From flow-based schedules to snack rewards, refresh your remote routine with these unconventional productivity hacks.
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Remote work has given us the freedom to experiment with how, when and where we work. While most productivity tips focus on structured routines, why not shake things up with some unconventional remote work habits?
With the Sinhala and Tamil New Year around the corner, a time for fresh starts and new rituals, now is the perfect time to refresh your work-from-home game. Here’s how to stay productive while keeping things fun!
Most remote workers start their day with coffee or tea, but what if your morning fuel came from something more solid?
- Swap your caffeine fix for a hearty breakfast ritual, whether it is a plate of kiri-bath (Milk rice), bread toast or just last night’s leftovers.
- If work feels extra challenging, just remind yourself, “A well-fed brain is a productive brain”.
- Bonus: If you eat a big breakfast, you might even skip lunch and get more work done (or just take a nap, we do not judge).
Warning: Too much comfort food = an unavoidable afternoon productivity crash.
The classic work-from-home advice is to dress up like you are going to the office. But let’s be honest, you are at home and comfort matters.
Instead of the usual “business casual”, why not switch it up with something cool and breezy?
- Try working in a pyjamas, the ultimate balance of comfort and class.
- Pick outfits in auspicious New Year colours because who does not want a little extra luck with their emails?
Try This: Assign a different outfit theme for each day, Western wear Monday, Sarong Wednesday, and full Avurudu gear on New Year!
Work is all about balance, so why not turn it into a game?
- For every hour of focused work, reward yourself with a break or a snack.
- Set “mini-goals” with fun incentives, finish a project and you get an extra-long lunch break.
- If the task is painful, add a bigger reward (because some things deserve a whole cake).
Warning: If you start giving yourself too many breaks and not enough work, the system has failed.
Some people love making detailed to-do lists. Others feel overwhelmed just looking at them. If you are in the second category, try going with the flow instead.
- Start tasks when your energy feels right because sometimes, writing emails at 8 AM just is not meant to be.
- Take breaks when you need them, not when the clock says you should.
- If something feels too difficult, just say, "Maybe the universe is telling me to try this later".
Sometimes, an unexpected workspace can give you a fresh perspective.
- Work on the balcony, in the garden or by a window to get natural light.
- Switch locations every few hours—because sitting in the same place all day is not inspiring.
- If possible, work from a coffee shop or co-working space for a change of environment.
Try This: Need a creativity boost? Switch locations every few hours, just like you hop from house to house during Avurudu.
Remote workers miss out on the daily office gossip (and the free snacks), but the worst part? No official commute to mentally prepare for the day.
Instead of a boring fake commute, walk to your kitchen like you are visiting your neighbour’s house for Avurudu treats. Serve yourself a plate of kiri bath. Then walk back to your desk like you are returning from a New Year’s visit.
Some people work better when someone is silently judging them. That is why virtual coworking spaces exist, you log in and a random stranger watches you work.
Forget strangers, just ask you parents or your grandparents to casually walk by your desk every 10 minutes and comment,
- “Still on the same page, ah?”
- “Are you sure this is real work?”
- “Back in our day, we didn’t need laptops to do business.”
Tea breaks are more than just hydration, they are a mental reset.
- Schedule a proper tea break, step away from your desk, make your drink and actually enjoy it.
- If you are feeling extra social, turn it into a virtual tea break with friends or colleagues.
- Use this time to reflect, recharge or just stare into space for a bit (yes, it is productive).
Bonus: Studies show that stepping away from work for a short break can actually improve focus and creativity, so do not skip it!
Remote work is not just about getting the job done, it is about surviving the day with your sanity intact. Whether you are tricking your brain with snack-based incentives, strategically moving to different work locations like a highly unmotivated nomad or letting the fear of judgment from your mother improve your productivity, the goal is to make work feel less like work.
At the end of the day, no one really has it all figured out. Some people thrive on strict schedules, while others operate purely on chaotic energy and the occasional burst of last-minute panic. What matters is that you find a system that works for you, even if that system involves rewarding yourself with an entire Avurudu kevili (Avurudu Treats) plate for finishing a single email.
So go ahead, embrace the unconventional and experiment with weird productivity hacks!
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