That I’m a fan of remote working can’t be a surprise. Now you do. At a workstation, you do your own work, but from a different place. A different environment can do a person so much good. That’s just one of the many benefits of a workation. In this blog, I list them for you.
Why not?
I get many messages from people who like to see where I am all going, often followed by “that seems so cool to me too.” But then why don’t you do it? For many people it is new and exciting. It takes some time to get used to new situations, people are creatures of habit. My new habit is now working remotely. Sometimes I wonder why I haven’t been doing this all my working life, but only since 3 years. Back then I didn’t even realize it was possible. Now you see it more and more around you, you talk to people who do this and you get excited. Only then do you start moving yourself. I hope that perhaps sharing my experiences will awaken that enthusiasm in you. I used to think that you had to work until 67 and then you really had time to enjoy life. Recognizable? Right? After college you might travel or take a gap year, but after that you had to work. Period. But by now I don’t think of it that way at all. One does not exclude the other. I find that a relief, because we have much more freedom than I thought.
But what if you are employed?
Also, it does not have to be the case that a salaried job is more restrictive than for when you work for yourself. Another image I had of working life. Then of course you have to choose the right employer, but there are more and more companies that offer a lot of freedom and flexibility. I also get more and more questions about this, which proves that people are consciously looking for organizations that allow remote working. I myself also work as an employee (at Frankwatching) and with us there is all the freedom to work wherever you want. Especially many jobs in marketing, IT, tech, recruitment, sales and customer contact give the freedom to work remotely.
Whether that is an SME or large corporate, they embrace freedom and give their employees a lot of confidence.
By the way, as far as I am concerned, a workation is always something temporary. You don’t have to be a full-time digital nomad to work remotely. It can also be a week or a month abroad, just like mine.
Are you already picking your destination in your mind? Here are the advantages that will make you want to book your workstation tomorrow!
1. Get away from home for a while
When people think of working remotely, they often think immediately of a foreign country, but that doesn’t have to be the case. It’s about being in a different environment, away from home. Sometimes because the walls are closing in on you at home, or because you need a break from your home situation. That doesn’t always have to be far away. In our beautiful little country there are also plenty of nice places to discover. For example, I once went to Kijkduin and the Veluwe for a week. Then you don’t have so much travel time and the costs stay a little lower. But still, at the end of your working day you step onto the beach or go into the woods, so you immediately forget that you worked that day. One day a friend came over, too. Whether you work at home or at someone else’s house, that too is possible! A different environment does a person good.
2. See more of the world
Do you also have huge travel jitters and enjoy exploring the world? There are so many incredibly beautiful places in the world, if you want to see a lot you actually have to speed up a bit. Or go away for a long time. But you also need an income.
That’s absolutely the reason remote working is the best of both worlds. You just do your own work, but in a different place.
If you have to deal with clients or colleagues, it is useful to take the time difference into account. Unless you are willing to get up really early and work Dutch hours. By the way, no punishment for staying in Europe, enough beauty to discover.
3. More time for relaxation
The Dutch are a streaky people. Performance, results, improvement, efficiency, we want it all, preferably yesterday. This work pressure is often at the expense of our own health and causes stress. Burnout is lurking for many people and it is quite difficult to escape it. I personally find it very difficult at busy times to turn the switch and let go after your working day. I’m sure I’m not the only one. What I experience when working remotely is that letting go happens almost automatically. Because you are in a different place, you go on your way faster after your working day. You didn’t go to a different environment for nothing. As a result, I really notice that I am much less stressed at such times. For that reason alone I highly recommend going on a workout!
Also, think in advance about whether you might want to take extra time off. For example, you could work 4 days instead of 5. Then you will have a whole day to enjoy your new surroundings and do fun things. You can also work shorter days, such as 6 hours instead of 8, which will also give you more time for yourself.
4. Choose your mode of travel
Just like going on vacation, you can define your way of working remotely. It can be alone, it can be with your partner, friends, family or with a group. But maybe no one can go with you because they can’t work remotely or maybe you just want some time to yourself. Anything goes! You can choose the type of trip and accommodation. Whether you book your own apartment and enjoy the peace and quiet or book a social hostel or coliving to meet new people. Many people find it cozier with someone else together. That is exactly the reason I organize group workouts.
5. It doesn’t cost vacation days
If you are employed, then you have to deal with a number of vacation days per year. This is set by law and is probably about 25 days. If you enjoy traveling, but hate being limited by your number of vacation days, workations are THE solution. Besides, as a freelancer, you probably don’t have the luxury of just taking fun trips without working either. So it’s fine to bring your laptop and work remotely. So many people, so many wishes. A workation can be completely your way. The only way to find out what suits you is to do it! You only regret the things you didn’t do. Otherwise, it’s just a learning moment, which only benefits you. I didn’t know what I liked a few years ago either. Now that I often work remote, I’m finding out more and more. Sometimes it also depends on your mood. If you want to have a lot of fun, you go for a joint workout, and if you want to relax and be on your own, you go solo. Both are great!
Reading tip: Step-by-step plan for a successful workation.
