Smarter Remote Work: Productivity Tips You Haven’t Tried

Alright, so let’s talk remote work. It’s May 9th, 2025, and for a whole lot of us, myself included, working from home isn’t some quirky trend anymore; it’s just… life. I’ve been doing the remote thing here in Nashville for a good while now, ever since I made the jump from the Bay Area, and let me tell you, my cat Luna has become the strictest office manager I’ve ever had. But beyond the cute pet cameos on video calls, there’s a real art and science to actually getting things done when your office is also your living room, kitchen, and sometimes, let’s be honest, your bed. We’ve all heard the basics: have a dedicated workspace, stick to a routine, wear actual pants. Yawn. Important, sure, but what about the stuff that goes beyond the basics? The real nitty-gritty productivity hacks for remote workers that can make the difference between feeling like a frazzled mess and a focused, efficient human?

I’m Sammy, by the way, and I write for Chefsicon.com. My world usually revolves around food, culinary culture, and marketing, but the thread that ties it all together for me is understanding systems, patterns, and how we can make things work better – whether it’s a restaurant kitchen or our own daily grind. And let me tell you, the remote work ‘system’ is one I’ve been tinkering with, obsessing over, and occasionally wanting to throw out the window, for years. So, I’ve picked up a few tricks, not just from personal trial and error (oh, there’s been plenty of error), but from diving deep into how our brains actually work, how motivation ebbs and flows, and how we can design our days for more than just survival. We’re aiming for thriving here, people.

In this piece, I want to share some of those less-obvious strategies. We’re going to move past the surface-level advice and explore some techniques that, for me at least, have been genuinely impactful. Think of it as a conversation, me sharing what I’ve learned from my little home office command center here in Nashville, hoping it sparks some ideas for you. We’ll touch on everything from managing your energy (which is way more important than just managing your time) to the weirdly wonderful power of strategic procrastination. Is this the ultimate list? Probably not, because what works for me might need tweaking for you. But my hope is that you’ll find a gem or two in here that helps you navigate the wild world of remote work with a bit more grace and a lot more output. So, grab a coffee (or if it’s that time of day, something stronger), and let’s get into it.

Beyond the To-Do List: Advanced Remote Productivity Tactics

1. Energy Management: Your Secret Weapon, Not Just Time Blocking

Okay, so everyone talks about time management. Block your time, schedule your tasks, yadda yadda. And yeah, that’s part of it. But I’ve found that focusing on energy management is way, way more effective. Think about it: you can have a perfectly blocked-out schedule, but if you hit a task requiring deep focus when your energy is tanked, you’re just staring at the screen, right? It’s like trying to prep a five-course meal when you’ve already run a marathon. Not gonna happen. We all have natural energy peaks and valleys throughout the day – those ultradian rhythms. The trick is to identify yours and schedule your most demanding tasks for when you’re naturally at your peak. For me, that’s usually mid-morning, after my second coffee and once Luna has had her mandatory ‘desk inspection’.

So how do you do this? Start by noticing. For a week, maybe just jot down every couple of hours how you’re feeling – focused, tired, creative, sluggish. You’ll probably see a pattern. Then, try to match your high-energy tasks (writing, strategic thinking, complex problem-solving) with your high-energy periods. Low-energy tasks (answering emails, admin stuff, organizing files) can fill the dips. It’s not about cramming more into your day; it’s about working smarter with the energy you naturally have. This is a bit like how a chef plans their prep schedule; certain tasks are done when the kitchen is quieter or when they have the most focused energy, not just when the clock says so. It’s about optimizing flow. And honestly, it’s made a huge difference for me. I feel less like I’m constantly fighting against myself and more like I’m riding a wave. Is this the best approach for everyone? Maybe not rigidly, but the principle of energy awareness is pretty universal, I reckon.

2. Crafting Your “Deep Work” Sanctum: More Than Just a Quiet Room

We all know a dedicated workspace is good. But let’s elevate that concept to a “Deep Work” Sanctum. This isn’t just about closing the door; it’s about creating an environment that signals to your brain, “Okay, it’s go-time. Serious focus incoming.” This involves more than just shooing the cat off your keyboard, though that’s a start. Think about sensory inputs. What kind of lighting helps you focus? For some, it’s bright, natural light; for others, it’s a more subdued, cozy lamp. What about sound? Noise-canceling headphones are a godsend for many, perhaps playing ambient soundscapes, classical music, or even just white noise. I’m personally a fan of some lo-fi beats, keeps the rhythm going without being distracting.

And don’t underestimate the power of scent! A subtle essential oil diffuser with something like rosemary or peppermint can actually aid concentration. The key is consistency. If you only use that specific lighting, sound, and scent when you’re doing deep work, your brain starts to associate those cues with focus. It’s classical conditioning for productivity. You know, it’s funny, setting up a truly productive home office reminds me a lot of what goes into designing a high-efficiency commercial kitchen. Chefs need everything in the right place, the workflow has to be seamless, or service grinds to a halt. It’s not just about having the fanciest oven; it’s about the layout, the accessibility, the whole system. Companies like Chef’s Deal actually specialize in this, offering things like free kitchen design services to make sure a restaurant can operate at peak potential. They provide these comprehensive kitchen design and equipment solutions because they know the environment is paramount. And honestly, shouldn’t we apply that same thinking to our own remote workspaces? Maybe not to the same scale, but the principle of intentional design for maximum output? Absolutely. Investing in a good chair, proper lighting, or even just organizing your desk with a system isn’t an expense; it’s an investment in your productivity, much like a restaurant invests in a layout that supports its chefs and might seek out their expert consultation and support for complex setups.

3. Understanding Your Chronotype: Are You a Lion, Bear, Wolf, or Dolphin?

This one sounds a bit woo-woo, but stick with me. Understanding your chronotype – your body’s natural inclination to sleep and be active at certain times – can be a game-changer. Popularized by Dr. Michael Breus, the idea is that most of us fall into one of four categories: Lions (early risers, peak productivity in the AM), Bears (follow the solar cycle, productive mid-morning to early afternoon), Wolves (night owls, peak late afternoon/evening), and Dolphins (light sleepers, often struggle with set schedules, productive in spurts). Now, I’m not saying you have to rigidly define yourself, but figuring out your general tendency can help you structure your day for optimal performance rather than fighting your natural rhythms.

For instance, if you’re a Wolf, forcing yourself to tackle your hardest task at 8 AM is probably setting yourself up for failure and a lot of frustration. Maybe your mornings are better for lighter tasks, admin, or planning, with deep work scheduled for later when your brain truly comes alive. I think I’m mostly a Bear, with a bit of Lion aspiration. Knowing this helps me not beat myself up if I’m not a creative genius at 6 PM. The beauty of remote work, for many of us, is the flexibility to align our work with these natural rhythms. So, do a little research, take a quiz (there are plenty online), and see if it resonates. It’s another layer on top of energy management that can fine-tune your approach to your workday. It’s about personalization, you know? Not every “hack” is a one-size-fits-all solution, especially with something as personal as our internal clocks.

4. The Power of Strategic Disconnection: Fake Commutes and Third Spaces

When your home is your office, the lines blur. Oh boy, do they blur. One of the biggest challenges is properly disconnecting. It’s too easy to just wander back to the laptop “for a quick sec” at 9 PM. This is where strategic disconnection comes in. It’s not just about turning off notifications; it’s about creating rituals that signal the end of the workday and allow your brain to switch gears. One thing I’ve found surprisingly effective is a “fake commute.” When I’m done for the day, I actually leave the house. A quick walk around the block, a short drive, even just stepping out onto my porch for 15 minutes. It creates a physical and mental separation that my old commute used to provide naturally.

Another concept I love is the idea of a “third space,” even if you’re mostly at home. This is a place that’s not home and not work (or your home-office). Pre-pandemic, it might have been a coffee shop or library. Now, it could be a specific chair in your garden, a park bench, or even a different room in your house that is strictly for non-work relaxation. This helps to decompress and create boundaries. It’s so important for mental well-being and preventing burnout. I sometimes find myself thinking, if I were setting up a new restaurant or café, a space designed for staff to truly disconnect during breaks would be a priority, almost as important as the customer-facing areas. It’s about creating zones, and that applies to our mental states too. This is a big one for me, and something I still have to consciously work on. It’s easy to let it slide.

5. Batching, Blocking, and Themed Days: The Productivity Trifecta

You’ve probably heard of task batching – doing all similar tasks together, like answering all your emails at once instead of sporadically. And time blocking, where you schedule specific blocks for specific tasks. But let’s take it a step further with themed days. This is where you dedicate entire days, or at least significant chunks of days, to specific types of work. For example, Mondays could be for planning and meetings, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for deep creative work, Thursdays for admin and calls, and Fridays for wrapping up and lighter tasks. Or whatever categories make sense for your role.

Why does this work so well? It minimizes context switching. Every time you switch between different *types* of tasks (say, from writing a report to designing a graphic to attending a meeting), your brain has to reorient, which costs time and mental energy. Themed days drastically reduce this. You get into a specific mindset and stay there. It might feel a bit rigid at first, and sure, unexpected things will always pop up. But having a general thematic structure can bring a surprising amount of calm and focus to a potentially chaotic week. I’m still experimenting with the perfect theme combination for my weeks, but the principle itself? Solid gold. It allows for deeper immersion and often, higher quality output. It’s like a kitchen having a dedicated pastry section or a garde manger – specialization allows for efficiency and excellence.

6. Feedback Loops for One: Becoming Your Own Productivity Coach

When you’re in an office, you often get implicit feedback. Your manager sees you working, colleagues might comment on your progress. Remotely, you’re often on your own. That’s why creating your own feedback loops is crucial. This means regularly reviewing what’s working, what’s not, and how you can adjust your systems. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be a simple 15-minute review at the end of each day or week. Ask yourself: What did I accomplish? What got in my way? What will I do differently tomorrow/next week?

I use a simple journal for this, but apps or even a spreadsheet can work. The key is consistency and honesty. Be your own productivity coach. Celebrate the wins, even small ones, and be gentle but firm about areas for improvement. This self-reflection is what turns good intentions into actual, sustainable habits. Maybe I should clarify – this isn’t about beating yourself up. It’s about curious observation and continuous improvement. It’s like a chef tasting a dish multiple times during cooking, adjusting seasoning, checking temperature. That iterative process is key to a great final product. And in this case, the ‘product’ is your sustained productivity and well-being. It also helps you notice when a particular ‘hack’ just isn’t cutting it for you anymore, because our needs and circumstances change.

7. Digital Decluttering vs. Digital Minimalism: A Crucial Distinction

We hear a lot about the evils of digital distraction, and the usual advice is to “declutter” – delete unused apps, turn off notifications. That’s fine, but I think digital minimalism is a more powerful concept. Digital decluttering is like tidying up a messy room; digital minimalism is intentionally designing the room with only the essential, high-value items. It’s not just about *less*; it’s about *better* and more intentional. It asks the question: “Does this tool genuinely add significant value to my work or life?” If not, it goes, or its use is severely restricted.

This means being ruthless with your digital toolkit. How many project management apps do you *really* need? Are those browser extensions actually helping, or just adding noise? For me, this has meant choosing a few core tools and learning to use them really well, rather than constantly chasing the next shiny app. It also means setting firm boundaries around communication tools. Slack is great, but it can also be a productivity black hole if it’s always open and demanding attention. Perhaps you only check it at specific times. It’s about curating your digital environment with the same care you’d curate your physical one. This is a journey, not a destination, because new tools and distractions pop up all the time. But the mindset shift from reactive decluttering to proactive minimalism is key. I feel like this is an area where I’m constantly learning and refining; it’s tough when there are so many seemingly useful tools out there.

8. The “Impossible Task” Hack: When Your Brain Screams “No!”

We all have those days. There’s a task on your list, probably an important one, that just feels… impossible. Your brain throws up a giant wall of resistance. You procrastinate, you find anything else to do, you stare blankly. This is where you need a specific strategy for what I call the “impossible task.” The core idea is to trick your brain into starting by making the barrier to entry absurdly low. The classic is the “two-minute rule”: if a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. For bigger tasks, adapt it: commit to working on it for just five or ten minutes. Tell yourself, “I only have to do this for ten minutes, then I can stop.” More often than not, once you start, you build momentum and keep going.

Another trick is to break the task down into the tiniest possible steps. I mean, comically small. If “write report” is overwhelming, the first step might be “open document.” Then “write title.” Then “write first sentence of introduction.” Each tiny completion gives a little dopamine hit. Sometimes, I even employ what I call the “dance party prerequisite.” If I really can’t face something, I tell myself I have to put on some music and dance for one song, then I’ll start. Sounds silly, but changing your physical state can change your mental state. The point is to bypass that initial overwhelming feeling of resistance. It’s about finding what little psychological nudge your brain needs to get over the hump. It’s not always graceful, but it often works!

9. Leveraging “Productive Procrastination” (Yes, Really!)

This one sounds counterintuitive, right? Procrastination is the enemy! Well, yes and no. There’s the bad kind, where you avoid important tasks by scrolling through social media or watching cat videos (Luna judges me for this, I swear). But there’s also something called “structured procrastination” or what I like to call productive procrastination. This involves doing other useful, albeit less urgent, tasks while you’re avoiding that Big Scary Task. For example, if you’re supposed to be working on a major strategy document but you just can’t face it, you might instead organize your inbox, update your CRM, do some industry research, or outline a future blog post.

You’re still being productive, just not on the thing you’re *supposed* to be doing. How is this helpful? Well, sometimes, your brain just needs a break from the pressure of the main task. Doing these other, easier tasks can give you a sense of accomplishment, which can then build momentum and make it easier to tackle the bigger one. Also, sometimes your subconscious is working on the Big Scary Task in the background while you’re busy with something else. I’ve often had breakthroughs on difficult problems while I was ostensibly procrastinating by doing something else useful. The key is to make sure your procrastination tasks are genuinely valuable, not just time-wasters. It’s a bit of a mental game, but one that can be surprisingly effective if managed well. I’m torn between whether this is a genius hack or just a coping mechanism, but hey, if it results in things getting done…

10. The Underrated Power of “Anti-Goals” and “Stop Doing” Lists

We’re all about to-do lists and goals. But what about their opposites? Setting “anti-goals” (things you actively want to avoid) and creating a “stop doing” list can be incredibly powerful for productivity. An anti-goal might be: “Avoid checking email before 10 AM” or “Stop attending meetings without a clear agenda.” A “stop doing” list could include habits or tasks that drain your energy, offer little value, or actively hinder your progress. For example: stop multitasking during focused work blocks, stop saying yes to every request immediately, stop comparing your progress to others.

Why is this so effective? It helps you identify and eliminate the things that are actively working *against* your productivity. Sometimes, removing a negative is more impactful than adding a positive. It brings clarity and helps you set boundaries. I find this exercise really illuminating. It forces me to confront the time-wasters and energy vampires in my workday. It’s like a chef knowing what *not* to do to ruin a dish – don’t over-salt, don’t overcook the fish, don’t use clashing flavors. Knowing the pitfalls is just as important as knowing the recipe for success. My “stop doing” list is an ever-evolving document, and reviewing it helps me stay conscious of those behaviors I want to change. It’s a powerful way to reclaim your time and focus. For instance, maybe one of your anti-goals is to stop buying cheap, unreliable tools for your work because it ends up costing more in the long run – a principle that applies whether you’re buying software or, say, commercial kitchen equipment where reliable suppliers offering things like professional installation services and ongoing support are vital. You’d want to avoid the hassle of faulty gear, right? Places like Chef’s Deal understand this, which is why they focus on comprehensive solutions and sometimes even offer competitive pricing and financing options to make quality accessible.

Wrapping It Up: Your Remote Work, Your Rules

So, there you have it – a brain dump of some of the more nuanced productivity strategies I’ve stumbled upon or actively cultivated during my remote work adventure. From treating your energy like the precious resource it is, to the surprising utility of telling yourself what *not* to do, the goal is to move beyond generic advice and find what truly resonates with your personal style and workflow. Remote work offers incredible freedom, but with that freedom comes the responsibility of self-management on a whole new level. It’s not always easy, and what works one month might need adjusting the next. Luna, my furry supervisor, certainly keeps me on my toes, reminding me when it’s time for a mandatory screen break (usually by sitting on my keyboard).

I guess if there’s one big takeaway, it’s that becoming truly productive as a remote worker is an ongoing experiment. It’s about curiosity, self-awareness, and a willingness to try new things, even if they sound a bit odd at first. Maybe not all these hacks will be your cup of tea, and that’s perfectly okay. The real magic happens when you start to view your own productivity as a system you can design, tweak, and optimize, just like any other complex project. What’s one small experiment you could try this week to make your remote work life just a little bit smoother, a little more focused, or a little more fulfilling? That’s the question I’m constantly asking myself, and I hope it’s one you’ll consider too.

FAQ: Your Remote Productivity Questions Answered

Q: I’ve tried the Pomodoro Technique (working in timed intervals) and it just doesn’t click for me. Are there alternatives for focus?
A: Absolutely! Pomodoro is great for some, but not a universal fit. If it feels too rigid, try focusing on task completion rather than time. Or explore ‘flow states’ where you work on a single task for a longer, uninterrupted period when you feel naturally engaged. You could also try ‘body doubling,’ where you work quietly alongside someone else (even virtually) for mutual accountability. Experiment with different work sprint lengths too – maybe 50 minutes on, 10 minutes off works better for you than 25/5.

Q: How do I genuinely deal with distractions from family or pets when working from home? It feels constant sometimes.
A: This is a tough one, and it often requires clear communication and boundary setting. If possible, have a dedicated workspace with a door you can close. Communicate your work hours and when you need uninterrupted focus time to your family. For pets, sometimes scheduled play breaks can help. Noise-canceling headphones are a lifesaver for many. It might also involve some creative scheduling, working during quieter periods if your role allows. It’s an ongoing negotiation, for sure!

Q: Is it *really* necessary to have a dedicated home office setup? My space is limited.
A: While a separate room is ideal, it’s not always feasible. The key is to create a dedicated work *zone*. This could be a specific corner of a room, a particular desk, or even a portable setup you put away at the end of the day. The psychological benefit comes from having a space that your brain associates primarily with work. This helps with focus during work hours and makes it easier to mentally ‘leave’ work when you’re done. Even small, intentional efforts to define your workspace can make a difference.

Q: How can I better maintain work-life balance when my home *is* my office? The lines are so blurry.
A: This is the million-dollar question for remote workers! Creating clear start and end-of-day rituals is huge – like the ‘fake commute’ I mentioned. Physically putting away your work laptop or materials can also help signal the end of the workday. Be firm about your non-work hours; it’s okay for things to wait until tomorrow. Schedule in personal time and breaks just as you would work tasks. And importantly, have non-work activities and hobbies that get you away from your workspace and into a different mental zone. It takes discipline, but it’s crucial for long-term sustainability.

@article{smarter-remote-work-productivity-tips-you-havent-tried,
    title   = {Smarter Remote Work: Productivity Tips You Haven’t Tried},
    author  = {Chef's icon},
    year    = {2025},
    journal = {Chef's Icon},
    url     = {https://chefsicon.com/productivity-hacks-for-remote-workers-beyond-the-basics/}
}