Flexible schedule, no commute, work from anywhere: there are so many potential perks provided by our relatively new way of working. But with loads of digital distractions, it’s more important than ever to strategize how we spend our workdays.

A few years ago I came across this lovely little book by Jocelyn K. Glei, Manage Your Day-To-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus & Sharpen Your Creative Mind, and it’s been a great resource ever since. The bite size chapters are filled with practical advice on creating routine, avoiding distraction, and accomplishing the work that’s most important to you. The advice is delivered straight from leading researchers and creative professionals like Georgetown professor Cal Newport and British psychologist Dr. Christian Jarrett.

Here are some key takeaways to get started on your way to creating your ideal work routine.

Create a Routine

“The cumulative purpose of doing these things the same way every day seems to be a way of saying to the mind, you’re going to be dreaming soon.”

Stephen King

London-based creative professionals coach Mark McGuinness emphasizes don’t spend the most productive part of your day on “other people’s priorities.” Mark suggests:

• Focus on your creative work first and reactive work second.
• Plan the times of day when your energy is highest for your most important creative work.
• Stick to a start and finish time for your workday.

Tony Schwartz, CEO of The Energy Project, recommends focusing on what your mind and body need to function at their best.

• Don’t let your sleep slip. As Schwartz notes, “Sleep is more important than food…Give up sleep for even a couple of days and you’ll become completely dysfunctional.”
• Schedule your day around your bodies natural ultradian rhythms, “ninety-minute periods at the end of which we reach the limits of our capacity to work at the highest level.”

Stay Focused

“What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention”

Social Scientist, Herbert Simon

Georgetown University writer and professor Cal Newport encourages taking control of your schedule, so you don’t risk losing every opportunity to focus on your most important creative work. Respect the time you schedule for your creative work equally as much as time blocked off for other meetings and appointments. Newport recommends:

• Block off “a substantial chunk of time” each week to focus solely on your most important creative tasks.
• Treat this blocked off time as you would any other appointment or meeting.
• Keep this time free from distraction. No email, no internet, no phone.

Dr. Christian Jarrett, PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, reminds us that multitasking is not an effective work strategy. “Studies show the human mind can only truly multitask when it comes to highly automatic behaviors like walking.” When we do 2 tasks at once we’re not multitasking, but “task switching” and spending more time and less focus on each task.

• Close email & social media when doing focused work to avoid background distractions.
• Find a good stopping point on one project before moving to the next to give yourself “mental closure.”
• When problem solving, take your mind off the task at hand to help your subconscious generate new ideas.

It’s easy to get caught up in bad habits and distractions. But building a daily routine can help you avoid “reactionary workflow,” become more productive, and complete those creative projects that keep taking a back seat.

Make Changes

Interested in more wellness posts? Scroll down for Posture Tips.

First, here’s a quick recap of tips to improve your routine:

• Focus on your creative work first and reactive work second.
• Plan the times of day when your energy is highest for your most important creative work.
• Stick to a start and finish time for your workday.
• Don’t let your sleep slip.
• Schedule your day around your bodies natural 90-minute ultradian rhythms.
• Block off “a substantial chunk of time” each week to focus solely on your most important creative tasks.
• Treat this blocked off time as you would any other appointment or meeting.
• Keep this time free from distraction. No email, no internet, no phone.
• Close email & social media when doing focused work to avoid background distractions.
• Find a good stopping point on one project before moving to the next to give yourself “mental closure.”
• When problem solving, take your mind off the task at hand to help your subconscious generate new ideas.

Thanks for reading!

How Posture Makes You Happier and More Energetic at Work

Expert Advice on Creating an Ideal Work Routine was originally published in Everywhere, by Pluot on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Each week our Remote Roundup looks at trends & stories from and for digital nomads, remotes, and distributed teams. We’d love to hear your own! Reach us at @pluotco.

• From a former textile factory to a converted bakery and refurbished warehouses, Barcelona is home to some of the coolest coworking spaces in Europe. @EU-Startups
• As digital nomads seek a sense of community and the collaboration and creative inspiration that comes with it, alternative living situations are gaining popularity worldwide. @toptalllc
• Heather R. Huhman on tracking remote employee hours, setting a clear definition of “work,” and more — what companies need to keep in mind about the new overtime rule. via Entrepreneur Magazine
• What cities are best for working from home? While Austin and San Diego have some of the highest rates of telecommuters, Atlanta has one of the best telework advocacy groups in the nation. @usnews
• Finding the right digital tools can make or break the remote design studio experience, writes UX designer Sanette Tanaka. (For better screen sharing during your video conference, use Pluot’s 2-simultaneous screen shares. Only Pluot lets 2 different people screen share at the same time.) @Viget

This Week in Remote — July 30, 2016 was originally published in Everywhere, by Pluot on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

There’s an inspiring world of startups out there, and each week we’ll share the latest news and resources about what’s new in the Global Startup Economy.

This week in Global Startups

• Estonia-based startup Guaana is gifting 10% of its company to 100,000 scientists in the global scientific community. Their aim is to create a platform that encourages shared knowledge and accelerates scientific breakthroughs worldwide. via ArcticStartup
• As part of their mission to make electric circuits accessible to people of all ages and experience levels, Tokyo-based startup AgIC has created a pen with electricity conducting ink. via @mashable
• The finalists have been announced for the DEMO Africa conference. @DEMOAfrica serves as a platform to give African entrepreneurs exposure and access to the global economy. Out of 723 applicants 30 startups were selected to launch their products at the conference this August.
• TripScout’s Founder and CEO, Konrad Waliszewski, supplies a list of some of the best free resources from thought leaders in tech (and more) in his recommendations for emerging market startups. via Entrepreneur Magazine
• Seoul launches a second government-backed global accelerator, Seoul Global Startup Center, with hopes of developing and supporting global entrepreneurs and increasing innovation in the Korean economy. via @Ventureburn

This Week in Global Startups — July 25, 2016 was originally published in Everywhere, by Pluot on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.