How do you stay on task?
Interview with John, an international business writer sharing 15 years of insights
I take breaks when I need them, so when I return to work, I’m motivated to continue.
For over a decade, John has worked as an international business writer. See his insights on the state of remote work, freelancing, and attracting clients who are the right fit.
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Interview with Tammy, founder and CEO of Workplaceless
When I journal every morning, I write down the three most important things I have to do that day. The goal is to get those things done before doing anything else.
I also keep track of my time using a Google Sheet, and keep track of all the tasks I have to do (and my team is working on) in Asana.
Learn how this founder and CEO of a remote work resource and certification program handles the triumphs and trails of location independence.
Read full interview from Interview with Tammy, founder and CEO of Workplaceless.
Interview with Vernon, a freelance technical writer
As I've mentioned before, and I don't mind repeating it, as a freelancer and remote worker lists are your best tool. When building a list, you can organize your entire work schedule for the whole project or the foreseeable future.
You can come up with contingency plans and alternatives long before they become necessary, and if they become required, you can minimize panic and worry because you'll already know what to do should anything go wrong.
Taking your lists further, you can attach deadlines to each list item, essentially turning your list into a schedule. This will help you by forcing you to manage your time and also requiring you to prioritize your tasks as there is never enough time to do everything. By implementing a schedule, you'll find that you get a lot more work done in a lot less time with a lot less stress.
Having said that, another simple tool that keeps me on track is the humble alarm clock. Not just any alarm clock mind you, but specifically the alarm clock on my phone. I label the alarms on my phone for specific purposes, be it waking up and getting out of bed or a reminder to complete some errand.
When I am working, however, I try to take frequent breaks to avoid burnout. For this, I have a Pomodoro Timer. I set it for a very short work period when I start working in the morning and extend it once my mind starts to get into the groove.
Vernon is a freelance software technical writer that uses lists to organize his hectic freelance schedule—see how he maximizes his time throughout the workday.
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Interview with Danielle, an author who found the benefits of coworking
Creating a to-do list in Trello. It's the ONLY way I can prioritize and stay on task. Also, Spotify! Depending on the task, if I need concentration, I will listen to music, and if I need further concentration, I will listen to the white noise playlists they have. It really helps tune everything out.
If not Spotify, I will take the distraction as a sign that I need to take a break and will take a 15-minute walk or something to clear my head and re-focus.
Danielle's remote work journey led her to become an author—see how coworking with other remote workers and digital tools have helped her to fulfill her passion.
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Interview with Alyssa, a copywriter and content strategist
I use time blocking to make sure I'm staying focused on my most critical tasks. If I'm writing or editing, I'll listen to instrumental music. If I'm doing lighter work like marketing or admin, I'll listen to podcasts. I always like to have something to listen to.
“Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.” ― George Eliot
Alyssa has found her rhythm as a freelancer and founder of the blog, Freelancing Flow—see her tips for keeping it all running smoothly.
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Interview with Laurent, an introverted remote worker & engineer
I am an introvert, so meetings are draining to me. Because of that, I initially wanted to have them spread out in my schedule as much as possible.
But I came to realize that I was more productive whenever I had big blocks without meetings.
Now I am trying to pack all my meetings back to back as much as possible in the day. So I end up having a block of meetings, and a block of no meetings. I still feel exhausted after that block of meetings, but I end up being more productive after that since I get a lot of uninterrupted time.
We’re also pushing as much as possible toward an asynchronous communication culture, so nobody feels pressured to respond to chat messages immediately.
That’s one reason we have been using Twist (instead of Slack or Microsoft Teams or others), the notifications control you have are really great. This really helps with staying focused on the task at hand. I can decide to check Twist only when it’s a natural break in my current work.
In this interview, this VP of engineering shares his strategies for managing family time and organizing meetings as an introvert.
Read full interview from Interview with Laurent, an introverted remote worker & engineer.
Interview with Kati, a co-founder shares her tips for juggling multiple side hustles
I have a To-Do list. It's a notebook that I keep with me at all times. If I don't have it, I email myself a "To Do" to add to it when I get back.
I am intrinsically motivated to succeed and get things done.
If I didn't have the To-Do list, I would have a ton of half-finished projects and never get anything finished.
I also allow myself breaks as needed. If I am overly tired, I can take a quick nap. If I can't focus, I can take a walk or watch a movie.
Kati has made a career at using the internet and gig economy to her advantage—see how she successfully manages multiple side hustles and a business.
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Interview with Phil Strazzulla, an entrepreneur enjoying the health benefits of remote work
Sometimes I'll use FocusMate and do 50 min sessions with other remote workers. Other times I'll just set a goal to have a few things done by the end of the day. I find in the mornings and evenings I can be very on point, and so try to book calls and meetings for the afternoons.
A curiosity for remote work led Phil to make it a primary work arrangement. Hear how it has helped to improve his health and impacted his approach to rest.
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Interview with Mindi, a content manager and social media strategist
I use a system based on The ONE Thing to keep myself on task. Every week, I review my priorities and map out the most important tasks to get done that align with my quarterly and annual goals.
Every day, I review my priorities for the week in a spreadsheet (like this one) where I meticulously track my progress on those most important tasks.
I believe in time blocking my calendar with the tasks that matter most, but it's all too easy for other priorities to slip into those slots.
I've discovered that taking a more flexible approach to scheduling tasks and due dates flows better for me than trying to be rigid when something pops up.
In running a household with three kids and a partner, it's critical that I can manage all those responsibilities in addition to what I do as a remote worker.
When I start getting fatigued with work, I will transition to doing some food prep or house cleaning. A little time away from the screen allows me to focus with a fresh brain when I come back to the computer.
A ten-dollar per hour social media gig got Mindi hooked onto remote work—see how she meets her client and business goals and manages time zone differences.
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Interview with Grainne, a professional writer and content marketing manager who works remotely
I set a specific block of time for each task I'm working on, and I always try to focus on one task at a time.
I'm easily distracted so I usually have my phone on silent, and I'll only check emails a few times a day.
I'm usually available on Slack but I'll set myself to "away" if I'm finding it hard to focus and a task requires my full attention.
Grainne's freelance work led to her landing a remote work job—see how she manages distractions and balances her work with Buckets.co and her clients.
Read full interview from Interview with Grainne, a professional writer and content marketing manager who works remotely.