Hey friend,

Let’s clear this up: free time doesn’t magically show up. Your inbox won’t suddenly behave. And waiting for the “right moment” to travel? That’s just procrastination with a touch of drama.

Remote workers who travel aren’t lucky… they’re deliberate. They plan for it, protect it, and build their work around it instead of the other way around.

This week, we’re breaking down how to use travel to fuel your productivity, not derail it and how to shape 2026 around exploration without blowing up your calendar.

Pack light. Think bigger.

— Ric & Shellie

P.S. Know someone building their life around meetings instead of memories? Forward this. 🙌🏼

LIFESTYLE

Stop Waiting for Free time, Start Planning for Travel

By Jessica Merrill

Still telling yourself you'll travel when things slow down? 

Here's the truth: that moment never arrives on its own. Remote workers who treat travel as essential fuel rather than an optional reward report higher energy, stronger connections, and better work. 

The secret isn't finding free time. It's about intentionally designing your year around exploration, even when your calendar looks packed and your budget feels tight.

Book Your Next Trip Before Your Calendar Does →

QUICK TAKES

The Dream Can Work For You

✅ The Mental Health Benefits of Traveling

✅ How Travel Can Spark Your Creativity

✅ 12 Workcation Ideas to Turn Remote Work Into a Dream Getaway

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS

How will you design for travel in 2026?

LIFESTYLE

How to Intentionally Build Travel into a Remote Lifestyle

By Tyler Powell

Your work doesn't have to be the anchor tethering everything else in place. 

Tyler Powell has spent years traveling extensively while running a remote agency, and he's learned that travel won't happen by accident. It requires structure, boundaries, and one critical first step most people skip entirely. 

Designing for travel is actually designing for your future self, and the process starts with a surprisingly simple calendar hack.

Stop waiting, start designing your travel year →

MEME OF THE WEEK

THE VIBE

News to Use

🔆 I’m working in an office again, and it hasn’t changed my mind about RTO. This is what happens when the office is a resource, not a tool of control.

🔆 No, AI won’t ruin your life — it might even give you a 4-day workweek. If we do things right, we are in store for less work and increased prosperity.

🔆 Why meetings can harm employee well-being. The goal should not be to have fewer meetings, but better ones.

POLL – NEXT WEEKS TOPIC

Next week: Personal Productivity in 2026 - Make 2026 easier and more effective by setting a few concrete systems-focused resolutions around time, procrastination, clutter, email, and meetings.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Your Week Just Got Better

Happy hours in DC and Cary. Coworking sessions from Cincinnati to El Paso. Vinyl DJ nights, charity bingo, and slope sessions for the ski crowd. 

Your fellow remote workers are gathering across the country this week, and there's probably something happening closer than you think.

Find your people (and your next adventure) →

RESOURCES

Cool newsletters you’ll love 🥰

🪜 Profit Ladder : Turn your hard-to-sell services into offers your clients buy

🏆 The Thoughtful Executive : Helping executives and marketers build influence at scale.

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