My Go-To Remote Work Productivity Tips for Entrepreneurs

Running your business from anywhere sounds like the dream — and honestly, it is! But after more than a decade of working remotely (from San Diego to Airbnbs in Egypt to beach cafés in Bali), I’ve learned that freedom only works if you have the focus to go with it.👩🏼‍💻

Whether you’re a coach, designer, or service-based entrepreneur, working outside of a “traditional” office means learning how to stay productive without burning out. Over the years, these are the habits that have helped me build Create & Wander while keeping that balance of work, travel, and life I never want to give up!

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1. Create a Workspace That Works for You

You don’t need a picture-perfect setup, just one that helps you feel focused and inspired.
These days, I work from a bright home office with a sit-stand desk, an ergonomic chair, and a dual-screen setup that keeps things easy on my neck and eyes. I’ve filled the space with bold art, plenty of plants, and a cozy bed under the desk for my pup, Skye, because he’s my daily coworker and sidekick.🐶 Your workspace should feel like you — functional, uplifting, and designed for flow!

When I’m working outside the house, I look for spaces that help me stay in the zone. Cafés with good energy, coworking spots with strong Wifi and other focused people, or shaded outdoor areas where I can work comfortably on a beautiful day!☀️ Sometimes I head out just for a change of scenery when I need a creative reset; it always sparks new ideas and fresh perspectives for my design work. I like having a few go-to spots that match different moods: somewhere lively for brainstorming and quieter places when I need deep focus.

A few things that always come with me: my laptop stand, wireless mouse, noise-canceling headphones, and a charger that actually reaches the outlet (trust me, you’ll thank yourself). Bonus points if you bring a travel power strip with extra plugs — your fellow remote workers will love you for it!🔌 As long as the space feels good, I can work just about anywhere, and that flexibility is exactly why I love running a remote business!

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2. Find Your Flow (and Protect Your Focus)

When you work for yourself, it’s easy for the hours to blend together, especially when there’s no set 9–5. After more than a decade of working remotely, I’ve learned that productivity isn’t about strict schedules, it’s about knowing when you work best.

I tend to do my most focused work in the evenings when everything’s quiet and there are fewer distractions. During the day, if creativity just isn’t flowing, I step away instead of forcing it. That’s one of the biggest perks of running your own business — you get to design a schedule that works for you.

That said, even freedom needs a little structure. I still block off chunks of time to stay on track and limit distractions, especially when I’m juggling client projects or deadlines. Putting your phone on Do Not Disturb or using apps like Opal to block certain apps altogether can be a total game-changer for silencing notifications and avoiding those endless scroll temptations during deep work time.

When I’m traveling, I definitely get tempted by spontaneous adventures (who wouldn’t?), but I always come back to what needs to get done. It’s all about balance: knowing when to dive in and when to unplug.

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3. Keep It Simple with Systems + Tools

The right tools make remote life so much smoother, but the wrong ones can create unnecessary noise.

I stick to a few essentials that keep my business running no matter where I’m working from:

• ClickUp for project management
  
• Flodesk for emails
  
• Dubsado for client workflows
  
• Dropbox + Google Drive for file storage
  
• Showit (of course!) for my website
  
• Loom for recording walkthroughs and cutting down on meetings
  
• Zoom for staying connected with clients no matter where we’re working from
  
• ChatGPT for brainstorming, writing support, and simplifying research tasks
  

Automate what you can, especially repeat tasks like onboarding or sending invoices. The more you streamline behind the scenes, the more space you create for creativity, strategy, and actually living the remote life you built your business for! 🙌🏻

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4. Keep Creativity Flowing

Working remotely doesn’t always mean constant inspiration. When you’re deep in projects or spending long stretches working solo, it’s easy to feel stuck or disconnected.

When that happens, I shift my environment or move my body. Sometimes that’s taking Skye for a walk, going climbing, or working from a café for a change of pace. Movement and fresh air always help me reset my focus and come back feeling more creative.

Connection helps just as much as movement. Depending on the kind of remote work you do, you might go hours (or days) without much real conversation. Make time to connect with people who refill your energy, whether that’s meeting a friend for lunch, joining a coworking space, or just calling someone during a break.

And if you’re a creative entrepreneur, give yourself permission to create for fun too. Block off time for what I call “creative play”—no deadlines, no rules, no expectations. Those moments of exploration are where your best ideas tend to show up.

Your creativity thrives when you do. So move, connect, and make space to recharge — it’s just as important as the work itself.

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5. Protect Your Off Hours

This one took me the longest to learn (and honestly, I still slip up sometimes🙃). When your laptop’s always within reach, it’s easy to fall into the “just one more email” trap, and suddenly it’s 9 p.m. and you’re still working.

Set real boundaries around when you’re “on” and when you’re not. Communicate your work hours with clients or collaborators, then actually stick to them. The world won’t fall apart if you wait to reply until tomorrow.🙏🏻

For me, closing my laptop and heading outside is what keeps me balanced and creative. Sometimes that’s a beach walk, an afternoon climb, or just getting fresh air with Skye. A quick break or a change of scenery usually does the trick — even five minutes away can reset my focus better than staring at a screen ever could.

Remember: you started working remotely for more freedom. Don’t forget to use it!

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Running your business remotely gives you the freedom to design your life, not just your schedule.

With the right mix of structure, creativity, and boundaries, you can build a business that fuels your lifestyle instead of running it.

Staying productive as a remote entrepreneur isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what matters most, in a way that feels good and works for you.

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