The Illusion of Endless Freedom

When I first started working remotely, I thought I had hacked the system. No morning commute, no awkward small talk in the office kitchen, and the ability to work in sweatpants while sipping overpriced coffee in a foreign café—what more could you want? From my home base in Brooklyn, NY, the world opened up to me in a new way. I could work from anywhere. And for a while, it felt like I had unlocked a kind of freedom most people only dream about.

But here’s the truth: freedom without structure can become a trap. It’s easy to romanticize remote work, but the reality is that staying productive without the boundaries of a traditional office takes intention, discipline, and a lot of trial and error.

Productivity Isn’t About Working More

One of the first mistakes I made was thinking productivity meant being “on” all the time. When your workspace is also your living room (or a hotel room, or a beachside Airbnb), it’s hard to draw a clear line between work and life. I would find myself answering emails at 11 p.m., constantly checking Slack, or “just finishing one more thing” during what was supposed to be my weekend.

Eventually, I burned out. I wasn’t doing better work—I was just working more hours. That’s when I realized remote productivity isn’t about squeezing the most out of every moment. It’s about knowing when to work and when to stop.

I had to ask myself: What does a truly productive day look like? For me, it’s one where I’m focused when I need to be, and free when I don’t. That means carving out work time—and protecting my personal time just as fiercely.

What Actually Works

After a few years of trial, error, and a lot of caffeine, I’ve learned what actually helps me stay productive in a remote setup. And none of it involves “hustling harder.” The first thing that works? Routine. I used to resist structure because I thought it was the enemy of flexibility. But I’ve come to see it as a support system. My mornings usually start with a walk around my Brooklyn neighborhood, followed by coffee and a focused work sprint. I batch similar tasks together so I’m not switching contexts all day. And I give myself clear start and stop times.

Another thing that helps is creating a dedicated workspace. Even when I’m traveling, I try to separate “work space” from “rest space.” At home, I have a small but functional desk setup that signals to my brain: this is where focus happens. When I work from the road, I’ll rearrange a hotel desk or find a quiet café corner to recreate that mental boundary.

Lastly, I’ve learned the power of saying “no.” Just because I can take a call at 10 p.m. with a client in another time zone doesn’t mean I should. Remote work gives you the freedom to shape your schedule—but it’s up to you to defend it.

What Doesn’t Work

There are also plenty of things I’ve tried that don’t work. One of the big ones? Multitasking. When you’re working from home—or from a beach in Thailand—it’s tempting to think you can answer emails, watch a YouTube video, and prep lunch all at the same time. But productivity research (and my own messy experience) confirms: multitasking just makes everything take longer.

Another trap is pretending you’re available 24/7. Especially if you’re working with clients or teams across time zones, there’s this pressure to be “always on.” At first, it might feel like you’re being helpful or proving your worth. But in the long run, it just trains people to expect you to have no boundaries.

Also? Don’t underestimate the damage of bad Wi-Fi. It sounds small, but if you’re constantly dropping off calls or unable to upload files, your work suffers. Remote productivity requires solid infrastructure. If you’re going to live that laptop-lifestyle, invest in decent tools—noise-canceling headphones, a portable charger, and reliable backup internet options go a long way.

Lessons I’m Still Learning

Remote productivity is not a box you check—it’s a moving target. Life changes, work changes, and so does your energy. I’ve learned to pay attention to my natural rhythms. Some days I’m laser-focused, others I need to take a walk to reset. Flexibility is the gift of remote work—but so is self-awareness.

Being based in Brooklyn helps anchor me. When I’m not traveling, I return to familiar routines, favorite coffee shops, and a local coworking space where I sometimes go when I’m feeling too isolated. That sense of home base is important. It reminds me that remote work doesn’t have to mean being adrift—it can mean being intentionally unanchored, but still grounded.

There’s no single formula for remote productivity. What works for me—routine, boundaries, intentional space—might look different for you. But here’s the one thing I know for sure: productivity isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing the right things, at the right times, in a way that supports your energy and your goals.

Remote work has changed my life in the best ways, but not because it made me work harder. It forced me to work smarter, live more consciously, and figure out what actually moves the needle.

Wherever you’re working from—Brooklyn or beyond—make sure your productivity habits are serving you, not just your inbox.