Day in the Life of a Remote Worker: Chase Warrington
This spotlight illustrates how each remote worker finds freedom and productivity in their everyday life, in their unique way. Get inspired and see how you can improve your workspace, workflow, and work/life balance.
Name: Chase Warrington
Pronouns: he/him/his
Current Job: Head of Business Development @ Doist
Current Location: Valencia, Spain
Current Computer: 2020 Mac Book Pro 13in
Current mobile devices: iphone 11 pro
What does your typical workday look like?
I typically wake up between 6:30am but the alarm is set for 7:15am, just in case! I try to start work by 8:00am, and the earlier I can get up, the more time I have for my “non-negotiables” (the things I try to do for myself in the morning: enjoy a coffee, take the dog out, read/listen to something for pleasure).
From 8:00am to 10:00am I try to knock out my top priority task for the day (p1), using any extra time to take a break or read articles from Pocket or my reading list. Between 10:00am and 12:00pm I go through email, Twist and Zendesk, hopefully hitting inbox zero in all of them.
From 12:00pm to 3:00pm I usually take a break to get some exercise, shower, and enjoy lunch.
From 3:00pm to 7:00pm I open my calendar up for meetings, usually having 1-3 per day, and am normally able to finish my p2 and p3 tasks in between calls. I try to finish everything between 6:30pm and 7:30pm, then go for a walk or meet up with friends (in normal times!), before heading home to make dinner with my wife. Cooking has become somewhat of a decompressor for me, and a time for us to catch up on the day and enjoy some time together.
I’m normally in bed by 11:00pm, maybe a little Netflix or Audible to cap the day off, then back to do it all over again. Twice per week I also squeeze in a 1-hour Spanish lesson, and about 30 minutes to study on the non-class days.
From 8:00am to 10:00am I try to knock out my top priority task for the day (p1), using any extra time to take a break or read articles from Pocket or my reading list. Between 10:00am and 12:00pm I go through email, Twist and Zendesk, hopefully hitting inbox zero in all of them.
From 12:00pm to 3:00pm I usually take a break to get some exercise, shower, and enjoy lunch.
From 3:00pm to 7:00pm I open my calendar up for meetings, usually having 1-3 per day, and am normally able to finish my p2 and p3 tasks in between calls. I try to finish everything between 6:30pm and 7:30pm, then go for a walk or meet up with friends (in normal times!), before heading home to make dinner with my wife. Cooking has become somewhat of a decompressor for me, and a time for us to catch up on the day and enjoy some time together.
I’m normally in bed by 11:00pm, maybe a little Netflix or Audible to cap the day off, then back to do it all over again. Twice per week I also squeeze in a 1-hour Spanish lesson, and about 30 minutes to study on the non-class days.
Describe your workspace setup:
Typically I go to a co-working space where I have a dedicated 2-meter desk, dual-screen monitors, laptop riser, back support on a comfy chair, and a foot raiser. Ergonomics are beginning to become more important as I get a bit older :) During quarantine I’ve taken over my wife’s sewing table and turned it into my own little office in the living room. I have a big window next to me, both monitors and yes, my back supporter, strapped to a regular kitchen chair :)
What do you listen to while you work?
I listen to a wide variety of instrumental music, ranging from upbeat house to traditional Irish instrumental and even just straight-up bagpipes sometimes. I find these types of music drown out the background noise and help me focus, without providing tunes that I tend to get caught up in. I use Spotify and YouTube to choose pre-curated playlists, as this is something I’ve found I wish I had the patience to do myself - but I don’t. My go-to at the moment is Deep House Relax on Spotify.
Aside from your phone and computer, name a gadget you can’t live without in your workspace:
My earbuds have become an extension of my body! I used to think the bluetooth headphones were a luxury, now I can’t stand having a cord in front of me. Even when I’m not working, I’m usually listening to a podcast or Audible, and I often even fall asleep with them in my ears.
Connect with Chase:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chase-warrington
Connect with Chase:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chase-warrington