system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How to stay motivated and productive while advisor is on sabbatical?

My advisor just left for a year-long sabbatical on a different continent (and several different timezones) making regular meetings impractical.  

I tend get things done when there are deadlines or something/someone to be accountable to.  For those who've weathered the same conditions, what are some habits, strategies, and/or tricks you've used to keep you motivated, productive, and moving forward in your research?  My biggest fear is that I will slip into complacency or otherwise fall behind.

I do have a lightly-involved co-advisor, but I get the feeling he's not very interested in stepping in to advise me full time.  However, maybe that's my responsibility to advocate for myself and request the guidance I need. 

**EDIT**:  And while I'm thinking about things, I suspect part of my anxiety stems from my mental-model that most of my work comes *from* my advisor or deadlines they set as opposed being self-driven and working on (or discovering) lines of research on my own.  So, yeah.  advice on how to make that transition is also welcome! ;)

I've been used to semi-regular advisor check-in's, so maybe having some mental space to think about things will help.  I guess we'll find out.
gpt
I like this question. This is a good question. 

Here are some ideas. 
-Join a writing group or research group, if there isn't one that fits your exact needs, why not create an informal reading group for the year. Connect with others writing on overlapping topics and arrange to meet for coffee once a month for the next 8 months. Agree with each other that on the 1st of the month or whatever you will each circulate a draft paper and critique it during coffee later in the month. 

-Plan 1-2 meetings with the co-advisor to check in and use those as deadlines for some other component in your work (and newly written chapter, for example). 

-Write out an ambitious timeline for everything you hope to achieve that year, remind yourself that you don't have to "hit" all of these goals, but they are your most ambitious aims.