What does your workday routine look like?

Question: What does your workday routine look like? Read answers from remote workers to learn.

Interview with Shivani, a remote content writer who shares lessons learned

I start my day by checking Todoist to see what the day’s tasks are. Then I check email to see if anything urgent has come in overnight that needs to be added to the day (which is rare).

I try to get smaller tasks done first. I know that’s considered unwise, and you should finish the most important tasks first, but if I leave a bunch of tasks incomplete, I’ll start stressing about getting them done that day.

I’m usually done with breakfast, the gym, and these smaller tasks by 11-11:30 a.m., and then I work on the bigger tasks — research, writing, editing, creating strategy… the things that are not admin related and require deep work. I take a half-hour lunch break when I get hungry, and then I work until 6:30-7 p.m. when I call it a day.

This is a typical day, but the beauty of working remotely is that it isn’t set in stone. If deadlines allow, I can meet a friend for lunch or coffee, go to the gym later in the day if I woke up late. I love the flexibility of it.

Shivani provides all you need to know about making remote work...work. She shares tips on finding the best remote work opportunity and thriving once you get it.

Read full interview from Interview with Shivani, a remote content writer who shares lessons learned.


Interview with Stefan, a founder building a location-independent startup

  • 7:30 to 8 am - wake up, scroll a bit of social, maybe check email
  • 8:30 to 9 am - emailing, setting key priorities for the day
  • 9 am to 1 pm - working, calls, or meetings
  • 1 to 2:30 pm - lunch, resetting priorities, social media updating
  • 2:30 to 5 or 6 pm - continue work, calls, or meetings
  • 6 to 8 pm - dinner, socialize with my partner
  • 8 to 9 pm - sometimes more work
  • 9 to 11 pm - socialize with partner, tv
  • 11 to 12 am - getting ready / bed

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.

Read full interview from Interview with Stefan, a founder building a location-independent startup .


Interview with Molood, a CEO who shares how minimalism has improved her remote work experience

The beauty of my work life is that almost no two days look the same. I also live a minimalist life, so first, let me tell you how I have simplified my life:

  • 1- I own three pairs of shoes: Daily shoes, running shoes, winter boots.
  • 2- I own three dresses, two pairs of pants and three tops, one winter jacket, a hat and one pair of gloves. This minimal wardrobe saves me a ton of time thinking about what to wear every day.
  • 3- I eat only 4 types of meals. When I eat out, I get food with the same ingredients. I eat the same breakfast every single day, and my lunch and dinners are roughly the same food. I have discovered that I do not need much diversity in food as long as I’m getting all the nutrients my body needs. I do not eat sugar, bread, rice, pasta, or other heavy carbohydrates. I eat lentils and beans and other slow carbohydrates instead.
  • 4- I don’t own or use most kitchen appliances that people claim they are dependent on. All I use is a stove, a saucepan, a frying pan, and cutlery.
  • 5- All my belongings (except for my books) can fit into a suitcase, and that is the measure of my happiness. Once I have more clutter in my life, I feel a certain level of anxiety, and I would immediately want to make a bag of stuff I no longer need and donate them.
  • 6- I usually buy the best quality clothes, electronics, or other materials so that they would last a very long time and that I do not need to think about buying new “things” all the time.

The simplicity I have created in my life allows me to spend most of my time creating rather than consuming.

I wake up at 6:30-7:00, boil some water, and some eggs. While the eggs are getting ready, I take a shower and put on my clothes. Once I’m done, the water for coffee is ready, and I have my breakfast. I then either have a 30-minute yoga session (with an online teacher) or sit quietly and read.

Then I get up, clean the dishes, and while I’m doing that, I also prepare breakfast for my family. Then I set the breakfast table and leave home. I find my café or hotel of the day and start working.

Usually, my day consists of a variety of tasks. If I’m working with a corporation as a consultant on that day, my 9 to 5 is dedicated to supporting them and them only. If it’s a day off from corporate consulting, I could be writing, editing videos, managing the work at Remote Forever, writing emails, answering queries, or even creating new content.

I take a break for lunch and go for a walk. I sometimes watch a TV series while I eat or just browse social media.

After my 9-5 with a client is over (or my otherwise workday is finished), I spend about an hour wrapping up my day and preparing for the following day. I then choose to either work out at a gym or go for a long walk. Sometimes this is 45 minutes, and sometimes it can be up to 2 hours.

When I’m back at home, I simply warm up dinner (I cook once a week on Sundays and prepare all the meals for the week so I do not need to think or wonder what to eat every day.) and catch up with my family or friends.

I often have long chats or even video calls with my siblings, parents, other relatives, or close friends who all live in different parts of the world. That is how I stay close and connected with people I care about. I then wind down with some reading in bed.

Of course, this is the normal daily routine. Sometimes as I know many entrepreneurs reading this can relate to, there is work that pops up out of the blue and has a short deadline, which means I would need to work longer hours to make the deadline. This, however, has become less and less after I hired a Virtual Assistant (VA).

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.

Read full interview from Interview with Molood, a CEO who shares how minimalism has improved her remote work experience.


Interview with Andrew, co-founder and CEO of Insured Nomads

  • Coffee and calming. 5:30-6:00
  • Time with my wife. 6:00-6:30
  • Breakfast 6:30-6:45
  • Meditation/quiet time. 6:45-7:15
  • Schedule review 7:15-7:30
  • Reading 7:30-8:15
  • Writing 8:15-8:45
  • Snack break 8:45
  • Client responses 9:30-10:30
  • Project management 10:30-12:00
  • Product development 12:00-1:00
  • Lunch 1:00-1:30
  • Calls: 1:30-4:00
  • Family time: 4:00-5:30
  • Finalize work: 5:30-6:30

Andrew, co-founder, and CEO of Insured Nomads talks traveling while working, productivity tools, and the best advice he has received.

Read full interview from Interview with Andrew, co-founder and CEO of Insured Nomads.


Interview with Kirsten and Jay-Allen, remote team coaches & collaboration experts

It’s different every day. Some days might be full of meetings, and other days we might be planning a workshop. Some days we might go out for breakfast and work really late that night. Other days we might start working and responding to messages with coffee in bed as we wake up.

One thing we don’t have to do is sit in traffic.

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.

Read full interview from Interview with Kirsten and Jay-Allen, remote team coaches & collaboration experts.


Interview with Marian, a nomadic social media manager and day trader

I love it to share my routine, I normally wake up very early, between 5:00 am, and 5:45 am.

Before I get out of my bed, I like to meditate and visualize for ten minutes. I then do my morning stretch and cardio workout at home.

After these activities, I head to the bathroom, drink coffee, have breakfast, and then I start to schedule my time. I write my to-do list, look at the news for trading information, read, analyze the market, and look for my daily opportunity.

At 8:30 am to 9:00 am, I start my work outside or head to my indoor workspace. From there, I start my social media work and keep at it until lunchtime.

Once I finish my work after lunch, I like to go out and discover the city I am in, or head to the gym.

In the evening, I start trading until 1:00 am.

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.

Read full interview from Interview with Marian, a nomadic social media manager and day trader.


Interview with Saibu, an HR content writer for a remote company

I usually start work in the morning, when I check my tasks for the day. Depending on the urgency, I divide the tasks into two – work on the first ones, take a break, and come back later to finish the rest. I work in two sprints, but not always.

Hear how Saibu, a thriving HR content writer, navigates the complexities—and perks—of working with a remote team from Ghana.

Read full interview from Interview with Saibu, an HR content writer for a remote company.


Interview with Tyler, a director of customer success models how to start a remote work career

I get up early before my children and work 60-90 minutes before they wake up. Then, I cook breakfast for our whole crew (six family members); these are some of my most productive work times.

Then we all go our separate ways to school, work, etc., but I usually workout following breakfast. After showering and putting on my work clothes, I usually knock out smaller tasks and take any meetings just before or just after lunch.

I also really enjoy the opportunity to greet my children home from school in the afternoon. Maybe I'm weird, but I put everything I am intending to do in my calendar as an event. Future me often thanks past me all the time for taking the time to decide what I am doing when.

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.

Read full interview from Interview with Tyler, a director of customer success models how to start a remote work career.


Interview with Pilar, director of Virtual Not Distant

So, one of the things I do is I work at the coworking space on Saturday mornings when there is no one. Also, I really don't have much of a routine.

The only routine is that I wake up at the same time every day and have breakfast with my husband while watching a sitcom, which lasts about 20 minutes.

We have a long breakfast with coffee, and that is the only routine I have.

Hear about Pilar's flexible approach to managing Virtual Not Distant and the career-changing advice she received from a friend.

Read full interview from Interview with Pilar, director of Virtual Not Distant .


Interview with Nico, marketer and advocate for remote worker mental health

Social distancing routine: I typically wake up around 8 am, have breakfast and coffee, read for 15 minutes, then play some morning catch-up.

Since most of my team is based in England or Romania, they're wrapping up their workdays as mine is just beginning. That means my mornings are typically filled with two to three meetings or brief catch-up calls.

Around noon, I'll have lunch with my wife, watch a show (or do something besides work), and get back to work in the early afternoon. I'll sprinkle in breaks throughout the afternoon and typically finish my day around 6:30 or 7 pm.

Normal routine: Wake up around the same time, head to Brave Haus, work there until about 3 pm, head home, and work another hour or two until dinner.

"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.

Read full interview from Interview with Nico, marketer and advocate for remote worker mental health.

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