Stoic Practices for Modern Remote Life
Remote work is awesome, but let’s be honest—sometimes it’s a circus of Slack pings, surprise meetings, and that weird sense of “am I doing enough?” that creeps in between tasks. In my early months of working remotely (from a tiny Airbnb in Asheville with spotty Wi-Fi and an over-caffeinated dog), I learned that juggling uncertainty isn’t about finding the perfect productivity hack. It’s about building the mental muscles to stay steady when everything’s shifting. That’s where stoicism comes in.
Why Stoicism Makes Sense for Remote Workers
Let’s clear something up: stoicism isn’t about being emotionless. It’s about learning to separate what you can control from what you can’t—and not letting the rest eat you alive. If you’ve ever panicked over a team deadline, only to realize you can’t make your designer’s Wi-Fi any faster, you’ve already run into a classic stoic dilemma.
“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” — Seneca
Here’s where stoicism gets practical: it helps you manage anxiety, focus on what matters, and stop your brain from spiraling when the world (or your video call) freezes.
Story Time: The Slack Storm
Last year, I was mid-sprint on a big project when my notifications exploded. One teammate had a family emergency, another lost their internet, and the whole schedule got tossed. Old me would’ve panicked and tried to fix everything. Stoic me took a deep breath, focused on my piece of the puzzle, and let the rest play out. We delivered late, but still crushed the client’s expectations—because I wasn’t running on stress fumes.
3 Stoic Practices to Try in 15 Minutes
Here’s how you can apply stoicism right now, without reading a single dusty Roman text:
1. The Dichotomy of Control
What it is: Distinguishing between what you can influence and what’s out of your hands.
How to use it: Next time you’re stressed about a project, make two lists:
- Things I control: My code quality, my communication, my schedule.
- Things I don’t control: Team members’ internet, budget cuts, client revisions.
Spend your energy on the first list. (Seriously, print it out if you need to.)
2. Negative Visualization (Premeditatio Malorum)
What it is: Imagine what could go wrong—not to freak yourself out, but to prepare.
How to use it: Before a big meeting, think: “What if my connection drops? What if I lose my notes?”
Then, plan: Keep backup notes. Use your phone’s hotspot if needed. Now you’re cool if disaster strikes.
3. Morning Reflection
What it is: A short routine to set your mindset for the day.
How to use it: Each morning, jot down:
- What’s likely to annoy me today?
- How will I respond if it happens?
This 5-minute exercise saves way more time than you’d think.
Quick Stoic Remote-Worker Checklist
| Practice | Tool/Tip | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Dichotomy of Control | Two-column notebook, Notion, or sticky notes | Daily or when stressed |
| Negative Visualization | “What could go wrong?” list in Evernote or Google Keep | Before big events |
| Morning Reflection | Journal (paper or app like Day One) | Every morning |
| Pause & Breathe | Box breathing app, Apple Watch reminder | When overwhelmed |
| Evening Review | Short reflection on what went well/what didn’t | End of workday |
My Favorite Tools for Stoic Remote Living
- Notion — for daily checklists and journaling.
- Headspace — for guided breathing and mindfulness breaks.
- Farnam Street’s Mental Models — for deeper dives into mental clarity.
- The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday — bite-sized stoic wisdom.
- Day One — for super-easy digital journaling (syncs across devices!).
Final Thoughts (from a Guy Who’s Still Learning)
Stoicism isn’t a magic fix for remote chaos. But if you practice these habits—even imperfectly—you’ll spend less time in panic mode and more time actually enjoying the freedom remote work offers. Plus, you might even chuckle at your next internet outage instead of losing your mind.
“The obstacle on the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.”
If you want to dig deeper, check out the tools above or browse the Daily Stoic site for more inspiration. Start small: one practice, one day. Your future, calmer self will thank you.
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