Remote living with a twist: Niki in Bali

The Indonesian island of Bali is known for its dazzling white beaches, crystal-clear water, and for the next six months, it will be home to our colleague Niki. Niki will be enjoying the island's many attractions for 185 days while still working for LGX.

While many executive suites in Germany still fear the specter of "home office," we took the plunge and sent Niki to the sea, some 12,000 kilometers away. In this interview, she tells you about her journey there, the challenges of remote work, and how she broke down traditional German thought patterns.

Dear Niki, what brought you to Bali of all places?

I'd had the desire to spend an extended period of time abroad since I was younger: to escape the daily grind, see and experience new things, and be more or less on my own – knowing full well that this could also be challenging. Unfortunately, after finally summoning up my courage in 2020, the Corona pandemic thwarted my plans.

The topic was brought back to my attention by none other than our board member Axel, who shared articles with us last year about "work nomads" in Bali – and that really stuck with me. This led to research on remote work, the various destinations suitable for it, and it quickly became clear: Bali was the place – not least because of its largely ideal infrastructure, but also because of its beauty and the fact that it was a corner of the world I hadn't yet explored.

What did it take to get this request approved at LGX?

Not that much at all: When I approached Axel and Christoph with the idea, they were absolutely open to it – provided, of course, that my daily work continued “as usual”.

Since we work via a virtual desktop, the basic requirements were already in place. For other processes that can only be done on-site, such as processing mail, printing and scanning documents, and so on, I receive active support from the entire team – especially from my dear colleague Yvonne, but also from Axel and Christoph.

The support and encouragement make me incredibly happy and grateful – from then on, all it took was a little bit of courage to actually make it happen. I would like to thank Axel, Christoph, and the entire LGX team for making this wonderful and unique experience possible!

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What does your typical workday look like and what are the challenges of working from the other side of the world?

Depending on where I am, I either work from my accommodation or ride my rented scooter to a co-working space. Currently, I'm in Sanur: I like to work in a co-working café within walking distance, which offers good coffee, chilled coconut, and a direct view of the beach and the turquoise sea.

Since we are a globally operating logistics company, the 7-hour time difference is hardly a problem – I can easily adjust my work schedule accordingly, for example, by working ahead or behind German time. I handle this very flexibly, which is why meetings aren't difficult either: while they usually take place at midday in Germany, I simply join them in the afternoon or early evening from Bali. I can be reached via the usual channels: email, phone, or video call using Microsoft Teams.

Finding accommodation with stable Wi-Fi can sometimes be a challenge. Especially in less touristy areas or where co-working spaces are scarce, you sometimes have to search more thoroughly. But in a pinch, my mobile hotspot will do.

What used to stress me out at the beginning of my "journey" hardly bothers me anymore.

Does this "cultural change" also affect your mindset or your way of working?

Absolutely! The locals' zest for life and relaxed manner rub off on me and even make me feel humble: What stressed me out at the beginning of my "journey" hardly bothers me anymore – so it's becoming increasingly easier for me to keep a cool head even in more strenuous situations.

The various circumstances are forcing me to adopt a more flexible way of working. And it definitely takes time to break out of the routines and thought patterns I've established at home. At the same time, however, this creates a lot of space for new things, and I very much hope to maintain and further develop this composure and increased flexibility.

And of course, my after-work rituals are different here than in Germany: After work, I try to discover a beautiful place as often as possible to enjoy the sunset with a cold beer, a fresh coconut or good food – relaxing, beautiful and simply priceless.

Last question, then we'll let you enjoy the island again: What are you most looking forward to after your return to Germany?

Besides our dark, fragrant bread, I do miss the autumn colors of the leaves. But of course, the wonderful colors of the sunrises and sunsets, the sea, and its colorful underwater world more than make up for it.

Aside from my family and friends, I really miss spending time with my colleagues at the office – especially those funny moments with lots of silly ideas that always make us laugh. I'm really looking forward to that – as well as our internal Rosé Monday! 😉