There is a misconception that you need a lot of money to travel. The truth is, no. Although work and travel require some effort and courage to get started, the world has never been so full of opportunity and flexibility - it's time to take advantage of it!
It can be hard when you are sitting at home or at work, scrolling through social media and seeing so many others living their best lives, traveling the world. It seems like you could never live this life because, after all, you have bills to pay! But you can do it too. The answer is work while traveling. A lot of us are quite used to working from home and working abroad wouldn't be much different. Working on the road allows you to learn new skills, languages, boost your confidence and of course immerse yourself in a new culture. It has a lot of benefits and it's great to have it on your resume.
It can be scary to leave a job you're comfortable with, a hometown you know, and go into the unexpected. There can be a lot of uncertainty and it can be stressful, but it can also be one of the best things you can do in life! Here are some tips on how you can pull it off.
1.Set up a routine
Even if you don't "commute" to work in the traditional sense, it's still important to have a routine to start your work day. It's a great way to get into the right mindset to be productive and separate your travel life from your work life. Your routine can be as simple as making a cup of coffee before you sit down at your desk, or as long as a walk across town on your way to your co-working spacewhatever suits you.
2.Your physical health is most important
Unfortunately, days spent hunched over a laptop followed by nights of eating and drinking at a restaurant is not a recipe for physical health! Make a conscious effort to prioritize healthy eating and exercise, of course, but also try to have an ergonomic workspace. Working from your bed in a cramped hostel will lead to back pain rather than success.
3.Double or more the time you hope to spend in a place
Once you add in travel work, the amount of sightseeing you can do is dramatically reduced. In general, the slower you travel, the less stressed you will be. The most productive times to combine work and travel are generally when you spend a month or more in one place!
4.Know your surroundings needs
Do you prefer coffee shops or co-working spaces? A decent desk or kitchen table to work at Airbnb? Whatever your work preferences are, learn them and stick to them. These preferences help you decide everything from which neighborhoods to stay in when traveling to what your daily schedule will look like.
5.Learn your companys definition of working remotely
There has obviously been an absolute explosion in the number of people working remotely in the last few years, and many of them may never return to the office! Be sure to check with your company before planning to combine work and travel, especially if you plan to travel abroad. Many traditional companies don't care about the tax pains that come with a nomadic lifestyle and will turn you down. Domestic travel may be slightly more acceptable, but it depends where and how often. The bottom line is, if you're not self-employed, don't book a one-way ticket before talking to your company (and if you're self-employed, talk to your accountant).
6.Spend money to make money
When you first start working and traveling, you will have to focus a lot on saving money. The result will be a lot of time spent working from less-than-ideal situations, whether it's the frustration of work tasks taking twice as long as they should due to slow internet, or ending up with a sore back from slouching on the couch. with a laptop all day. Bottom Line? Be fiscally responsible, but spend on the best working conditions you can afford. Not only will you be more comfortable, but you'll literally be more efficient, less stressed, and have more time to really explore the destination you're visiting.
7.Keep track of time-zones
Missing meetings or deadlines due to time zone confusion is a sure way to leave your co-workers and/or clients frustrated with your attempts to work on the go. Once you're settled in a new place, memorize your "new" time responsibilities based on your time zone and stick to them religiously.
8.Dont travel during heavy work days
Managing your internet connection, from buying and topping up SIM cards to checking if the flat you've rented has strong enough internet, is a constant chore when working and travelling. If you have meetings planned, especially video conferences, do not move your accommodation to that day. The chances of you having internet problems are too high to bother with when someone else is counting on your work for the day.
Comments