How far away can you go before working remotely starts to get difficult? You might have read stories of entire companies and startups spending the winter in faraway places like Bali. So, spending 6 months in Barcelona shouldn’t be a problem (or so I thought). Read all about Yahya, who worked remotely from Barcelona for 6 months.

In 2022, from March till September, I lived in Barcelona, right behind the famous Sagrada Familia. Temperatures didn’t dip below 14 degrees Celsius, and the one time it did rain in June, I walked over the Passeig de Gracia, through the thick mediterranean shower, with a smile on my face. I had almost forgotten what it was like to get wet from the rain. You can probably imagine what a great time I had in the Spanish culture and climate. I will share some of those experiences in this blog.

I am a true nerd. I like to have the right equipment working as optimally as possible in my workspace. That is why it felt like a hurdle to leave my familiar (home) office. The solution: packing the whole home set-up into my suitcase. I did not regret it for a second! A pleasant workspace is a true must. Adding optic fiber internet (300mbps) to the mix for €22,- a month meant my workspace was superb. Besides, co-working spaces in Barcelona are quite affordable too. Technically speaking, there was nothing standing in my way to be productive under the Spanish sun.

But the hybrid meetings formed more of an obstacle sometimes, as I was calling in digitally, whilst the rest of the team gathered physically. As soon as more than one person started talking, I was done for. Details were often lost on me, and having digital drinks afterwards was fun for all of five minutes. The distance is not always pleasant, but going to bars in Barcelona worked wonders in easing the pain. It was fine, all things considered. I didn’t fall behind on work because of working remotely a single time. But it is not optimal either. You win some, you lose some.  ;)

What do you do when your project enters a challenging phase? Is long distance calling and remote working still viable then? When you’re in Bali, the travel time instantly complicates things. Barcelona proved to be easier in that regard, as I could return to the Netherlands in no-time. I had to do this twice. There were some restrictions to staying in a foreign country, one of them being the necessity to be relatively close-by in case of emergency. This too went smoothly and in good consultation. It was pleasant to be physically present in critical periods. 

Meanwhile, Incentro has set up guidelines regarding remote working. They contain clear and agreeable possibilities. In my opinion everybody working at Incentro should be able to leave for three months or more, regardless of their role. Though I must add that this will probably be easier for some - developers for instance - than for somebody like me, who has an active, vocal role in process management. 

Hotspots in Barcelona

Are you curious about all the hotspots in Barcelona? Of course, like a true nerd, I built a website with all the tips and tricks, walking routes and my favorite restaurants. www.myabroad.nl/barcelona

  • Think about it, discuss it, plan it, and most of all, go for it! 

  • Make sure you have an optimal workspace. Check your internet options in advance, and get the gear you need to work well. 

  • Discuss it well with your team and the client beforehand, make sure you have a WoW that works for everyone. 

  • Discuss the concept of hybrid working. I basically recommend this even if you don't work remotely, hybrid meetings have different dynamics.

  • If you are going away for more than 3 months, try to schedule a time or two in advance to come back for a week or so.

  • Make clear arrangements when you should return.