A Guide To Travelling While Working Remotely
The trend toward working remotely in today’s highly connected society is only expected to increase. If you’ve recently joined the remote working world, you’re in for a real treat. The flexibility of a remote job allows you to visit the places you’ve always wanted to see, and the income it provides means you can afford to spend more time there. Getting to do what you want and go where you want is less of a hassle now.
If you want to make the most of your travel time and yet get some work done, consider these suggestions for the optimum travel/work balance..
Make sure you have a reliable internet connection
Make preparations for internet connectivity ahead of time if at all possible, especially if you will be traveling to an area with less reliable service. Don’t take it on faith that there is Wi-Fi because it says so in the Airbnb listing; make sure to inquire about upload/download speeds. Determine where the coffee shops or shared office spaces are, and visit several of them if possible. The constant worry of whether or not the Wi-Fi will be fast enough and reliable enough will ruin your experience, so before reserving a room, insist that the landlord provide proof of internet speed in the form of a screenshot from a speed test. You’ll discover that shared office spaces solve these problems. Having a pleasant place to work and access to reliable Wi-Fi can alleviate anxiety and make remote work while traveling more feasible. The potential for socialising is an added plus.
Adjust your routine when in a different time zone
By being in a different time zone than the rest of your team, it can be a bonus to dedicate your mornings to catching up on emails and crunching numbers while everyone is offline. It can allow you to be more focused and intentional with my time, so that by the time everyone else is online, you will have most of your goals accomplished and can focus on more team-centric tasks.
Keep an open mind
Research your destination thoroughly, but keep in mind that your experience may differ from those who have written or spoken positively about the country, city, area, landmark, activity, etc. Retouched or professionally taken pictures (like those found on Instagram) can also give an inaccurate impression of a location and lead to unrealistic expectations. It’s easier to go into a situation with minimal expectations, appreciate what you find, and be pleasantly surprised than the other way around.
Bring along some “home comforts”
You can easily make any new place feel like home quickly, whether it’s a hotel, an Airbnb, or a friend’s spare room. But there are a few constant things that can create stability for you, when travelling. Although they may not be classed as necessary items they can help you re-charge when I’m away from home. For example, your favourite coffee, a comfy pillow, hot sauce to perk up a meal, or even some fun tech that will turn your laptop into a gaming console or entertainment centre during down time. You can pack all of this and more then have it shipped ahead of you, so you can travel light wherever your adventure takes you.
Stick to your normal routine
No matter where you are in the world, try and stick to your normal routine. Wake up and have a good breakfast, then find a quiet space to work without interruption. Then end the work day by getting some sunshine, as this helps ensure that you will be productive and have a good work-life balance, no matter the location or circumstances.
Set aside time to explore
When you’re at home, it’s easy to skip lunch and stay on the computer way past your bedtime. However, if you’re traveling, make sure to shut down your laptop around 5 or 6 o’clock in the evening so you can go out and explore or visit a temple during your lunch break. Don’t set unrealistic goals, either. You should plan to stay in a location for three times as long as you would if you were just visiting, as work commitments may end up in you missing out on some activities.
Establish a firm time frame for the day’s work activities
While at home, you may not always have a cut-off time for checking in on your email or messaging system, so it can be easy for work to creep into my evenings. While traveling, though, you should set a hard cut-off time for the day, so that when you are done with work, that is it! Any emails or messages that come in after that cut-off point, will have to just wait until the next day. It will help ensure that you have plenty of time to enjoy the city or area you are in and explore. This is actually a good habit to maintain even after you return from travelling so that you don’t get caught up in work in the evenings.
Get the right gear
Prepare your electronic equipment by bringing a pocket mifi, an external battery (you could have to operate on a 12-hour train or boat! without power outlets). Also, make sure to pack a plug adaptor. Installing Google Authenticator on your mobile device will allow you to take advantage of two-factor authentication in any circumstance in which it is available. If you are using an overseas service on your phone, there is a chance that you will not always receive a Google Authenticator code.
It’s a great opportunity if you are able to travel the globe while still fulfilling your own professional and creative goals, but doing so could prove challenging. The benefits of living remotely are often seen through rose-tinted glasses via social media, However, it’s worth researching and investing time into finding out how best to start your own adventure. It requires forethought and preparation to figure out what you need to carry, set up a workspace that will keep you comfortable for eight hours, and leave time to see the sights.