Let’s be honest, whatever your situation as remote worker, you need some remote work tips, because “working from anywhere” sounds reallyy awesome (like, Bali, palmtrees, warm water surf and tortillas for dinner) until you’re answering emails with one hand, havig a toddler yell ´mama caca´ through the door while you´re in a call, and your “desk” is a slightly crooked van-table somewhere in Northern Spain.
I’ve worked from some beautiful spots—cozy cabins, breezy balconies, and yes, the back of our van parked under pine trees—but no matter where I am, staying productive as a remote worker (and mum) comes down to one thing: intention.
Here are a few hacks that help me make any space feel like a functional home office—whether I’m in a backpackers hostel in Brazil, an AirBnB in Mexico, with the van in Albania or making the best of the siesta of my little girl during a van trip through the Alps.
Create a space that matches your rhythm
Which means basically delete my Pinterest moodboard on ´office spaces´, ups reality check.Your workspace doesn’t need to be minimalist-chic to work for you—it just needs to feel right.
When we’re parked in our van, I use our (clean!) table near the window so I can look out at the mountains while I type. At home, I’ve turned my desk towards the window where I can catch some sun and hear the birds. That alone makes a difference.
I’ve learned that I focus better in the mornings, so I try to schedule creative work before lunch (during nap time if we’re being real), and keep admin tasks for later. Not every day goes as planned, but having a rhythm helps.
Don’t fight distractions—work with them
Let’s just say “uninterrupted silence” isn’t part of my current reality. So instead of trying to fight noise, I’ve started building my work sessions around it, planning any calls during the siesta time of my little one (thank ´whoever´ that she still sleeps about 2.5 hours in the afternoon).
Sometimes I’ll play ocean sounds or soft instrumental beats—something I associate with focus. And when I can’t sit down to write, I record voice notes on my phone during walks or while my daughter is playing.
I’ve also accepted that I’ll rarely get long, deep-focus hours anymore. So I work in short, solid bursts—30 minutes here, an hour there. It adds up.
Goals over hours
One of the best things about remote work? Ditching the 9-to-5 mindset.
Instead of obsessing over how many hours I’ve worked, I now aim to get three meaningful things done each day. That could be writing a blog post, sending a proposal, or reviewing a client video. I use Trello as a to-do list and the feeling of dragging a ´card´ to the ´done-list´ is amazing! When I’ve hit my three, I shut the laptop—even if it’s not “end of day” yet. That space gives me time to rest, reset, or chase after my toddler (literally and metaphorically).
Tiny rituals = big focus
When your office changes constantly, little rituals go a long way.
For me, it’s starting the day with a look at my Trello list and a good coffee (bonus points if I made it outside). I also tend to set an intention for the day when I start, it’s a tiny thing, but it helps me drop into focus mode faster, no matter where I am.
Final thought: your office is a mindset
Working remotely doesn’t mean replicating an office with four walls and a swivel chair. It means figuring out what you need to feel grounded, clear-headed, and capable—whether that’s a desk in your garden, a hammock with decent Wi-Fi, or a laptop balanced on a stack of books inside a van.
Some days I’m wildly productive. Other days, I’m just happy if I managed to send one email and keep my daughter from trying to eat my USB cable and dropping my laptop on the floor. . And that’s okay.
Your home office isn’t a place—it’s a practice. And with these remote work tips, you can make it happen for you as well!
