mahabis lifestyle // remote working from silicon bali

It has become a viable option for many people to take a never-ending holiday without giving up their jobs. This new era of digital nomads tend to be freelancers or entrepreneurs, who have the freedom to work from anywhere with a wifi connection – and a great deal of them are starting to flock to Bali.

photo: giorgio montersino 

Previously considered a destination for ‘hippies’ and free thinkers, Bali has become one of the most popular spots in the world for people seeking an alternative place to work. Ubud, in particular, is thriving with the calibre of tech workers that one would expect of Silicon Valley.

More and more people are realising that all that they need to run their business or to do their job is a good internet connection and a laptop.

If you are working from home or in a claustrophobic and expensive solo office space, it isn’t uncommon to feel fed up and unmotivated. Factor in increasing rent, miserable weather conditions, high pollution levels and expensive city living costs, and it is really no surprise that an idyllic Asian island is at the top of the list for relocation destinations.

If a permanent move is daunting, remote working from a tropical destination is also a feasible option for those simply wishing to escape a cold winter for a few months, or for backpackers and travellers who spend a couple of weeks or months in each destination, working as they travel.

photo: unsplash

Why Bali? People dream of having a better work-life balance, and of having more time to enjoy themselves. When you are looking out over rice fields as you work, swimming in the ocean on your lunch breaks and sitting on the beach writing emails, you will wonder why you ever worked in a dull and dismal office back home. Case studies of people who have spent time working in Bali have shown that they feel more productive and more inspired, and you are likely to make just as much money remotely as you would back home, just with much lower living costs. 

With all of this in mind, there are several co-working hubs springing up around Ubud, where digital nomads can work together in one shared space to recreate the community feeling that a lot of people miss when not part of an office environment.

Hubud (“Hub-in-Ubud”) is a large collaborative working space with over 200 people working side by side. A mixture of entrepreneurs, freelancers and tech workers enjoy the community atmosphere, and being able to bounce ideas off one another.

Due to the time differences across the world, particularly with England and America, the hub stays open 24 hours, so members can choose their own working hours. This is another element of the freedom that digital nomads enjoy. Not everyone works their best during nine-to-five; some of us may feel more inspired and creative early in the mornings or late at night. Relocating to the other side of the world allows you the choice of setting your own working hours, adhering to the local time zone or working whenever you please.

photo: remote working, the next web

As Digital Analyst, Mary Meeter observed, we are becoming increasingly reliant on technology and less so on physical possessions. Our documents, media and communications methods can now all be stored on a small laptop that is easy to transport. This “asset-light generation” finds it easier to travel and move around, as they have less physical baggage to carry with them.

So, what are you waiting for? Toy with the idea of packing your laptop and spend the winter working from the side of a pool in Bali.

Hero image, via Giorgio Montersino, also check out Remote Working on The Next Web