A Day In The Life Of A Remote Worker: Staying Productive And Relaxed

The number of rate workers has soared visibly in recent years. It went up to 28% by 2023 from 20% in 2020 (Source: Statista report) This shows several people work from home or somewhere else outside the office. Let’s just assume, most of them prefer WFH. Then, what would the life of a remote worker look like? 

How do they manage their professional and personal lives?  If you’ve just scored a remote job, this question can strike. For this, you have to formulate strategies like— having a proper morning routine, setting up your workplace, using working hours effectively, taking short breaks, having a proper lunch, and ensuring a smooth wind-down.  

Doing all these will—

• Prevent burnout
• Enrich focus
• Boost creativity
• Increase productivity
• Promote well-being 
• Improve work-life balance

Morning Routine

The time you have the freshest mind. 

Start With a Healthy Breakfast 

A healthy breakfast helps clear up the bits of drowsiness and preps you for the day. So, make sure to have meals rich in nutrition. Different types of nutrients work to strengthen your nervous system. The result is— a boost in energy and focus. 

Among them, the qualifying nutrients are– 

• Protein.
• Fiber.
• Vitamins (A, C, and D).
• Calcium.
• Magnesium.
• Iron.

Try these out to get access to these nutrients. 

Here’s a little compilation of some breakfast suggestions—

Exercising and Stretching 

Any exercise, even stretching, helps promote your muscle tone and make you stay active. Working out brings you two big perks that you need as a remote worker.

• Improvement in brain health to stay focused and productive. (NCBI 2018)

• A big boost in energy for your body to use throughout the day. (NCBI 2022) 

Although you can work out anytime, the best is considered early in the morning. 

The key benefits of morning exercise are—

• It accelerates metabolism to help burn calories and charge you up. 
• It releases endorphins, which improve mood and reduce stress.
• It enhances mental clarity and concentration throughout the day.
• It brings consistency and discipline. 

Simple Exercise and Stretching Routines

• Start with a gentle 5-minute warm-up to prep your muscles and body.
• Walk for 15-30 minutes at an average pace.
• Stretch your legs and arms for 30 seconds. 
• Tilt your head to both sides for a neck stretch for 30 seconds.
• Do shoulder stretches by pulling one arm across your chest. Hold for 30 seconds. 
• Now, press one foot against a wall. Then, lean forward to stretch the calf muscle. 

Setting Up Your Workplace

Most remote workers tend to work from home. Some also get up, go outside, and find a chilled-out cafe to work. Wherever you work, make sure it’s quiet and comfortable. Surrounding noises, when they’re loud can end up distracting you. So, places with all the hustle and bustle is a big NO. Create an ergonomic and distraction-free environment 

Choose the right spot: This means finding a place to work with focus and maximize productivity. It should be quiet and free of surrounding noise. Being a remote worker, you may prefer working in your room. That’s normal. Make sure to create a calming environment.You can do that through natural lighting and soft furnishings. But what if your room is next to a busy main road? 

In that case— close all the windows. Use soundproof glass panes. Fit carpets since hard floors magnify the noise. Additionally, consider AC Installation Lakewood CO, to ensure a comfortable temperature, helping you stay focused and productive throughout the day. Not only will it help you de-stress but also boost productivity.  Ergonomic Workspace: Set up your workspace with the proper stuff. Make sure the chair and desk are of good quality. 

Don’t have one? Invest in ergonomically designed furniture. Make sure they provide proper support for your posture. This way, you won’t feel uncomfortable and distracted. Besides, proper lighting is important too. Because it’s morning, you can opt for natural lighting. 

However, if it’s inadequate, use quality desk lighting to prevent eye strain. You can also use good room lights. Opt for warm white light since it’s easy on the eyes but enough to let you work comfortably. Declutter and Organize: Try to declutter the mess because it can affect your remote work environment. Limit all the knick-knacks and personal items. Make sure your desk is clean and minimalistic. It’ll help you stay focused. 

Invest in a good cable organizer since there will be cables and cords that can get tangled. Use that to keep it neat. Essential tools and equipment for remote work. Let's give you a checklist of the stuff needed for remote work. Note that there’s no one-size-fits-all rule. You can adjust them as per your needs. 

For remote work, you may need—

• Laptop or desktop. 
• Monitor, keyboard, mouse
• Speakers and webcam. 
• Steady internet (25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload speed)
• Authentic operating system, work-related software, and applications. 
• External hard drive, cloud storage, or other form of storage
• Printer and scanner
• Surge protector

Planning Your Day

Now, jot down what work you have. A to-do list can be a powerful tool to help you organize things. With this, you can—

• Keep track of tasks.
• Set Priorities.
• Stay focused.
• Check what needs more attention.
• Avoid double or overwork.
• Prevent essential tasks from slipping.

Time Management Techniques

Want to utilize your time properly? Try these out!

Pomodoro Technique: This means working in short bursts! Allocate 25 minutes for tasks, then a 5-minute power break. It’ll help you maintain focus and productivity. Plus, it prevents burnout and overstress. 

After 4 Pomodoros, take a longer break. Around 15 to 30 minutes will suffice. 

Time Blocking: Schedule specific blocks of time depending on the tasks. This way, you can allocate time effectively and avoid the chance of overlapping and duplication. 

You can have one block for emails, one for writing, one for researching, and one for meetings. 

Working Hours

Most remote work offers flexibility as long as it’s not a remote 9-5 job. 

No matter what, you must keep working hours in mind and take steps accordingly. Now, how can you bring out the best at work? 

Staying Focused

Remote work leaves a small door that brings distractions. To shoo them away, use app blockers. Some app blockers might come built-in on your phone. If yours don’t have, install reliable high-rated applications from the App Store or Play Store. These app blockers work to restrict access to distracting platforms, sites, and social media. You need to turn them on during work hours. 

A survey reveals that “remote employees waste 67% of their workweek on non-work tasks”. This mostly happens when they get distracted. Besides app blockers, dedicate a workspace separate from where you relax or sleep. This will send a signal to your brain telling it that it’s time to work. Make sure you practice meditation and mindfulness in between work periods. This will boost your concentration. Start with short sessions of deep meditation or breathing exercises. For instance, take a 5-minute break for deep breathing after every 1 hour of work. This will relax your mind and recharge you to work again. 

Effective Communication 

Just because it’s remote doesn’t mean you’re out of a communication network. It’s one of the key factors of remote work. Why? Because this helps you avoid misunderstandings. In a remote work environment, team members often work from different time zones. They juggle competing priorities. All these make it hard to ensure everyone is on the same page. 

Hence, effective communication is important. With this, you can—

• Clearly understand what your tasks and project goals are. 
• Maintain strong, long-lasting relationships at all levels of an organization despite working remotely. 

To maximize efficiency in communication, opt for tools like Slack and Zoom. 

However, the combined benefits are— 

• Streamline communication among teammates. 

• Make remote communication easy. 

• Members can access relevant information and contribute to discussions.

• Improve connectivity and build stronger bonds.

Best practices for virtual meetings and collaboration

• Have an outline for topics you’re going to discuss with your team. 
• Share the outline before the virtual meeting. This will help keep the discussion focused. 
• Choose a stable platform. Make sure all of your teammates have the right software and tech. 
• Keep the meeting for around 45 minutes. This ensures maximum engagement. 
• Motivate your team and clear the stage for everyone to participate. Make sure everyone gets a chance to contribute. 
• Dress well. Join the virtual meeting on time. 
• Send a note and summary of key points and action items after the meeting. 

Task Management

Are you bad at multitasking? Then learn the art of task management. It’s not hard. All you need is— a tool, meaning a technology. 

Different Project management software brings you many benefits.

• Help organize multiple tasks.
• Progress tracking.
• Increased prioritization.
• Deadline setting and monitoring. 
• Improved productivity.
• Better collaboration within teams.
• Reduced errors.
• Prevention of overlapping and duplication.
• More effective use of resources.

PWC report reveals that such tools can improve overall productivity by 15-20%. 

Breaks and Downtime

Nonstop staring at your screen and working affects your health and productivity. 

So, you must take breaks regularly. Both your physical and mental health need them. Such breaks are important because—

• Fuel energy.
• Reduce stress.
• Boost creativity.
• Better concentration.
• Decrease burnout.

Maintain work-life balance. 

You can take short breaks every 60-90 minutes. This will improve your focus. 

Plus, you can do other work as well to recharge your energy. 

• Have a 10-minute walk to clear your mind.

• Have a 15-minute break to read and relax. 

All these activities will give you a mental reset.

Note that— downtime is not wasted time.

It’s like an investment in your well-being and productivity.

Afternoon Productivity Boost

A period of taking a break, having some good lunch, and getting back to work. 

Healthy Lunch Break

Meals can make or break your energy and creativity. For this, you must have a nutritious lunch during your break. This can make a big difference in how you feel and work in the afternoon. 

Because you’re supposed to be home, consider cooking quick and healthy meals. 

The lunch should be packed with—

• Lean protein.
• Whole grains.
• Plenty of veggies.

Not sure what to pick? Try them out then since they help boost energy and productivity.

• Grilled chicken salad.
• Veggie-packed wrap.
• Beef rice bowls
• Cilantro lime rice shrimp bowl
• Creamy pesto & kale pasta
• Gluten-free storecupboard fishcakes
• Veggie-loaded flatbread

Post-Lunch Slump Solutions

A lunch may make you feel sluggish. That’s common! 

The food may take some time to work and charge you up. However, you can accelerate the function of nutrition and beat the post-lunch slump. How? Here are some strategies—

• Take a short power nap.

• Relax your mind by reading books or doing creative activities. 

• Go out for a quick walk.

• Try out a light exercise (stretch or running).

This can get your blood pumping, which increases oxygen, nutrition, and blood flow to different nervous systems. Consequently, it helps boost your metabolism and thinking process. 

Maintain Hydration and Healthy Snacks

Must stay hydrated. This will work to keep your energy up. 

Keep a water bottle at your desk. Take sips once in a while. You can also drink juice and detox water. 

Besides, have some healthy snacks like— nuts, fruits, and yogurt. These will also help keep your energy steady. 

Avoid heavy snacks or sweets. They are the killer of your energy and productivity.  

Continuing Momentum 

By this time, you may feel charged up. However, it’s wise to do some tricks to keep the energy and productivity rolling in the afternoon. 

Some techniques for maintaining afternoon productivity are—

• Do office chair yoga

• Try a Walking Meeting

• Speak with a Mentor or Mastermind Group

• Set short-term goals and reward yourself as you hit them 

• Break your tasks into smaller chunks and tackle them one by one.

Evening Wind-Down

Now you’re on the way to go offline. 

Wrapping Up Your Work

Don’t rush. Instead, focus on ending your work smoothly.

Some strategies are—

• Make a report of all the tasks and activities you did all day long. 

• Create a quick to-do list for tomorrow. 

• Tidy up your workplace.

Not just that! Set clear boundaries between work and personal time. 

Because you’re working remotely, chances are high that— you’ll end up taking more time to complete a task. 

Try to wrap it up within working hours. Don’t carry the stress and burden of tasks after work. 

Avoid checking emails and messages related to work. Because once you do that, the stress will linger till the next day. This can affect your health and work. 

So, separate work and personal life. It’ll help you relax and recharge.

Relaxation Techniques

Unwinding after work is like a golden key to a good evening. Try these out to de-stress and enjoy your evening. 

Activities

• Go for a walk.
• Enjoy a warm bath or shower.
• Bond with families and friends 
• Engage in hobbies. 
• Listen to music.
• Read a book
• Try a good vape like JUUL for relaxation. 
• Savor a relaxing juice. 
• Practice mindfulness and meditation.
• Have comfortable evening snacks. 

A digital detox is also important!

You’ve already given a whole 9-5 to the digital world. Now, turn off the screens and enjoy some tech-free time.

Disconnect and focus on yourself! It’s a must for a restful evening.

Preparing For the Next Day

Don’t call it a night right now. 

Pause for a while. Review what goals or milestones you’ve achieved today. Big or small— doesn’t matter— celebrate your wins!

Treat yourself with— good food, soft music, and nice friends. 

After the party, think about what’s on your plate for tomorrow. 

Set clear goals for the next day. This will help you feel organized and keep you from overwork. 

Don’t stress yourself! 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How Can I Stay Productive While Working From Home?

Mix up some strategies for that. Set a routine. Create a dedicated workspace. Take short breaks. Use productivity tools. With these, you can stay productive while working from home.

What Are The Best Ways To Manage Remote Work Stress?

Manage remote work stress with these easy methods. Take a break for 5-10 minutes. Practice relaxation techniques. Talk to friends or teammates. 

How Do I Create A Comfortable And Productive Workspace At Home?

You need to make some changes. Buy an ergonomic chair and table. Keep your space tidy. Use project management tools. That’s how you create a comfy yet productive workspace at home. 

What Are Some Healthy Snack Options For Remote Workers?

Go for fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, and veggie sticks. All these can be healthy snacks for remote workers. 

How Can I Effectively Communicate With My Team While Working Remotely?

Send clear and concise messages. Schedule regular check-ins. Leverage video calls for important discussions. Use tools like Slack and Zoom for effective communication when working remotely. 

What Are Some Activities To Unwind After A Workday?

Try reading a book, going for a walk, meditating, practicing a hobby, or vaping a good puff to unwind after a work day. 

Work Remotely While Staying Productive and Relaxed

It’s okay if you mess things up during the initial weeks. Take baby steps and celebrate small victories. 

Try to–

• Focus on minimizing distractions

• Dedicate a fixed working spot

• Use working hours effectively

• Use effective communication online

• Manage tasks 

Remember to take short breaks to recharge your batteries. After you’re done, avoid carrying work stress when you switch to your personal life. 

Adapting these practices can help you have a remote work routine that enhances your efficiency and well-being.

Related Article:

• Homebound Hustle: Navigating Lifestyle Changes in Remote Work Transition