So you’ve seen the reels. A perfectly curated frame of someone typing away on a MacBook while sitting on a wooden deck, misty mountains in the backdrop, a steaming mug of coffee by the side, and maybe a cute dog snoozing nearby. Work from anywhere! they said. Chase freedom! they said. But let me hit you with the truth, remote work in the mountains is equal parts dreamy and disastrous.
Let’s unpack the fantasy vs. reality, shall we?
The Romance: Pinterest-Core Aesthetic
- You wake up to golden sunbeams slicing through pine trees.
- No traffic honks, no office gossip, just birds and the smell of chai.
- You finish work early, go for a sunset trek, post a smug Instagram story captioned “office for the day ”.
- In theory, your mental health blooms. Your skin clears. You finally become that person.
Sounds like therapy on a budget, right?
The Reality: WiFi Will Betray You
The moment you join that “urgent” Zoom call, the network vanishes like your salary on Zomato orders. You’ll be waving your phone in the air, praying for a single bar of 4G. Bonus points if your boss freezes mid-sentence with that “you’re doomed” face.
And don’t even get me started on electricity cuts. Mountains are not built for your 24x7 laptop addiction.
The Weather Is Moodier Than Your Ex
Sunny mornings? Sure. By afternoon, it’s raining. By night, it’s cold enough to question every life choice. You’re typing with numb fingers, bundled in three sweaters, wondering why you didn’t just stay in your AC room in the city.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
- Mountain “homestays” look rustic online but come with questionable plumbing.
- Groceries? Limited. Food delivery? LOL.
- And when you get sick (because you will), the nearest clinic is 30 winding kilometers away.
The Escape You Actually Crave
Yet, despite all this, there’s something magnetic about it. You realize how loud the city is only after a week of silence. Your mind slows down. Evenings become about watching clouds drift, not doomscrolling.
Maybe it’s not about being productive in the mountains. Maybe it’s about learning to pause.
So… Romantic or Overrated?
It’s both. It’s dreamy enough to heal you, but overrated if you think it’s a LinkedIn-worthy life hack. Remote work in the mountains isn’t for chasing deadlines, it’s for chasing yourself.
Would I do it again? Yes. Would I recommend it for a Monday-to-Friday grind? Hard no. Pack your bags, but pack your expectations too. Your turn, would you trade stable WiFi for starry skies? Or are you team “give me my urban chaos with Swiggy and 5G”?