of work.
• Start small — guest posts, content mills, or even your own blog can be a good launchpad.
• Read stories from others. This post about making my first $500 online is one of my most honest ones.
• Consistency beats talent. Every. Single. Time.

Resources That Helped Me

Here are a few that pushed me forward:

• FreelanceWriting.com — for pitching guides and market lists
• Upwork — my first international client came from here
• AI tools that saved me hours — I literally use them every day now
• Why I created a digital product — another way I scaled income later

Final Thoughts

I still work from home. Some days are chaotic, others are smooth. But I’d never trade it for an office cubicle again. Remote work gave me back my time — and with it, a version of myself I never met when I was working 9 to 5.

And to anyone out there wondering, “Can I do this too?” — yes. Start where you are. Messy, unsure, broke, curious. That’s exactly how I started too.