I Work Remotely — and This Is How I Outsmarted My Boss’s “Digital Babysitter”

**I Work Remotely — and This Is How I Outsmarted My Boss’s “Digital Babysitter”**

I work remotely.

Recently, my boss asked for my laptop to install a tool to track my working hours.

“I don’t need a digital babysitter! Remote work runs on trust, not control,” I said.

Next day, HR forced me to install it anyway. I thanked them with a smile.

But what they didn’t know is that now I… **work smarter, not harder.**

You see, the tracking tool monitors *activity* — mouse movements, keyboard strokes, and screen time.

So, I set up a tiny **auto-mouse mover** that keeps my cursor gently gliding across the screen whenever I take a break. It costs $5 online — a small price for poetic justice.

Now, my “activity report” shows perfect consistency: no idle minutes, no “downtime.” Meanwhile, I’ve never been more relaxed, productive, or creative.

I finish my work early, go for walks, cook lunch from scratch, and still deliver everything on time — sometimes ahead of schedule.

A few weeks later, my manager said,

> “You’re one of our most consistent remote workers. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.”

I smiled again.

Because here’s the truth — **productivity isn’t about constant movement; it’s about trust, balance, and results.**

And if leadership can’t see that, maybe it’s not the employees who need monitoring — it’s the culture.