Comfort, Chaos, and Leadership: A Remote Work Love Story

Let’s get one thing out of the way: I work in sweatpants. And not the trendy, matching-loungewear kind. I mean actual, fuzzy, hoody-up, blanket-over-the-knees gremlin gear. In summer? Shorts, a T-shirt, and bare feet. It’s not cute. It’s not curated. It’s freedom.

Remote work turned me into a goblin. And I’ve never been happier.

My Natural Habitat

I used to sit in traffic for four hours a day. Four. Just to land in an office where I had to make small talk while microwaving oats, freeze under the aircon arctic blast, and wear “business casual” despite being a developer with zero client interaction. It was a soul-sapping, snackless grind.

Now? I have a snack drawer. It’s full of lunchbox-sized treasures: tiny fruit rolls, mini cookies, the kinds of chocolates supposedly “for kids.” But guess what? Adult me deserves joy in 20g packets too.

My setup includes three glorious screens (a fourth is calling…), a standing desk, warm lighting for my weary eyes, and two dogs nearby for emotional support. In winter, the blanket is non-negotiable. I cocoon. I code. I conquer.

The Goblin Advantage

I’ve been a developer for over a decade. My best work never came from whiteboards in cold meeting rooms or being "shoulder tapped" out of deep flow. It came from thinking—real thinking—in quiet, cozy corners of my mind. Remote work gave me the space for that again.

When I started working from home, my focus sharpened. No more drive-by questions when I’m mid-thought. No more context-switching because someone "just wants to pick your brain." I get to think. I get to build smarter. And I have time for life beyond code: cooking, gardening, walking for my mental health (begrudgingly, but I walk). I can grow personally and professionally without sacrificing one for the other.

Leading from the Blanket Fort

These days, I lead dev teams—and the goblin vibes come with me. Not the sweatpants (okay, sometimes), but the empathy, the flexibility, and the deep respect for how people really work.

Remote work has introduced me to brilliant humans across the world, all with different routines, cultures, and definitions of “productive.” It’s pushed me to lead with more curiosity, to adapt my communication, and to embrace that there’s no single “right” way to show up—as long as you show up with care and consistency.

I encourage my team to embrace their own weird. Your work style doesn’t need to mirror mine. Want to code from a hammock? Go for it. Need a post-lunch nap? Honor it. We’re adults. We know how to deliver. And we do it better when we’re comfortable, respected, and a little bit feral.

Final Snack

So here’s to all the remote goblins out there: the barefoot thinkers, the snack hoarders, the hoodie-wearing geniuses who swapped commute stress for deep work and a life they actually like.

I see you. I am you. And we’re thriving.