As the pandemic has become increasingly manageable, more and more people are returning to the office after working from home. Given the mounting anxiety about going back to work, you may be asking yourself, “do I really have to? Can’t I work remotely and pursue other aspirations, like travel?”
You’re not alone. More and more people are ditching the office and hitting the road, all while holding down a full-time job. It’s not always an easy task, but given the sheer amount of people making it work, it’s obviously not impossible. In this article, we’re going to take a look at how to do it.
What are the benefits of traveling while working?
At first, the idea of traveling while holding a full-time job may seem crazy. After all, it’s reasonable to worry about how travel might affect your energy, availability, and productivity! The excitement, surprises, and occasional chaos of hitting the road seems to directly go against the sense of routine most people rely on for their jobs.
However, the truth is that with the right approach, traveling can actually improve your performance at work. This is because monotony and routine can cause mental fatigue over time, especially when you’re working from home. Repetitive days and a lack of stimulus can blunt your best characteristics, and stop you from bringing vitality and energy to your job. It may seem paradoxical, but travel can bring out the best in you, and have a hugely positive impact on your work performance.
The that are essential in the modern workplace, like adaptability, focus, and cultural sensitivity, are all fostered through travel. Rather than thinking that your career is taking a back seat while you go on vacation, consider getting out of your comfort zone as an active exercise meant to keep you sharper and more competitive. It certainly takes effort, and it isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it.
Tips for working on the move
If you’re seriously considering working while traveling, you have to plan ahead. Knowing the biggest obstacles and pitfalls is crucial. Fears about your ability to be productive in a new setting are not unfounded, but with a solid plan, you can make it work. Let’s take a look at some of the most important things to keep in mind. A key factor in planning is choosing the right location for your stay. For instance, if your travels take you to Tennessee, consider booking a room at the Hilton Nashville Downtown. This hotel is renowned for its exceptional business facilities, including high-speed internet and comfortable workstations, making it a perfect choice for digital nomads or anyone working on the move.
Maintaining Routine
It may seem practically impossible to maintain any semblance of a routine while away from home, especially if you’re planning to stay on the move throughout your trip. However, figuring out a way to make this work is absolutely essential. Having a consistent work routine is the bedrock of your ability to get anything done, which means you’ll need to dedicate a set amount of hours every day to your job.
That sounds easy enough, but as always, the devil is in the details: obstacles to your routine will come in the form of tiny and unexpected disruptions. Planning for them is essential. Here are some examples:
- Noise. You won’t have control over unexpected sounds that break your concentration, but you can do your best to look for places to stay that seem as quiet as possible. Alternatively, you can start getting used to working in cafes, or invest in noise-canceling headphones.
- Jetlag. Giving yourself time to adjust to new time zones is important, because without a full night’s sleep, you’ll find that your productivity truly does suffer. Plan your trip in a way that includes non-working days specially dedicated to settling into a new sleep pattern.
- Food. Working on an empty stomach is a surefire way to get less done, and you won’t have your refrigerator in the next room! Plan ahead and have something to eat readily available, so that you don’t waste your working hours looking for a snack.
- Caffeine. If you’re a coffee fiend, research ahead to see how easily you can find or make a cup of coffee where you’re going. You may have to bring some with you!
- Workspace. Consider the size and quality of the space you need to work, then research what’s available ahead of time. If the table in your accommodation won’t do, consider finding coworking spaces in the city you’re visiting. Most major cities have several. Pick one, and try to live nearby so you don’t spend time commuting.
As you can see, there are plenty of things that can derail your working hours abroad. However, with some forethought and preparation, you can avoid any major issues.
Tracking Your Productivity
Learning how to work while away from home is going to take some patience. Even with the best preparations, interruptions and changes to your schedule are bound to occur. That’s why it’s important to reframe how you view your own productivity: instead of focusing on the tasks you need to accomplish, focus on the amount of time you can dedicate to your work.
By tracking your hours, you’ll be able to get a feel for what works, and what doesn’t. Considering the constant changes that traveling brings, this is more important than it seems! One of the best ways of doing this is to set up a calendar and log your working hours. Within that, try to mark which periods felt the most productive, and why.
This accomplishes several things: first, it keeps yourself honest about how much work you’re really doing. More importantly, you’ll end up with concrete data you can use to shape habits that work best for you. Remember, once you start traveling, it’s going to take some time to learn how to balance work with the new experiences you’ll be having. Keeping track of your work helps speed up that process.
Discipline and Self-Control
Waking up early in the morning doesn’t come naturally to most people, but if you’re planning on hitting the road, it’s a habit worth learning. Working in the early morning dramatically limits unwanted and unexpected distractions when you’re away from home.
However, when you’re in a new place, the temptation to stay out and explore can be very tempting. There are things to do, people to meet, and sights to see! After all, you’re not traveling just so that you can stay in all day and work.
Finding the balance takes discipline. Going to bed relatively early is a must, no matter how much you’d like to stay out! While this process can be maddening, it’s not impossible, and you still have the weekends to let loose.
Embracing Your Nervousness
Ultimately, leaving home while still working is a serious lifestyle change. It requires changes in habit, routine, perspective and priority to be successful. Before you make the decision, you’re bound to feel nervous and unsure.
That’s okay! Plenty of people have made this work, and each of them faced the same apprehension before giving it a shot. With enough planning, patience, and discipline you can live out your dream of travel without sacrificing your career. Perhaps the most important thing to do before you leave is to embrace your nervousness, and simply take it as a sign that things are about to get a lot more exciting.
