What happens when you give people freedom and they refuse to use it

I never thought suggesting remote workers take a Tuesday afternoon hike would spark a backlash.

But here we are. The concept of blending professional responsibilities with adventure, learning, and personal interests has become weirdly polarizing. Remote work can empower your personal life if you regularly design your routine to serve your interests and well-being. The keys are intentional planning, flexibility, and continuous integration of adventure, learning, and connection. Simple, right?

Wrong.

The Great Shutdown

"I just can't." "There's no way I could take any time for myself." "My job doesn't allow flexibility."

These responses cross my path more than I ever anticipated. It's more surprising than I thought how quickly people shut down the concept. Remote, flexible, and independent workers, people with literal location freedom, block themselves from integrating travel, adventure, and hobbies into their lives because of overwork, blurred boundaries, logistical concerns, and fear of isolation.

The irony? They're often working harder than their office-bound counterparts while convincing themselves that success requires sacrificing everything else.

The Plot Twist

Here's where I get a little spicy: some of you are making this harder than it needs to be.

First, be open to the idea. Revolutionary, I know.

Start by defining your purpose. Why are you working remotely? What personal goals and values drive you? Let this clarity guide every decision, from workation plans to daily schedules. When you align professional milestones with life ambitions, learning new skills, experiencing diverse cultures, building relationships, completing work tasks actually advances your larger vision.

Support your routine with physical activity, mindfulness, and healthy boundaries for rest. Wellness isn't optional; it's foundational for thriving remotely.

And here's the kicker: it's okay to start simple. Not everyone needs a month-long Bali retreat. Start with a Saturday morning hobby time, Thursday trivia night, or morning cycling class. 

Give yourself something to look forward to.

The Real Benefits

Personal interests actively enrich your remote work experience by enhancing creativity, boosting motivation, and promoting well-being when intentionally integrated into daily routines. 

Shocking revelation: humans need more than spreadsheets to thrive.

If you're only putting effort and energy into work without counterbalancing that with fun, creative, stimulating outlets, you're guaranteed to burn out or become resentful of your career.

We need things to look forward to. Period.

The Future Isn't About Work

As we've said countless times at Thrive Remotely: we're not talking about the future of work—we're talking about the future of living.

Your laptop gave you freedom. Stop using it to build a prettier prison.