Hey friend,

Remember when we escaped the cubicle for “freedom”?
Then somehow ended up answering Slack messages from the shower?

Yeah. The lines didn’t just blur — they straight-up vanished like your lunch break.

The truth is, most of us never stopped to figure out how to work remotely well.
We just took our office habits, packed them in a laptop, and called it progress.

This week, we’re talking about getting actual balance — not by doing more, but by doing it differently.

Let’s fuse hustle mode with human mode.

—Ric & Shellie

P.S. The easiest way to support Thrive Remotely? Share it with a friend who’s sending a message this very second, on “personal time.”

LIFESTYLE

Living Slow in a Fast-Paced World: Glimmers, Not Gold

By Samantha Toomey Ballard

When did flexibility stop feeling like freedom? 

Sam grew up with Olympic parents who taught her that success meant always reaching for more, until remote work forced her to redefine achievement entirely. She discovered that protecting small, sacred moments (what she calls "glimmers") isn't about falling behind. It's about falling into your life. 

Her surprising take on boundaries, rest, and presence might just change how you measure thriving.

Learn Sam's glimmers over gold philosophy →

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS

How do you embrace slow living as a remote worker?

RESOURCED LIVING

🍂 October — Letting It Fall Away

By Becca Marshall

Resourced Living is a monthly column for remote workers, weaving practices and tools as lifestyle medicine—so you can stay balanced, clear, and supported in everyday life.

What if the work rhythms you're clinging to are actually holding you back? 

Becca was gripping her business routines so tightly—chasing safety and control—that she nearly missed the opportunities waiting to unfold. When she finally loosened her grip and let what no longer fit fall away, she discovered something unexpected underneath: deeper connections, renewed energy, and clarity she didn't know she needed. 

Her ten-minute "Leaf Drop" practice might be the permission slip you've been waiting for.

Drop your dead leaves and find what's underneath →

QUICK TAKES

Savoring Work Flexibility

✅ The Anti-Hustle Work Culture. Are you overworked, burned out, and tired of the relentless pursuit of success at any cost? Then, join the anti-hustle culture.

✅ Soft Life, Remote Work, and the Audacity to Rest. We still have responsibilities: jobs, deadlines, bills, and goals… and within that, we also have choices.

✅ Feeling Overwhelmed? You Need a Minimum Viable Day. Preserve your well-being, avoid burnout, and eat a cake.

MEME OF THE WEEK

THE VIBE

News to Use

🔆 Can ‘microshifting’ at work help make your career more flexible? Workplaces aren’t as rigid and structured as they once were, employees are embracing ‘microshifting’ to adapt their work schedules.

🔆 Harvard Research Says Great Leaders Do 3 Simple Things to Motivate the Best Employees. You can’t mandate psychological safety.

🔆 6 Home Office Trends You're About to See Everywhere, According to Designers.

POLL – NEXT WEEKS TOPIC

Next week: Negotiating Your Worth - By positioning expertise and outcomes as unique assets, remote professionals can transcend traditional corporate structures and maximize their career potential.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Get Out There Already

Your laptop works anywhere, so why are you still home alone?

Halloween happy hours. Morning co-working with actual humans. Book clubs that aren't just you and your Kindle. Vibecoding tutorials (whatever that means—we're intrigued too).

From Naperville to El Paso, remote workers are gathering IRL this week. Pick a city. Show up. Remember what faces look like.

Your couch will survive without you.

🗓️ Check out the Community Calendar!

RESOURCES

Cool newsletters you’ll love 🥰

🧑‍🚀 Customer Success Jobs : The newsletter for remote, high-paying Customer Success Jobs

🤓 MarketingAlec : Skip the AI hype, get real results. Join 12,000+ marketers learning the AI tools and prompts that drove 40% better performance.

😎 Thriving Freelance: Gigs & Growth : Hundreds of job opportunities sent directly to your inbox each week, plus timely resources to support you as you grow and evolve. The Harlow newsletter is a treasure trove for freelancers, creators, and entrepreneurs.