What about your space helps you to be productive?
Interview with Stefan, a founder building a location-independent startup
Quiet! I love working from home because it’s quiet. Oddly enough, though, the hum and loudness of a cafe are also helpful because it’s so loud that I can tune it all out.
It’s the middle bit— idle chatter from people beside you—that really distracts me.
The other thing is that working from home gives me access to my kitchen, which means that I can keep my food costs down and make whatever cool things I want.
Stefan now has total control over his time since leaving the traditional office in early 2019. Hear how his routine is helping him build a solid remote startup.
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Interview with Molood, a CEO who shares how minimalism has improved her remote work experience
Normally I work from places that inspire me and allow me to stay focused for long periods of time. Since my work is rather diverse, I tend to work from different places at different times - that is, when there’s no pandemic.
Usually, I work from nice cafés with beautiful views that also allows me to plug in my computer since I tend to stay in the same café for the whole day. In colder temperatures, I sometimes work from hotel lobbies—some franchises designed their interiors with remote workers in mind. Working from hotel lobbies is great as you always have access to good coffee and you can get much better food than most cafés.
If I have a day that involves lots of meetings, I sometimes work from coworking cafés or rent a conference room in a hotel. It does mean paying a little extra but being able to work in an environment that keeps me productive is really worth it.
Nature mixed with a little bit of comfort is all I need to be productive.
As CEO and Founder of Remote Forever, Molood has made a career in teaching individuals and companies how to work remotely effectively. See how embracing a minimalist lifestyle has caused her to excel.
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Interview with Andrew, co-founder and CEO of Insured Nomads
Since I work remotely, based in Rio de Janeiro much of the year, air conditioning helps my productivity significantly.
Photo of Andrew at his desk 
If we were meant to stay in one place, we would have roots instead of feet. - Rachel Wolchin, entrepreneur
Andrew, co-founder, and CEO of Insured Nomads talks traveling while working, productivity tools, and the best advice he has received.
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Interview with Saibu, an HR content writer for a remote company
So I don’t have a dedicated space in my room where I call “my workspace.” Of course, there’s a table and chair, but I work anywhere in my room.
Thing is, I started remote working without knowing anything about the field and didn’t even know that what I was doing was called remote work. Thus, from the get-go, I have always been my own motivation.
Once I wake up and realize I have something to do, I go get it. Of course, there are tough days, but generally, my room reminds me of what I have to do every single day.
Hear how Saibu, a thriving HR content writer, navigates the complexities—and perks—of working with a remote team from Ghana.
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Interview with Kirsten and Jay-Allen, remote team coaches & collaboration experts
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Dual screens
- Easy Coffee
- An ergonomic chair
Remote team coaches, Kirsten and Jay-Allen, offer three pieces of advice for new remote workers and reveal the one question every remote job seeker should prepare to answer.
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Interview with Marian, a nomadic social media manager and day trader
It helps when a space has the right vibes and gives off good energy. This reason is why I always look for a solid workspace when I arrive in a new city/county. But to be honest, I am not always in a productive mood every day.
Some days, I just want to finish the work and close some deals and go back to bed.
Marian's On-The-Go Workspace
Day trading & virtual assisting has allowed Marian to see the world—in this interview, she lays out her routine and priorities for those thinking of traveling while working.
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Interview with Paul, a remote product designer who has found his zen
It’s a dedicated space, and when I step in and close the door behind me, the room is instantly calming.
It’s the only ‘kid-free zone’ in the house, but I also like to call it my zen zone.
I’ve kept it quite minimal by design —using whites, greys, and wood in the colours and materials. A green lava lamp (that I’ve had since I was a teen) provides a pop of colour and compliments the spider plant.
I have things in here that bring me joy —a couple of U2 records, my guitar, my Sonos speaker. A grey circular rug on the floor helps define the ‘workspace’ while a chair sitting just off the rug is where I can retreat to read, meditate, or jam on the guitar.
There’s a place for everything, so the room remains clutter-free: a pegboard beside the desk to hang my headphones and cables; the desk has storage while I also picked up a TV stand from Ikea, which is now acting as a space for my books. It’s a fine balance in a relatively small space, but it works and helps keep me focused.
The COVID-19 pandemic drove Paul to embrace remote work. See how he has adapted his routine to this new normal, and the one tool that keeps him organized.
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Interview with Tyler, a director of customer success models how to start a remote work career
I love that my main workspace faces exterior light. I get to see the outdoors and it really makes me feel productive.
From networking to land a remote work gig, to building out an exceptional remote work tool stack, Tyler has quickly figured out how to thrive in remote work. See his tips for starting strong.
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Interview with Pilar, director of Virtual Not Distant
My workspace needs to be clear, and it needs to be quiet.
Hear about Pilar's flexible approach to managing Virtual Not Distant and the career-changing advice she received from a friend.
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Interview with Nico, marketer and advocate for remote worker mental health
My home workspace is usually my desk (which is in my bedroom), but I think it's the simple things that help me stay productive: having my water bottle at all times (hydration is super underappreciated), two coffees per day, a clear desk to work on, and a window above my laptop with natural light pouring into the room all day.
Looking up from my laptop to see grass and trees doesn't sound like much, but it's a mood-booster for me.
"I've felt burnout HARD in the past. When it hits, it HITS, and it can be tough to recover." In this interview, Nico shares his strategies for balancing work and life and reveals the key to avoiding burnout.
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