I’ve been working remotely for a while now, and one thing I didn’t expect was how much decision fatigue and miscommunication can mess with your momentum. Coding from home sounds ideal until you realize you’re spending half your time figuring out what the priorities are or waiting on a message that could’ve been a two-minute conversation.
So I started experimenting with how I work. Here’s what helped me stay sane and productive as a developer working from home.
Clear priorities save hours
I used to write code based on what felt urgent in the moment. That worked… until it didn’t. Now I block out 10–15 minutes every morning to set 3 clear goals. If I finish those, I call the day a win.
This structure cuts down on multitasking and gives you a reason to stop over-polishing features that already work.
Say more in fewer messages
You don’t need long Slack threads to explain something. I started writing short summaries when reporting bugs, reviewing PRs, or documenting tasks. Just enough to give context without wasting time.
It’s amazing how much faster decisions happen when people understand your intent the first time.
Tools don’t solve communication
We’ve all been there—jumping from tool to tool hoping for clarity. What helped more than anything was aligning on how we use the tools, not which tools we use. Some teams use shared docs, others go async-first, and some schedule quick check-ins.
We actually explored some structured approaches to decision-making and planning. One that stood out was Leadership Support. It’s geared more toward alignment and strategy than dev-specific work, but it helped our team communicate better about direction without micromanagement.
Takeaway
Remote work is here to stay. So is complexity. But with the right habits and mindset, you don’t have to feel lost in a sea of pings and updates.
Structure your work
Keep your messages clear
Choose tools with intention
…and most importantly, don’t wait for someone else to fix the mess.
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