Hey Chaos-Crushing Nomads,

Stop daydreaming about the “remote life” and start actually living it. 💥
Remote work isn’t just about swapping the office chair for a couch, it’s your license to design a routine that fuels your passions, your sanity, and your adventures.

This week: Tyler shows us how intentional planning unlocked more freedom (and fun). Ric calls out the folks still acting like flexibility is a burden. And together, we’re proving that when you design your days around what matters, remote work doesn’t just fit your life. It elevates it.

So, ready to stop imagining and start experiencing?

Let’s thrive, not just survive.
– Ric & Shellie

P.S. Want to help more people quit remote autopilot? Share the newsletter with your crew. 🙌

LIFESTYLE

Work or Wanderlust? You Don’t Have to Choose.

By Tyler Powell

Ever wonder how some remote workers land major projects from Lisbon hostels while you're stuck at your kitchen table? 

Tyler cracked the code after his freelancing chaos nearly killed his nomad dreams. Turns out, the secret isn't hustling harder, it's designing workflows that make adventure inevitable. But the real game-changer happens when you flip one assumption about boundaries.

Discover Tyler's "remote settler" blueprint for having both →

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS

How do you currently blend work with adventure?

LIFESTYLE

The Day I Realized Remote Workers Can Be Their Own Worst Enemy

By Ric Pratte, Thrive Remotely Founder

Plot twist: suggesting remote workers take a Tuesday hike apparently counts as radical advice now. 

Who knew? Ric thought he was being helpful until the "I just can't" brigade showed up in full force. Here's the kicker, these same people complaining about zero flexibility are often grinding harder than their office-dwelling friends while building golden handcuffs out of Wi-Fi signals. 

Spoiler alert: your adventures and hobbies might actually be the secret weapon your career's been missing.

Find out how to escape your prettier prison →

QUICK TAKES

You Are More Than Your Job

✅ How to Balance Remote Work and Travel. “Balance is not something you find; it’s something you create.”

✅ Navigating Remote Work and Self-Care: Tips to Stay Balanced and Connected

✅ How Pursuing a Hobby Can Improve Your Remote Working Productivity. Lowers stress - higher creativity - increased energy

MEME OF THE WEEK

THE VIBE

News to Use

🔆 Gallup Research Challenges Narrative Of A Mass Return To The Office. Gallup’s latest data shows only minor shifts in how Americans work, with hybrid arrangements still dominant despite a 4-point decline this year.

🔆 Remote Workers Who Actually Feel Like They’re Accomplishing Something Do These 7 Things On A Regular Basis. It's easy to feel like you don't measure up when you're not getting feedback.

🔆 Why Return-to-Office Mandates Aren’t the Productivity Boost Leaders Think They Are. When leaders prioritize intention over obligation and view flexibility as a strategic asset, they don’t just hold onto talent—they unlock it.

STATE OF REMOTE

Fortune 500's New 3-Day Standard

POLL – NEXT WEEKS TOPIC

Next Week: Growth Mindset Toolkit, continually grow skills, stay engaged, and turn experiences into opportunities for personal/professional development.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Your Couch Called, It's Jealous

🗓️ Check out the Community Calendar!

Your laptop's been places, but have you? So many new events happening this week!

This week's lineup serves everything from sunrise yoga in Chicago to sunset beers in North Carolina. Whether you're craving difficult hikes with fellow masochists or gentle coworking with caffeine addicts, someone's hosting your vibe somewhere. 

Stop doom-scrolling and start doom-socializing instead.

RESOURCES

Cool newsletters you’ll love 🥰

😎 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.

🖥️ Workspaces : Discover workspaces that inspire productivity

🏖️ Anywhere Income : Remote friendly business models. Every week. In your inbox.