My Remote Work Setup for Maximum Productivity

After 3 years of remote work, I’ve refined my setup to maximize focus and minimize distractions.

The Physical Space

Desk Setup

• Standing desk: Flexispot E7 (game changer for energy levels)
• Monitor: 32” 4K display (vertical space is productivity)
• Keyboard: Mechanical (Cherry MX Browns for quiet typing)
• Mouse: Logitech MX Master 3 (best investment ever)

Lighting

• Bias lighting behind monitor (reduces eye strain)
• Desk lamp with adjustable temperature
• Natural light from window (positioned to avoid glare)

Audio

• Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM5 (for deep work)
• Speakers: Small desktop speakers for casual listening
• Microphone: Blue Yeti (for meetings and recordings)

The Digital Environment

Development

• VS Code with these extensions:

  • GitHub Copilot (coding assistant)
  • Prettier (consistent formatting)
  • GitLens (git superpower)
  • Error Lens (instant feedback)

• Terminal: Warp (AI-powered terminal)

• Git client: GitHub Desktop for visual diffs

Productivity

• Task management: Linear (for projects)
• Notes: Obsidian (linked thinking)
• Calendar: Cron (best calendar app)
• Time tracking: Toggl Track (understand where time goes)

Communication

• Slack: Work communication
• Discord: Communities and casual chat
• Zoom: Video calls (still the most reliable)
• Loom: Async video messages

The Schedule

Morning Routine (7:00 - 9:00 AM)

• ☕ Coffee + planning the day
• 📧 Quick email/Slack check (15 min max)
• 🎯 Pick 3 main goals for today
• 📝 Write morning pages (brain dump)

Deep Work Blocks (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

• 🔕 Notifications OFF
• 🎵 Focus music or silence
• ⏱️ Pomodoro: 50 min work / 10 min break
• 🚫 No meetings in this block

Lunch + Movement (12:00 - 1:00 PM)

• 🍽️ Actual lunch away from desk
• 🚶 Walk outside (even if just 10 minutes)
• 📱 Check personal messages

Meetings + Collaboration (1:00 - 4:00 PM)

• 📞 Schedule all meetings here
• 🤝 Pair programming sessions
• 💬 Deep Slack conversations

Wrap Up (4:00 - 5:00 PM)

• ✅ Review completed tasks
• 📋 Plan tomorrow
• 📊 Update project status
• 🔐 Close all work apps

Key Principles

1. Protect Deep Work Time

My morning block is sacred. No meetings, no Slack. Just building.

2. Async by Default

Not everything needs a meeting. Use Loom, detailed Slack messages, or documentation.

3. Clear Boundaries

When work time ends, close everything. Separate work and life physically and digitally.

4. Movement Matters

Standing desk, regular walks, proper ergonomics. Your body affects your mind.

5. Tools Serve You

Don’t let productivity tools become procrastination. Pick what works, ignore the rest.

What Doesn’t Work for Me

• ❌ Working from bed (terrible for sleep and productivity)
• ❌ 24/7 availability (leads to burnout)
• ❌ Too many productivity tools (just use a few well)
• ❌ Skipping breaks (diminishing returns after 90 minutes)

The Result

With this setup:

• More focused deep work
• Better work-life balance
• Fewer context switches
• Higher quality output

Remote work is a skill. It takes intention and optimization, but when done right, it’s incredibly productive.

Your Turn

What’s one thing you could change about your setup this week?

Start small. Optimize one thing. See how it feels.