How to Thrive Remotely: Boundaries, Routines, and Sanity

No matter the position you’re holding, you’re the first person responsible for setting boundaries in remote work. Just because work enters your home doesn’t mean it gets 24/7 access to your life.

Most people who work fully remotely, work mostly from their homes. I am one of these people. Being in the position of both a freelancer and a remote manager at my B2B marketing agency has given me a unique insight into the tricky balance between productivity, personal boundaries, and burnout.

So, let’s unpack the discipline that helped me stay sane through years of remote work. It’s the same discipline that I try to teach my employees, because I understand that their sanity is way better for productivity than that “urgent” 9pm email…

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First, define your work hours.

Even if your hours are flexible, set a routine. Start and stop work at specific times, and take a real lunch break, with a short walk preferably. If your team expects you to be online all the time, that’s something you need to push against very hard.

Well-organized teams rarely need last-minute or late-night work. Emergencies? Those should be the exception, not the rule.

Next up - do not check work emails, Slack, or whatever after hours.

Just like checking the news before bed, checking emails before bed is always a bad idea. I’ve done it, and trust me, you’ll just lose sleep over problems that can wait until morning. Give yourself permission to log off.

The world will keep turning, so just pause those work notifications. Or better still, don’t install work comms on your personal phone.

Finally, the one everyone tells you about - create a dedicated workspace.

Not everyone has the luxury of a private office in their home. Some of us don’t even get the luxury of closed doors. But you need to set up a designated spot, even if it’s just the kitchen table. When the workday is over, pack up.

Feel the freedom of calling it a day in a physical way and don’t let your home lose its… homey vibe.

You probably notice the theme - it’s about discipline and structure. Without them, our minds tend to get lost, and getting lost often results in getting burned out. It might take some time to find your remote work mojo, especially if your team is pushy.

Remote work should give you freedom, not take over your life. Set those boundaries, build your optimal routine, and stick to it. For remote managers out there - please, be patient, kind, and respectful.

This is how we stay productive at WiiN Digital, my marketing agency which caters to small B2B businesses.

To get a glimpse of the power of our distributed team, get a free marketing audit at the link below!