Work-Life Harmony: How To Set Clear Boundaries as a Digital Nomad

“So you quit your 9-5 job to become a digital nomad. Congrats, now you work 24/7!”

This is a sentiment that I hear a lot in the remote world. Without the structure of commuting to an office, the lines between work and play can get blurred for many digital nomads. They end up bringing their laptops everywhere — working when it’s time to rest, and procrastinating when it’s time to hustle.

This is where boundaries come in. As digital nomads, the challenge is to create these structures for ourselves so that we remain productive and achieve work-life harmony in the process.

Here’s how you can set these boundaries for yourself:

Create a routine

Building a productive routine is one of the best ways to set boundaries as a digital nomad. And unlike the rigid structures of office work, you have the freedom to build a schedule that works for you. You can plan out your working days and decide on your work hours. You can even carve out time for hobbies, housework, and other activities.

For example, you can spend Mondays to Wednesdays in hustle mode and then gradually taper off your tasks as the weekend approaches. Or you can spend 4 hours of deep work each day, and spend the remaining time doing whatever you want.

The beauty of remote work is that you have the freedom to create routines for yourself. Honor this freedom by sticking to these routines.

Have a dedicated workspace

Don’t work where you rest. As much as possible, avoid working on your bed or couch. Instead, create a designated workspace to boost your productivity and improve your overall health and posture.

You don’t even have to build a fancy home office to create a dedicated work area. If you’re at home, a desk and an ergonomic chair can do the trick.

When traveling, check out cafes, hotel lobbies, or a local co-working space during your work hours. This way, you can separate work and play — and avoid bringing your laptop to your next adventure.

Communicate effectively

Another way to set boundaries is to communicate clearly with your team members and clients. If you’re traveling frequently, make sure to update your current timezone and let your team know. Set clear expectations for deadlines, deliverables, and meeting times. Otherwise, you might end up scheduling meetings at odd hours or miss deadlines because of changing schedules.

Be flexible when you can as well. Find time overlaps with your remote team so that you can collaborate in real-time. Alternatively, you can use tools like Loom to keep things asynchronous.

Discipline is key

Protect your time, energy, and attention. These are 3 things you can rarely get back or replenish, so it’s vital that you keep them in check by exercising discipline.

Make your job easier by eliminating distractions. Allot time for deep work mode. Turn off your social media and email notifications. Tell your clients about your availability for calls and meetings instead of checking your messages all day long. Lastly, learn how to prioritize your tasks and manage your energy instead of multitasking.

These will help you stay focused throughout your workday — and will eliminate distractions when it’s time to play.

Related: How the Eisenhower Matrix keeps me productive

Learn how to say no

You’ll come across a lot of opportunities in your digital nomad journey. Some are great, while others end up being shiny objects that will take you away from your priorities.

Your task will be to discern between the two — and learn how to say no to things that don’t add value to your life or contribute to your goals.

Physically step away from your workspace

This last tip is possibly the most simple one: physically step away from your workspace. Similar to the concept of “fake commuting”, stepping away from your workplace helps your brain understand that it’s time to close shop for the day and relax.

At the end of your workday, make it a point to turn off your laptop, leave your desk, and reset.

Final thoughts

The great thing about being a digital nomad is you have a lot of freedom: you can decide how, when, and where to work. But it can be a double-edged sword if you’re not careful.

Without office cubicles, the lines between work and play are blurred. As a digital nomad, it’s your privilege and mission to create structures for yourself to remain productive and achieve work-life harmony.

Which of these tips will you apply? Let me know!