Do you love being in a different environment for a while, but: 1. Are you out of vacation days? 2. Don’t want to spend too much money on it? 3. Don’t feel like a long commute? Then consider a workation in your own country. You don’t have to go far away to get away from it all. It is also a sustainable way to travel, especially if you travel by train. Friesland is the perfect place for your change of scenery. As soon as you head north, you experience the peace and space of this beautiful province. You can recharge in Friesland, enjoying nature and being outside a lot.
Why go on workation?
The reason for going on workation can be different for everyone. It depends on your home situation, workload and personal needs. It is also important what freedom, if any, you get from your employer. For me, the reason to go on a workstation is different each time. One time I really want to visit a certain destination, but can’t stop my work and so it becomes a workation. Other times I really need rest and focus on a specific assignment and like to do that in a different environment. Reasons for a workation can be:
- Unwind
- Need for adventure
- Better balance between life and work
- Reflection/personal development
- Focus on a project or assignment
- More creativity
More outdoor living is a relief
Your workplace can have a huge impact on how you feel. People are creatures of habit, which is why you regularly hear even now that going back to the office is the new norm. But so much more is possible than just working in the office or working from home. Not only remote working is a possibility, going outside more is also perfectly compatible with work. If you don’t need files, go for a walk during your meeting. If you need to catch up with someone, do it while walking. I try to learn these new habits myself, one of which is working outside. There are handy tools these days that make this easier. For example, I personally used this sunshade for my laptop, to still be able to work outside but not be bothered by the sun. This way, your laptop stays cool and you can see your screen clearly.
It’s a matter of getting used to it and breaking patterns. Instead of doing team meetings in a boring conference room, hold them outside in the fresh air. But it can be done! During my workstation in Friesland, I was outside much more than usual. As a result, I was able to clear my head much better. Meet in Friesland lent me an outdoor work toolkit, which includes, for example, a board you can tie to a tree to put your laptop on and a folding screen so your laptop is in the shade. Creative and productive!
On workstation in Friesland
A different environment does a person good. The Netherlands has plenty of beauty to offer, so I really enjoyed going on a work trip to Friesland. Until now I have only been in Sneek so for me there was still enough to discover. My Frisian is also limited to oant moarn. I only had a few days to get away, so I went to Noardeast-Fryslân alone. My workation began at the amazing Suvelfabryk in Lioessens. That is next to Dokkum, so after our workday I went into this cute little town, which really comes highly recommended. Then I went to Het Lage Noorden, a creative oasis where you are in the middle of nature.
Typically Frisian activities
This region has the least air pollution in the Netherlands, so the Dark Sky Park to see the stars is also highly recommended. If you go to Friesland you should actually go mudflat hiking. A first time for everything, so there I went. I was quite excited beforehand, but it was incredibly cool. It’s a very crazy idea to walk in the sea. It’s also fun to go out into the Wadden Sea by boat. Whether that’s a quiet ship or, as in our case, a fast rescue boat. If you are lucky you will also come across porpoises and seals. I have collected all my tips and recommendations for fun activities and places to visit in this blog about my workation in Friesland. Meet in Friesland has made a nice list of accommodations in Friesland where you can enjoy a nice workation.
