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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

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21 Useful Tips & Tools for Working Remotely From Home or on the Road

Last Updated: October 19, 2021 · Digital Nomad

As a travel blogger, you might be surprised to learn that I work from home more than anywhere else! On top of being a digital nomad, I’ve had to learn the ins-and-outs of how to work from home or wherever I take work with me.

Working remotely has so many benefits, like setting your own schedule or not having to take the metro to work at 7 am. But when working from home or on the road (as we did during van life), getting into a productive work routine can be quite the challenge!

This is why I decided to create this guide on the tips and tools I personally use for my remote work. Whether I’m working from home, in a van, or in a hotel for a travel collaboration, these are the techniques and tools I use to stay focused.

Here are 21 tips and tools for working remotely that you can implement today to start boosting productivity!

Table of Contents show
10 Tools to Help Boost Productivity and Organization
Stationery Tools
Digital Tools
11 Remote Work Tips for Staying Motivated & Focused
Start your day by getting ready (don’t get in the habit of working in PJs)
Try the Pomodoro 25-minute interval technique
Don’t answer your emails first thing in the morning
Switch off nearby devices
Keep an inspiring workspace (A messy environment = messy mind)
Stay in motion and keep moving
Limit all possible distractions
Avoid binge-snacking
Stay hydrated
Take a 20-minute power nap
If you become anxious or lose focus, meditate!

10 Tools to Help Boost Productivity and Organization

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

If you’re new to remote work, adjusting to working from home (or on the road) can be just plain frustrating. After all, you are having to get used to a new routine! Here are my tried-and-tested tools and tips for working remotely that will help boost your productivity and efficiency.

Which tools are the best for remote work? The answer depends on who you ask because there are two types of remote work tools. (Usually, people have a preference for one or the other.)

One is digital tools such as productivity apps, spreadsheets, online to-do lists, etc., and the other is physical stationery such as good ‘ole pen and paper, notebooks, planners, and so on.

Stationery Tools

  • the content planner | tips and tools for working remotely
  • the content planner tool for remote work

The Content Planner — The ultimate curated content planner (created by #bossbabe Kat Gaskin) for getting ultra-organized with your business and social media. Includes a fillable 15-month calendar, at-a-glance monthly spreads, colorful stickers and tabs, goal setting inspiration, dream space pages, and more.

Notebook — Studies show that writing things down actually makes you more productive. So keep a trusty writing notebook just for work purposes. It helps you keep track of your progress and free-flowing ideas, with a little extra room for doodling.

Personal whiteboard — You can use a whiteboard for remote work to quickly and visually display your ideas, special reminders, and more. find that having a mini whiteboard with markers really improves my workflow! It’s a great way to be creative without cluttering up a work notebook.

Bullet Journal — Have you heard of bullet journaling yet? It’s the streamlined version of writing down a to-do list mixed with meditation and journaling. BuJo users call this ‘Rapid Logging‘ and people all over the world attest to its effectiveness on boosting productivity and organization.

Digital Tools

laptop tips and tools for working remotely

Todoist — My go-to online tool for organizing my neverending to-do list! Todoist helps simplify ideas, lists, and projects with their user-friendly platform. Set dates, reminders, and receive notifications for deadlines.

Google Suite — Google Suite is the ultimate powerhouse toolkit for organizing your remote work. It includes Google’s core cloud-based platforms like Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets (Excel), Slides, Hangouts, Calendar, and more.

Monday.com — A simple and effective online tool created to streamline work-sharing across remote teams in one digital workspace. Easily visualize completed work, pending, and incomplete work with colorful categories and tabs to organize boards.

Slack — Send, share, and organize messages across groups and teams with this online messaging platform for businesses. Create private or group chats, organize projects and more. You can also connect Slack with other integrative apps to share tasks across platforms.

Trello — If Pinterest met Todoist met the Monday app, that’s Trello! Trello is an online tool designed to visually organize your workload. Create boards for projects, personalize them with color codes, archive completed tasks, set deadlines, track progress, and more!

Toggle — A free helpful online time tracking tool. It definitely helps with timing projects and the minutes/hours you spend on certain tasks. Effective for remote work when working under strict deadlines.

11 Remote Work Tips for Staying Motivated & Focused

In addition to tools, here are some tips for working remotely that you can do to stay inspired and productive.

working remotely from home | cat | laptop | home office | tips and tools

Start your day by getting ready (don’t get in the habit of working in PJs)

If you’re thinking, “Ah, finally! I can work from home in my pj’s” — think again. When you first adjust to working from home, you might want to kick back on the couch in comfy clothes. And while that might feel good for a day, it’s not helpful for your work ethic long-term.

Instead, start your day as you would if you were going out into the world. Shower and get ready. Dress up, not down! Even if no one sees you, you’ll be surprised at how much getting ready can positively impact you mentally. You will feel more motivated and ready to tackle your remote work to-do list.

Try the Pomodoro 25-minute interval technique

Another way to boost productivity while working from home is to work in short yet intense 25-minute intervals, also known as the Pomodoro Technique. Select a task you need to get done with high-focus. Then, set a 25-minute tomato timer and work until the timer goes off. Take a 5-minute break. Repeat with 4x Pomodoro’s, then take a longer 20-minute break to clear your mind. The Pomodoro technique can be highly effective for remote work!

Don’t answer your emails first thing in the morning

As tempting as it might be, and unless there is an emergency, avoid checking your email inbox at all when you wake up and start your day. Getting sucked into emails can take huge chunks of your time. Instead, use your mornings wisely, when you have the most energy to spend on priority tasks.

Once I started doing this I not only saved more time (so I could do more things) but I felt more accomplished at the end of my morning. By leaving emails for later, you get to accomplish one major task already in the first 1-2 hours of starting your day. That alone changes how productive you will be for the rest of the day!

Switch off nearby devices

The best way to boost productivity when working from home is to switch off any devices around you. That includes your phone (unless you’re using it for work). And if you do use it for work, at least use an app that blocks your usage of social apps.

Having your phone buzzing nearby with social notifications from Facebook, Instagram, etc., can be disastrous for your efficiency and productivity. Now, I will turn my phone on silent and place it behind my laptop until I’m nearly finished with my task. Out of sight, out of mind?

Keep an inspiring workspace (A messy environment = messy mind)

Decluttering the physical space around you helps clear up mental space! Having an inspiring atmosphere where you can work from home often makes all the difference between a “meh” day and a productive day. One study even reveals that a messy environment actually distracts you from your focus as the objects around you compete for your attention. So remember to do some spring cleaning every now and then!

laptop remote work | desk | home office

Stay in motion and keep moving

Another remote work tip for successfully working from home or on the road is to keep moving. When working from home or at an office, it’s common for people to sit for long periods of time. But moving is actually what stimulates us and helps us keep our focus! It’s no wonder influential people like Steve Jobs would walk around while speaking… It boosts productivity and creativity!

Staying in motion is not only important for our brain but our emotions and our bodies too. If you can routinely get out of your seated chair at home, great! Even better if you can work at a stand-up desk.

Limit all possible distractions

Phone, TV, pets, kids, snacks, games… Our homes are set up for comfort, so adjusting to working from home can become a real challenge when there’s just so much to be distracted by. Limiting all possible distractions is necessary to keep your focus while working remotely from home or on the road.

Avoid binge-snacking

Speaking of distractions, one common faux-pas to avoid when working remotely is binge-snacking. Chowing down on your favorite snacks during work time is a huge productivity killer. If you’re hungry, it’s better to just take a clean break and go eat. But don’t try to mix the two. What’s important to practice when working from home or on the road is to separate work with pleasure. Know when to log off. By doing so, you’ll greatly increase your productivity. Then, once you’re done, you can enjoy your free time.

Stay hydrated

Staying mentally fit requires lots of hydration, something that many people have a hard time keeping track of. If you often go hours without a sip of water, curb this bad habit by downloading an app that reminds you to drink more. Getting plenty of fluids in your body increases focus and boosts energy, while keeping your mind and body healthy!

Take a 20-minute power nap

Believe it or not, napping has proven to be a productivity booster, not an inhibitor. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation states that a 20-minute nap can actually improve your alertness, performance, and mood! If you’re feeling hazy, a 20-minute nap (no more!) is a great way to get your focus back.

If you become anxious or lose focus, meditate!

When your workload is stressful, or if events outside your control are overwhelming you (much like the coronavirus pandemic might be doing right now), then it’s important to step back and take a moment to meditate. Meditation is a fail-proof way to calm the mind and body when given the opportunity. I like to use Headspace to do quick 5-10 minute guided meditation sessions whenever I need to refocus and find inner rest.

So how do you make working from home actually work?

It’s all about the tools and techniques you apply to your day to day routine. It’s how you choose to spend your time and how you adjust to remote work by implementing new, healthy habits.

In other words, all the tips and tools you need for working remotely are at your fingertips! It’s up to you to utilize them to your benefit. Here’s to improving our time management and organization skills! 🙂

Have you ever worked remotely either at home or on the road? Drop your comments and tips down below! 

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By: Bri · In: Digital Nomad

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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