Here’s how the productivity mindset can help you enjoy life without losing focus.
One day, you’re working from the rooftop of a hostel in Bangkok. The other day, from overlooking the scenery on the shores of Koh Rong. The next? Who knows! For some people, this lifestyle is amazing.
But remember, everything has its pros and cons. If your work-life balance is off, this can lead you to burnout. 74% said in 2022 they become freelancers for a better-work life balance. Still, some of them can’t manage to find that harmonious because of the downsides of freelancing. But what’s the top-notch freelancers’ secret?
And hey, if you’re not a freelancer, this post still has you covered because time management is for everyone.
Tictoc… How do we find the key
To balance work and life with ease?
Read the article, and you’ll see.
Table of Contents
Self-awareness for time management
Think about how good it feels to check off something on your to-do list. That’s because completing a task triggers dopamine in your brain.
Dopamine is a hormone linked to reward and motivation, giving you that sweet feeling of satisfaction when you finish something. This, in turn, pushes you to complete even more tasks.

But it’s not always that simple. Life happens, things get messy. Plans don’t always work out. Every day, unexpected situations or obstacles pop up. And here we go: you start feeling like you’re a loser.
How can we prevent these feelings from overwhelming us? We can’t completely get rid of them. Sometimes, it’s okay to feel that way, just these emotions shouldn’t take control of our lives. That’s why you need to manage your time better to avoid such situations.
So start with changing your mindset and stop seeing time management as a boring schedule of tasks
Smartly using your time for sleep, work, and other activities helps you live a balanced life. But be aware: even the best time management techniques won’t guarantee you’ll get everything done. Unplanned things will come up, and your mood may swing. Even so, you’ll achieve many of your initial goals.
After all, perfection isn’t the goal of time management — awareness is. It’s about making more intentional choices with your time.
How did I improve my productivity?
When I was younger, being super organized seemed like something people who couldn’t enjoy life did. But after years, I realized that seizing the day (Carpe diem) and staying organized can actually go hand in hand.
Being organized doesn’t mean sticking to a rigid schedule like a robot. It’s managing your time effectively and ensuring last-minute changes don’t disrupt the flow of your life. Being able to manage your time that well… isn’t that a pretty cool skill?
Nobody wants to waste time, yet few of us make an effort to learn how to manage it. For me, concentration is a real struggle. If I didn’t have a strong sense of responsibility, I probably wouldn’t have achieved much. I push myself in many areas — basically forcing myself to meet my responsibilities. Yet, I’m still figuring out how to truly focus, and testing new methods.
One day, I figured out that I don’t have to stick to just one method. The best part? I never get bored working on my time management — now a fun hobby or habit.
Once I embraced this mindset, I became curious about everything related to productivity. But what if things still don’t go as planned? Let it go. Sometimes, things just won’t work out, and that’s okay. It shouldn’t stop me from planning the rest of my life. When you make time management as essential as eating, you start to enjoy it.
Do you want to savor the flow of daily life? Or will you keep ignoring how frustrated you get at the end of a chaotic day, with unfinished tasks still hanging over you?
Some of my flow:
- Whenever a new task pops into my mind, I add it to my Notion ideas pages or phone’s notebook. ⇾ make this a habit.
- I’m big on morning rituals, which set a positive tone for the rest of the day.
- Wherever I travel, I create an ideal working environment or find great spots to work from, because that motivates me.
- I have daily planning rituals. E.g., after work, I spend time in the garden, listen to music, and create my next day. ⇾ To build this habit, set an alarm and plan your day at the same time every day.
- With time blocking, I know how much time I want to spend on each task.
- I review the whole process regularly and look for ways to improve my planning. There aren’t rigid rules. People change, and we might want to change our methods.
- I review my priorities every month.
- I create my monthly planning based on my menstrual cycle.
How can digital nomads effectively manage their professional and personal lives?
It’s a pretty weird mix, blending professional and personal life — both a unique challenge and an opportunity.
Say you’re struggling with work-life balance, but does digital nomadism still suit you despite its challenges? If so, you don’t need to change your lifestyle. With the right strategies, you can build a more sustainable digital nomad lifestyle.
Daily, weekly, monthly schedules:
To keep your mental balance in check and your steady income on track, you need to live with a bit of planning.
Mapping out things like your work hours and social activities can save you from potential stress because it helps you focus your energy on what’s urgent and important.
To do this, use daily, weekly, and monthly planning.
- Prepare the next day’s schedule the night before, so you don’t waste time figuring out how to start the day. Plus, if this isn’t a habit, you might forget to do it in the morning.
- Review your previous weekly plans before starting the new one. What were your goals? What did you miss? What challenges did you face?
- Leave some gaps in your days and hours for unexpected tasks and sudden changes. Embrace flexibility when needed.
What I do ⇾ I use Google Calendar, Notion pages for weekly and daily to-dos, and sure also pen & paper.
Realistic goals and expectations:
If you don’t set realistic goals, no method will lead you to success. You need to make a commitment that works for you. Find clear, achievable goals or methods that suit you because overcommitting can cause stress and burnout.
What I do ⇾ Posting on LinkedIn every day isn’t a suitable routine for me. Even if I manage it for the first month, the consistency often breaks in the next. So, I prefer to post three times a week and create a content strategy at least 3 to 6 months in advance. You can start with baby steps and raise your goals once you’ve found your rhythm.
- Also, break large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, and don’t be afraid to delegate when possible. With this way, you’ll stay focused and have a sense of accomplishment as you tick off each task.
- And remember to regularly reassess your goals and adjust them as needed. Life is dynamic, and so are your priorities. Taking time to reflect on what’s working and what’s not can lead to better decisions and more balanced living.
Boundaries:
Set time limits; otherwise, you’ll often lose your unplug time or find it hard to resist checking emails or DMs.
- Establish specific work hours and workdays. This helps you seamlessly switch in and out of “work mode.” Also, let your team and clients know your availability to manage their expectations. This way, you avoid the trap of being “always on” and can enjoy your personal time without the guilt of unfinished tasks.
- Use alarms or reminders to signal when it’s time to unplug and engage in leisure activities.
- Create clear boundaries and maintain a structured yet flexible schedule. If you don’t balance the flexibility or freelance work with consistency, that flexibility can slip away, leading to chaos.
What I do ⇾ I also set boundaries for my social media usage. After 10:00 PM, I usually switch my phone to airplane mode, and when I wake up, I typically avoid starting my day by checking the internet.
Regular Breaks:
Short pauses can freshen your mind, reduce stress, and boost productivity. Whether it’s a five-minute stretch or a midday lunch break outside, these moments are crucial for keeping a healthy work-life balance. And, you’ll find five yoga asanas for your back pain after a long time. Try these asanas in your break time.
What I do → I use the “Take a Break” extension or BreakTimer software because I might forget to stop working. The beep reminds me, “Enough, girl! Go drink a glass of water and stretch your body.” It works.
Personal activities:
My hobbies are my happiness, as well as family time. They’re the perfect antidote to work stress and help me feel more fulfilled.
- Be sure to balance your priorities. Focusing only on work will eventually lead to burnout.
What I do → I always create time for reading, juggling, dancing, spending time in nature, and more. Find your happy spots.
Work and leisure together:
You can have new experiences and meet like-minded individuals while still getting your work done.
- Look for ways to blend productivity with enjoyment. If you’re in a new city, work from a café with a great view or a coworking space that hosts social events.
What I do → I search for coworking spaces before arriving at my next destination, using coworker.com. If their fees are quite expensive, I also use Google Maps for coworking-friendly cafés.
Different routines:
You don’t have to stick to just one routine. Digital nomads are often on the move, living in different cities or countries from month to month or every few months.
The goal isn’t to rigidly adhere to a single routine, because one routine may not suit every situation. When you can’t stick to a routine, it may lead to feelings of failure or frustration. Instead, create different routines for different situations.
Is burnout loading? Here’s how you can avoid it
Oh, no! Burnout is the worst, but it’s common when the lines between work and personal life start to blur. That’s why setting clear boundaries and sticking to a schedule are a must. Moreover, creating a physical separation, even if it’s just a corner of your living room, helps you mentally switch between “work mode” and “relaxation mode.”
And remember, it’s okay to say “no” to extra work when you’re already maxed out. Prioritizing your workload and focusing on the most important tasks can help keep stress in check.
Proper workload
Freelance content writers should pay attention to consistently pitch because filing the workload in the current month can be super stressful.
What I do ⇾ My monthly capacity is 6 to 10 work projects, so I don’t accept extra work beyond that. I have client pages on Notion to track my workload and fill the next month’s work before the current month is over.
Exercise
Regular physical exercise is non-negotiable for me —it boosts my hormones, mental and physical well-being. When I keep myself physically and mentally happy, my overall mood throughout the day improves, and I handle challenges more easily.
What I do ⇾ I stretch in the morning, then do push-ups or jump rope exercises—usually around 45 minutes. Later in the day, I may practice cardio, belly dancing or juggling. If I live near the sea, I prefer to go swimming. I can’t imagine living a sedentary life. Don’t get me wrong. I never force myself to do daily exercise, but I make sure to maintain regular weekly physical activities. It’s not only to avoid burnout; I also want to stay strong as I age.
Socializing
Even though humanity has reached a point where it can be really annoying, socializing is still important, and you don’t have to have hundreds of friends. Make plans with a few quality ones. What if you don’t have any friends yet in your next digital nomad destination? If making friends feels challenging, join local cultural and sports activities. Starting a conversation isn’t as hard as you think.
Besides, staying connected with family and friends is just as important as social activities. Meeting face to face can be hard when you’re halfway around the world, but don’t let that stop you — make online calls.
What I do → As soon as I arrive in a new city, I find out where events are being announced. It could be a WhatsApp or Telegram group, for example. In Koh Phangan, there were WhatsApp groups where all kinds of events were posted every morning.
Self-care & well-being
Hey, they’re not just a luxury; they’re a necessity. Your mental, emotional, and physical health should be in balance.
What I do ⇾ I’ve reduced my social media activity, even deleting apps like Facebook from my phone. Morning and evening “me time” are important to me. Hobbies, balanced sleep and diet… These all recharge me. The healthier I am, the more productive and creative I become.
What tools can help remote workers balance their work and personal lives?
Here are some must-haves:
- Project management software: Tools like Notion, Trello,or Asana will keep you organized by tracking tasks and deadlines. These platforms allow you to break down large projects into manageable tasks, assign due dates, and collaborate with team members — all in one place. I use Notion for almost everything, whether it’s work or personal life; I’m a big fan! It provides amazing free and paid features.
- Time tracking apps: Keeping track of how you spend your time can help you identify areas where you might be wasting it. Try apps like Clockify.
- Communication tools: I actively use Slack for communication with colleagues and communities. These kinds of tools offer features like instant messaging, video calls, and file sharing, which help replace the casual office interactions you miss.
- Digital planners and calendars: Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, or tools like Notion allow you to schedule meetings, set reminders, and plan your day.
- Mindfulness and meditation apps: Apps like Headspace or Calm offer guided meditation and mindfulness exercises that can help reduce stress and promote overall well-being.
- Also, setting “do not disturb” modes on your devices or using apps will limit screen time.
You don’t need to make perfect plans or stick to them flawlessly. The real goal is to build the time management habit and use it more mindfully. Some days, if you’re not feeling your plans, just let it be and go with the flow. It’s not a loss, I promise.
See time management as a process of becoming a better version of yourself, and enjoy the journey.
Read second article:
1. With the Proven Time Management Techniques, Shape Your Routines For More Productivity.
P.S: To be continued. I’ll talk about time management and productivity techniques, share other freelancers’ advices and more. To not miss it, subscribe to Writing Club.