Travel is a source of joy, adventure and personal growth for many of us. Exploring new destinations, tasting delicious food, discovering other cultures and landscapes is an unforgettable experience. But what if your vacation days run out? Does that mean the end of your travel dreams? Absolutely not! The solution is easier than you think: go remote during a workation.
The new work reality: remote working
With the rise of technology and the shift to a digital economy, remote working has increasingly become the norm. Companies around the world are offering employees the opportunity to work remotely. This opens up a world of opportunity for travel enthusiasts who want to keep their vacation days or whose already used up. Many companies today offer the option to work remotely, giving you the freedom to travel while still completing your tasks. Why remote working is the perfect solution to travel more, without costing you vacation days? I list the main reasons for you:
1. Location-independent working
With remote working, it doesn’t matter where you physically are. As long as you have a reliable Internet connection, you can perform your work from any corner of the world. This means you can even travel to exotic destinations while fulfilling your professional obligations. Unless you go into the jungle somewhere for considerable time, that’s really something you should do while on vacation. Without good wifi, you are nowhere.
2. Flexible working hours during a workation
Remote working often involves flexible working hours. You can adapt your work schedule to your travel plans and vice versa. Do this well before you leave, though, so you don’t get caught up with your work. Also consult well with your boss, your colleagues and other work associates about what is possible. The right expectations from both parties are very important for successful remote work.
3. Take advantage of time difference
Many people think that time difference is automatically a problem, but it doesn’t have to be. If you work from another time zone, you can make smart use of the time differences. While you sleep, your colleagues in another time zone can continue work, allowing projects to move forward 24/7. I’m not a fan of winter myself, so I like to go to tropical destinations. For example, last winter I went to the Caribbean for 5 weeks. There you have a time difference of 5 hours. Because of my jet lag I woke up very early, already around 6 am. As a result, I started my workday at 7 a.m., so I had a lot of overlap with Dutch time. In the afternoon, I stopped around 3 p.m. and could spend the whole afternoon exploring Curaçao. Delicious! Read more tips about working with time difference here.
4. Traveling longer during a workation
With remote working, you can plan longer travel periods. After all, your work doesn’t lie idle; everything just keeps running. Instead of taking your vacation days all at once, you can choose to travel for longer periods of time, with occasional days off. This opens the door to more adventures and the opportunity to really get to know the local culture. For me, this was THE reason to start working remotely. I don’t want to be in a rush to discover a new city or beautiful country. Not just check off the highlights and move on again. Not visiting a destination during the busiest of times. Not flying to Bali and seeing only a fraction of the country and having to come back at another time to see the rest. But traveling and enjoying at a leisurely pace. Connecting with locals and taking your time on your adventure. Also called slow travel, which is becoming increasingly popular.
An additional advantage: many accommodations offer discounts if you book for a longer period.
5. Personal and professional growth
Traveling while working offers not only the chance to explore the world, but also to grow personally and professionally. Maybe that is not even consciously your goal, but it undoubtedly happens. Travel is truly something that further develops your personality. You face challenges, opportunities, exciting moments and perhaps uncertainty. That’s where you grow as a person. In addition, you literally expand your network worldwide. A work station also offers the ideal moment to get inspired. Whether it is through the people you meet while traveling or the things you experience. It opens your eyes. Especially if you travel a bit longer and unwind, you will see beautiful things come your way. I really speak from experience. Every trip I come home with a bucket of new ideas, inspiration and knowledge.
Balance between work and leisure
While remote working is a great way to travel without using up your vacation days, it is important to maintain a healthy balance between work and free time. Make sure you take your work obligations seriously and stay efficient so you can enjoy your trip without stressing about deadlines and commitments. Read how to properly prepare your workation here in the e-book. In short, remote work offers the ultimate solution for travel enthusiasts with limited vacation time. So being employed doesn’t have to mean less freedom than freelancers. It allows you to explore the world while pursuing your career, and it opens the door to unforgettable experiences and new perspectives. So grab your laptop and passport and go on a workation, without sacrificing your vacation days. It’s the best way to combine work and adventure. Do you also want to go on workation and thus travel without sacrificing your vacation days, but have no idea how to go about it? I’d love to help you get started, literally and figuratively. See how I can help you here.
