How I Structure My Work Days Abroad Without Burning Out (or Losing the

How I Structure My Work Days Abroad Without Burning Out (or Losing the Plot)

Jun 04, 2025 | 0 comments

The dream of working from anywhere is real—but no one tells you how easy it is to melt into chaos when there’s no structure, no boss, and no clear line between work and wanderlust. I’ve had mornings in Ubud where I forgot what day it was. I’ve had nights in Lisbon where I realized at midnight that I hadn’t eaten a single vegetable. It’s beautiful and wild and overwhelming all at once.

But over time, I found a rhythm. A way to structure my work days that doesn’t kill my creativity, sabotage my sleep, or make me question my life choices. It’s flexible, human, and rooted in how I actually live—especially in places like Lisbon, Ubud, and Bangkok where the energy is so alive, it’s easy to get swept away.

I Work With My Energy, Not Against It

In Lisbon, my mornings are magic. The light is soft, the cafés are quiet, and I feel most clear-headed between 8AM and noon. That’s my deep work window. I don’t schedule meetings. I don’t check Slack. I open my laptop, light a candle, and write.

In Ubud, the heat hits differently. By 1PM I’m mush. So I shift my work earlier—sometimes starting at 6:30AM, then pausing mid-morning for yoga or a smoothie bowl. The key isn’t strict hours—it’s tuning into when I feel sharp and letting that guide my schedule.

Bangkok? Total night owl energy. I found myself most focused between 7PM and midnight, surrounded by city noise and neon glow. So I let my mornings be slow. Long walks, street coffee, a bit of journaling before diving into tasks later.

Morning Rituals Keep Me Sane

No matter the city, my mornings are sacred. Even if it’s just 30 minutes, I do something for me before I check my phone. That might look like:

Brewing tea in my Airbnb
Sitting on the balcony with my journal
Stretching for 10 minutes with soft music
Walking to my favorite café without headphones

In Lisbon, I’d walk the cobblestone streets before logging on. In Ubud, I’d step into the garden barefoot. These rituals remind me: You’re not just working here. You’re living here.

I Theme My Days (So I Don’t Context Switch Excessively)

One of the best hacks I learned? Theme your days. Instead of juggling 10 types of tasks daily, I assign each day a vibe:

Monday: Admin + Planning
Tuesday/Wednesday: Deep client work
Thursday: Creative tasks (writing, strategy, content)
Friday: Calls, check-ins, and closing loops

In Bangkok, this helped me keep evenings focused. I knew if it was Thursday, it was writing night. I didn’t waste time deciding. In Lisbon, it gave me mental space to explore in the afternoons without guilt.

I Anchor My Day Around One Core Thing

Every day, I ask: What’s the one thing that actually matters today? Then I build around it.

In Ubud, that might’ve been a client delivery. In Lisbon, it could’ve been finishing an article or preparing for a strategy call. Once that’s done, I allow the rest of the day to unfold gently.

This helps me avoid that restless productivity spiral where I do 27 small things and still feel behind.

I Schedule Joy Like It’s Work

No, really—I put it on my calendar.

Tuesdays in Lisbon: 4PM sunset at Miradouro
Wednesdays in Ubud: 10AM massage or sound bath
Fridays in Bangkok: Solo dinner date + night market stroll

When you’re working remotely, joy doesn’t happen by accident. You have to choose it. Structure it. Protect it.

Otherwise, you blink and realize you’ve been inside all week answering emails in paradise. No thank you.

I Leave Room For Spontaneity (But Not Too Much)

One of the gifts of this lifestyle is freedom. But too much freedom can become chaos. So I plan 70% of my week and leave the rest open.

That way, if a new friend invites me to a rooftop gathering in Lisbon, or I stumble on a temple ceremony in Ubud, or I decide to book a random Thai massage at noon—I can.

But I don’t wake up each day with a blank page. That used to overwhelm me. Now, I use structure as a container—not a cage.

Final Thoughts: Structure Isn’t the Enemy—Burnout Is

It’s easy to romanticize the unstructured nomad life. But without rhythm, you drift. Without systems, you stall. And without rest, you break.

My workdays abroad aren’t about hustling harder—they’re about staying grounded while building a life that’s gentle, creative, and mine.

And when it’s done right? Work becomes less of a burden and more of a ritual. A rhythm. A reminder that freedom doesn’t mean floating. It means choosing.

So choose well. Choose with care. And build a work day that feels like you.

blog tags: female solo travel remote work solo travel travel hacks travel tips