Working Remotely While Traveling
It has become easy to do our day-to-day work from anywhere using information and communication technologies such as laptops, wi-fi, phones, tablets, etc.
After the pandemic, this way of life has spread around the world. Conferences, seminars, dedicated apps, services, and cities have built their reputation around this lifestyle.
And recently, we gave a name to the people who work and travel at the same time: Digital Nomads.
However, I am not here to talk to you only about that. I am also here to convince you that you don’t have to necessarily be a digital nomad, a freelancer, or even self-employed to choose your work environment and travel simultaneously.
Long gone are the days when you had to wait for vacation or retirement to travel!
With a full-time remote job, you can travel now and often. You can make travel part of your way of life and work worldwide.
Nowadays, this is what we call a “workation” - a contraction of the words “work” and “vacation.” It is, in fact, a question of mixing professional life and travel to the other side of the world.
To do this, it’s very simple: take your suitcase, throw in your best summer outfit and your laptop. Don’t forget to pick a friendly destination so you can recharge your batteries, see the country and stay productive!
The advantages of remote work:
- Being able to work from where you want when you want
- The ability to travel and explore the world
- Organize your work schedule
- Improved work-life balance
- Have your work routine and home office be more productive
Being a remote worker will give you the freedom to choose your work hours and even start your own business.
Depending on how you work, you might not have an alarm clock ringing every morning, but you’ll still need the motivation and discipline to get away from the beach and work.
Keep in mind the engagements with companies and people in different time zones, which means you might have to be awake at odd hours chatting on Slack, answering phone calls, or even attending video calls.
In my opinion, these aren’t really downsides to remote work; it’s just a small price to pay for it is a unique experience that allows you to deepen your knowledge of a country and exposes you to a new culture.
Tips for combining travel and remote work
If you’ve felt locked in the same place, now might be an opportunity to turn things around.
Here are a few tips to help you maximize the perks of telework.
A remote worker can simply walk into a cafe and start working while sipping coffee. They can also be lying on a deckchair on a beach in Bali and turning on their phone or laptop to attend zoom calls.
Some take advantage of this status to reside in different countries with a low cost of living and save on tax implications; others take advantage of it to change destinations regularly and discover new cities.
If your preference is to work in several countries, make sure you have:
- Minimum income requirements
- Health insurance documentation
- Length of stay requirements and limitations
Laws differ from country to country, so feel free to check out this website to learn about the digital nomad world.
Moreover, if you prefer to stay in your home country and travel and work remotely now and then, I would advise you to find a co-working space in different cities you visit. These places are everywhere and allow you to meet people while enjoying a good internet connection.
I mean, what’s better than choosing your coworkers, right?
If co-working spaces are not your thing, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.
While booking your workation, you will need to:
- Make sure you select the best type of accommodation
It is sage to pick a hotel place for a workation that is less noisy and has excellent workstations. Hotel efficiency suites are a fantastic option. You can make part of your meals if you have a kitchen, which will help you save time.
- Check if your destination workation is friendly.
Islands and far-off mountains are excellent destinations for peaceful, restful vacations if you only think about holidays. When it comes to working, you should pick a location with a strong cell phone and wi-fi hotspot. For example, if you are booking through Airbnb, you can now check the listing’s internet connection speed.
- Establish a schedule
It is crucial to determine the workday hours and the times you can take breaks to ensure you have time for leisure.
- Bring the Proper Equipment
Consider the few things that are essential for getting work done away from the usual working space. This might include a phone, laptop, or tablet.
- Create your workplace
You should hire a condo, house, cabin, or a few rooms for your working vacation. Let everyone you’re traveling with know that one of the bedrooms is your workspace and that it serves as your “home office away from home.”
Workation can increase your productivity at work because it can renew your energy and inspire you to work effectively. A workation must be carefully organized, or it risks being unproductive. Most importantly, before leaving for the workation, look for the best travel insurance to stay safe!
Nowadays, companies are more and more open to remote work. Ask your boss if you can continue your job remotely for a month. If this is not possible, I recommend you start searching for a remote-first company.
Workations have grown in popularity as more teams realize the advantages of remote work and find ways to switch up their routines without sacrificing productivity. Work can be done in virtual workplaces, and classes can be taken online. Even events taking place on another continent are open to you.
At Stakha, we have more than 90 open positions that are fully remote. We have a solid remote working community that strongly believes in work-life balance.