More and more people are taking the step of working remotely abroad. You will probably think the more time difference, the more difficult the meetings with customers, colleagues and suppliers become. With good preparations, however, you can work remotely with ease. In this blog you can read more about this and how to deal with it. Still prefer working remotely with little to no time difference? Don’t forget to read the tips at the end of the blog!
Set work calendar to 2 time zones
Have you already chosen your destination and are about to leave? Set your work schedule to 2 time zones. You can easily do this in your own calendar settings, where you can set multiple time zones. You can then see the times for both countries at a glance, so you know exactly what time your meetings are. This way you can avoid confusion for yourself and leave for your destination with an organized schedule.
Fun fact: did you know that there are as many as 40 different time zones worldwide?
Planning weeks in advance in the correct time zone
Good preparation is half the battle. Make sure that weeks before you leave, you schedule all your meetings at convenient times with clients, colleagues or suppliers. This way, outside of your scheduled work appointments, you can plan your own time around them on location.
In fact, there is a good chance that you are working past each other andstarting your work at different times. The nice thing about this if you are ahead of someone else is, when your colleague hands you an assignment at the end of the day, you will probably have it ready for your colleague the next morning. Isn’t that super nice!
Getting up early to work at the same time as NL
If you’re heading to America or the Caribbean, for example, you need to get up early. Getting up early helps to start your day more productively. Usually you can then still work some of it at the same time as the Netherlands. You can plan your day much more broadly which leads to less stress and makes for a healthier lifestyle. The earlier you start your workday, the sooner you can enjoy your day. Set yourself a challenge by getting up at the same time every day. If you are not a morning person, this is definitely a challenge. Find a fixed time that works for you and try to keep the rhythm.
Use your jet lag to your advantage
Fatigue, difficulty concentrating and insomnia are all symptoms of jet lag. Not at all surprising in itself, as jet lag disrupts your biological rhythm. But how can you see jet lag as an advantage?
First, when you arrive at your destination, make sure you have your clock set to local time.
Because of your jet lag, you often wake up early and find it easier to start work in the morning. Then you can take a walk and enjoy the destination after you have had all the meetings in the morning. Later in the day, you might want to grab your laptop again. It is possible that you will work fewer hours than you are used to in the Netherlands. And there is nothing wrong with that at all.
Tips for destinations with little time difference
There are also destinations where you have little time difference and can still have your meetings around the same time. Plus, of course, you won’t suffer from jet lag. Here are our tips for destinations with little time difference:
South Africa
It seems very far away but the time difference between South Africa and the Netherlands is only 1 hour. It is 1 hour later in South Africa in winter. The clock in the Netherlands is set back one hour in winter, so there is no time difference in daylight saving time. How ideal is that? On weekends, you can go on safari. After all, South Africa has beautiful animals that you must have seen! You have several game parks to visit and beautiful wine regions and nature.
Cape Verde
In winter, it is 2 hours earlier in Cape Verde than in the Netherlands. In summer, between April and October, the time difference is as much as 3 hours. Cape Verde is located next to Senegal. It has numerous beaches, where you can enjoy a walk on the beach after your working day. So you can also enjoy the sunset with a delicious drink.
Scandinavia
There is no time difference between Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Are you a real hiker? You can go on a mountain hike with beautiful views. You can also fish, bike, mountain bike, kayak and much more. In just a few hours of flying you will find yourself in a whole other world. Read my experience of the workstation in Stockholm here.
Spain
In both winter and summer, there is no time difference with Spain. In fact, summer time and winter time starts at the same time as the Netherlands. How nice is that? The Canary Islands is an exception. There it is 1 hour earlier. The weather is often nice, so you can go surfing before work or go to the beach in the afternoon. Join a group workout in Spain in October 2023 .
Morocco
The time in Morocco in winter is the same as in the Netherlands. In summer time, it is 1 hour earlier in Morocco. Inside info: during Ramadan (usually between March and May), there is a 2-hour time difference. Morocco has many small traditional villages that you can visit. Some are still inhabited. On your day off, enjoy nature.
Jordan
Jordan has a time difference of 2 hours. It is 2 hours later there than in the Netherlands. During summer time there is only 1 hour time difference. Jordan has impressive nature and beautiful buildings, including the Umayyad Palace. Jordan is truly a country where you must have been once.
Dubai
Over the top, that’s Dubai. A perfect place to work remotely, without being too bothered by time difference. The time difference in winter is 3 hours. It is 3 hours later in Dubai. In summer, it’s 2 hours. Want to get away from all your work? Then visit a desert safari. You can admire the beautiful view on a camel. Tip: It is even more beautiful in the evenings, you can watch the sunset!
Taking your company on a workation to Spain? Maybe this villa something for your team.
