Found an awesome travel deal you can’t stop thinking about, but already spent most of your holiday allowance?
Why not travel while working remotely?
If you’re worried that you won’t have an internet connection when you most need it or won’t be reachable in case of an emergency, know it’s completely normal to feel apprehensive because that’s how I used to feel.
What’s changed for me? After working on the road in the past few years, I’ve figured out some of the main issues people have to face and what you can do to avoid them.
So pack your bags and get ready to finally embrace the freedom of working from anywhere in the world, because I’ll be sharing some of my tips on how to work remotely and travel stress-free.
Research Your Destination
First things first: Make sure you do your homework before buying a ticket in the spur of the moment:
• Do you know how reliable the internet connection is?
• Have you checked what type of adaptors you’ll need for your gadgets?
• Is there a time difference that can affect your schedule? Will you need to change any meetings?
• Do you need a visa? How long can you stay in the country?
• Are your cards accepted at the destination?
• Do you need any vaccination?
These are all the important things to keep in mind if you don’t want to deal with stressful situations that could’ve otherwise been avoided.
Photo by Content Pixie
Choose Your Accommodation Carefully
If having a comfortable workspace is all you need to be focused and productive, it’s crucial to check every single detail when looking for a place to stay. Here you can find more tips to help you do that.
Choosing a spot near a café or coworking space can also be a good idea in case you crave a change of scenery, more social interaction or need a better Wi-Fi connection. Check also our page for the best cafés we’ve worked from in several destinations for some inspiration.
Create a Packing Checklist
Ever had that nagging feeling that you’ve forgot to pack something important, then it turned out to be true?
To avoid that from happening again, create a checklist with all the essential gear you’ll need such as a laptop, chargers, adaptors, headphones, and any other vital equipment or tools required to work while travelling.
This checklist will not only ensure you won’t leave anything behind but it’ll also help you save time when packing.
Take Advantage of Idle Time
The time spent travelling from A to B doesn’t have to be wasted, make the most of your downtime by working on the plane, train or bus.
Take advantage of the gaps in your schedule to reduce your email backlog, brainstorm ideas and catch up with work. By doing this, you reduce the risk of your tasks piling up and out of control.
Oh, and remember to download the files you need whenever you’re offline.
Photo by Jane Palash
Account for Delays
Let’s face it: delays can happen, and they suck.
Do you know what else sucks? Not taking potential hold-ups into account.
Anything from a flight delay, traffic jams or a power cut can throw a spanner in the works, so allow some flexibility and avoid scheduling time-sensitive tasks on your travel day.
Communicate Effectively
Effective communication is key to anything in life, especially when you’re alternating between work and globe-trotting the world.
Switching your out-of-office on, setting automatic replies, and keeping everyone in the loop about your availability and working hours will help people know when they can expect to hear from you.
Be Reachable in Case of Emergency
Stay connected. Whether you want to be reachable in case of urgent work-related matters or just to post your latest selfie on social media, find out whether your mobile plan covers your destination. If they don’t, then have a look at international roaming plans or local providers’ offers in the destination you’re travelling to.
For those in the UK, I swear by Three’s Go Roam, which works in a whopping 71 countries.
You can always make sure a trusted work mate is on standby in case any surprises do pop up when you’ve got no reception.
Photo by Wyron A
Create Pockets of Time in Your Schedule
Working from fancy places is all well and good, but exploring them when you’re off work is even better.
So carve out some time in your schedule to explore, relax and soak up the local culture.
Depending on how flexible your job is, start your workday a bit earlier, indulge in extended lunches, or work those extra hours before and after you’ve been out and about exploring.
Learn to prioritise self-care and know when to unplug. After all, it doesn’t matter where you are, having a work-life balance is always key.
It’s important to test to see what works and make the most of your time when working remotely from another country (temporarily or not).
As you can see, working while travelling doesn’t have to be a stressful mission. You can blend it into your adventure with a bit of planning, effective communication, and a sprinkle of flexibility.
I hope my tips on how to work remotely and travel stress-free inspired you to bag that travel deal, pack your laptop and hit the road.
Titlebar photo by David Weatherhall
