6 Proven Tips to Stay Productive While Working Remotely
By Loren Ross, Creator of Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Working remotely offers incredible freedom—but let’s be honest, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Distractions, lack of structure, and the temptation of “tomorrow” can seriously impact your output if you’re not careful.
Over the years, I’ve fine-tuned what helps me stay on track. Whether you’re freelancing from a beachside café or just working from home, here are six actionable tips that will help you actually get things done outside the traditional office environment.
You don’t need a strict minute-by-minute calendar, but you do need a framework. A flexible regimen sets the tone for your day and helps you stay mentally prepared.
Here’s what mine looks like:
Wake up and meditate (5 minutes)
Morning routine (shower, etc.)
Journal (5–10 minutes)
Review what should’ve been done yesterday
Assess project statuses and tackle emails
Begin focused work
Hit the gym (between 9:30 and 11:00)
Eat lunch, take a nap (~1 hour), and then back to work with meetings and deep work sessions
Whatever works for you, just aim to establish a reliable rhythm. Over time, it gets easier to align your energy with your schedule.
2. Schedule Meetings During Low-Motivation Hours
Everyone has productivity highs and lows. For me, mornings are golden—but afternoons, especially after a nap, can be rough.
That’s when I schedule meetings. When someone else is counting on me, I’m forced to show up and engage—even if my energy is dipping. If mornings are your struggle zone, try stacking your meetings early. Let others help hold you accountable without even knowing they’re doing it.
3. Act Within 3–5 Seconds
There’s a small window—three to five seconds—between thinking about doing something and talking yourself out of it. Whether it’s rolling out of bed or starting a project, if you don’t act quickly, the delay often becomes a day (or week).
Next time you feel resistance, count down: 3…2…1…go. And do the thing.
4. Don’t Get Trapped in the “Eternal Tomorrow”
One of the sneakiest productivity killers is the promise of tomorrow. You tell yourself, “Tomorrow I’ll crush it,” and you get a little dopamine hit just imagining it. But tomorrow becomes next week, next month…
This mindset might feel good in the moment, but it’s a trap. Recognize the pattern and break it by committing to action today, even in small steps.
5. Promise Deadlines to Other People
Telling yourself you’ll do something by Friday? Easy to ignore. Telling a client or colleague? Way harder to flake.
When others are counting on you, there’s added pressure—and that’s a good thing. Public accountability builds urgency and follow-through.
6. It’s Not a Motivation Problem—It’s a Self-Discipline Problem
This one was a huge mindset shift for me recently: Stop blaming low motivation.
Motivation is fleeting and unreliable. Some days you’ll feel it, some days you won’t. What matters more is self-discipline—the ability to do what needs to be done, regardless of how inspired you feel.
When motivation dips (and it will), don’t ask yourself how to feel better. Just remind yourself: this isn’t about motivation—it’s about discipline.
1 thought on “5 Productivity Tips When Working Remote in 2025”