22 tips from digital nomads on how to become super productive

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Working remotely, moving from place to place, and staying productive at the same time, is not easy. Blogger and traveler Hayley Griffis shares productivity techniques she has learned on the job and borrowed from other digital nomads.

Sometimes it can be tough to be productive, even if you work in the same place every day. What if you change your place of work every week? Every day? Every couple of hours? Therefore, for freelancers, the issue of productivity control is especially relevant.

I was lucky to find a full-time telecommuting job. During six months of work, my workplace sometimes changed every couple of days or even a couple of hours! As I moved from place to place, I took notes for myself on how best to adapt to each new location and workspace. I also turned to other digital nomads for advice.

Now I want to share all of these productivity tips with you. Hopefully you can get some ideas from them and use them the next time you are faced with the problem of productivity when working remotely.

1. Make a plan every night for the next day

Just a day after starting my calendar and to-do list for tomorrow, I was already amazed at the results! Use a regular or electronic calendar for this purpose. Now, when I get up, I don't have to jump out of bed to check if I'm in time for a meeting and if I have time to have a cup of tea. I already know what things I have to do, and I can allocate time according to the plan.

Making a to-do list for tomorrow is a productivity technique that most successful people regularly use. The famous saying of Mark Twain is consonant with her:

If you eat a frog in the morning, the rest of the day will be wonderful thanks to the feeling that the worst of today is over.

If you are inspired by the idea of making a to-do list for tomorrow, follow this plan:

1. When the day comes to an end, jot down a list of tasks that you will need to solve the next day.

2. In the morning of the next day, go over the list.

3. End the day with a new to-do list for tomorrow.

2. Use the one-tab rule

Recently, I set myself the goal of leaving only one open tab in the browser and working only with it. It was really difficult, but in the end I began to do a lot more, because all my attention was focused on only one task.

If you want to try this technique, you can keep track of how many tabs you open on your own, or install a special extension for your browser, such as One Tab. This extension does not allow you to open more than one tab.

3. Schedule activities by time intervals

Plan all the calls you need for the morning or evening to choose the appropriate workspace. For intensive purposeful work, I prefer a cafe, and for telephone conversations - collective offices with constant access to Wi-Fi.

This is somewhat reminiscent of the Workstation Popcorn technique for quickly changing workspaces.

Here is a short description.

First, a to-do list is drawn up for the day. It should be thoughtful and specific enough. These tasks are divided into three groups, which should take approximately the same amount of time to complete. A separate workplace is selected for each group: various cafes and other spaces suitable for work. Arriving at each new point, you know in advance what you have to work on, which allows you to concentrate on specific tasks and immediately start performing them. Upon completion of a certain group of tasks, you move to a new location, and so on.

4. Take time to work and explore the city

One of the most notable benefits of telecommuting is the ability to set your own schedule and work when you're most productive. This distribution of time has proven to be very useful for me, especially in relation to exploring new places.

The most effective strategy for me is to set aside a two-hour window in the afternoon for walking around the city and work a little longer in the evening.

5. Use social media to find good places to work

When I come to another city and start looking for convenient places to work with sockets, Wi-Fi, good coffee and a pleasant atmosphere, I usually tweet or write to local friends asking for advice on something suitable for me.

If I have no one to contact yet, the service comes to my aid. It allows you to find cafes, coffee shops, bars, collective offices and other suitable places to work.

6. Don't overload your to-do list

Never list more than three basic tasks. To increase productivity, there should be an optimal number of them.

7. Use the GTD (Getting Things Done) Technique

In his book (Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity), David Allen proposes a technique in which task lists are transferred to external media, which frees our brains from the need to remember and retain things to do. This allows you to focus on completing the tasks themselves and increase productivity.

The GTD method can be used to create to-do lists in Google Calendar,,,. It doesn't matter from what device you access the Internet and where you are, because you can use these at any time.

8. Set aside time for other activities

Make sure that you have enough time to communicate with loved ones and to take care of your mental and physical health. This will give you an extra boost of energy and improve your overall productivity.

9. Report on the work done

With the help of the service, you, together with your friends or colleagues, can organize a “productivity club”. The service allows you to set a certain period of time for the most productive work and monitor the progress of each other. In 12 hours of intense, accountable work, you can accomplish much more than usual.

10. Try using the Pomodoro technique

which sets a certain ratio between the intervals of active work and the breaks between them, has become extremely popular. And it is really very effective.

11. Challenge yourself

For example, you can give yourself one hour to complete three tasks. To further motivate yourself, make a list of the most important things to do and determine what you have to do before the end of the day.

12. Turn off the sound on all devices

Put your phone in silent mode and turn off all alerts. This will help you focus on work and get everything done in time.

13. Move more in the morning

Before you get down to business in the morning, try to set aside time for movement, for exercise. It helps to keep your thoughts in order and improves concentration, which will affect how you feel and how productive you will be for the rest of the day.

14. Use your travel time wisely

Waiting time at the airport, flight time or travel time from one place to another can be used for work. You can complete any tasks and carve yourself out more time to walk around the city. For example, repetitive work can be done while you are on an airplane. It will also help you deal with your fear of flying because you will only focus on the tasks you are doing. Plus, you'll be more productive as distractions are drastically reduced with poor or no Wi-Fi.

15. Leave time to move

Make a hard plan for the day or week. If you tend to overwork, be sure to include a small evening walk in your plan.

16. Start a diary

After you wake up and before you go to bed, make notes in a diary specially designed by psychologists. If you can manage to take the time to work with him, you will feel much happier and more grateful for what you have and what is happening to you. It's also a good way to add some orderliness to the digital nomad's life.

17. Try to work by renting a house through Airbnb

Book your homes with local hosts using Airbnb, or at least stay in hotels that have a kitchen. This will allow you to work on something for several hours at a time without being distracted by looking for food. In a hotel without a kitchen, you will not be able to intercept anything during the intense work. Finish the project you're working on first, then go explore a new city. Plus, if you cook at home occasionally, you can save some money.

18. Make changes to the workspace

From time to time, make changes to what directly surrounds you in your workplace. This helps to increase your creative efficiency.

19. Make sure you have enough power

It is very important for the digital nomad that his laptop has enough power. Make sure in advance that you have the opportunity to recharge the device on which you are working at least once a day.

20. Define work spaces in advance

Before setting off on your trip, check out cafes and other potential work places in different areas. If you find yourself in a certain area, you will know at least one place to work.

21. Work while standing from time to time

In some cafes, tables are so high by the window that you can work behind them both sitting on a high bar stool and standing. It's great when you have the opportunity to alternate between sedentary and standing work.

22. Choose well-lit areas

Try to find cafes or eateries with good lighting and enough space to walk and warm up. Working in a well-lit room can help combat drowsiness and increase alertness and creativity. It is also very helpful to warm up from time to time. This improves blood circulation and improves performance. Therefore, look for places where you will have such an opportunity.