How to Travel While Working Remotely?

Just a few years ago, most of us used to commute to the office every single day. But now, in a post-lockdown world, some people can continue working from the comfort of home. This shift in our work environment has given former 9-to-5 commuters an exciting opportunity to explore the world. With this perk, they can embrace the digital nomad lifestyle without compromising corporate or full-time job benefits and comforts.

The main difficulties of remote work during travel time

Experiencing an incredible level of freedom undoubtedly has its own set of challenges. Here are a few factors to consider:

• If you aren’t self-employed, the initial and significant obstacle is obtaining approval from your employer. Your boss (and/or clients) must be supportive of the idea, or you may need to explore alternative options for remote work.
• Working remotely while traveling necessitates self-discipline and motivation. It can be difficult to stay focused on work when surrounded by the allure of an exciting destination waiting to be explored. Distractions and FOMO (fear of missing out) are constant companions.
• The desire to thoroughly explore a new destination can often disrupt productivity, resulting in late-night cramming sessions just to meet deadlines—which can be far from enjoyable. It’ll also be easier to explore different locations if you have the right travel documents ready. Having an international driving permit can make life as a digital nomad a hundred times easier.
• Cybersecurity risks. If you take a vacation for travel or travel and work at the same time, you will have to constantly connect to public Wi-Fi. You may not have thought about it, but Wi-Fi history can be accessed by the network administrator. You need to think about either protecting your connection or buying a local card and working on a 4G network. You can simply install the application from VeePN.com and it will protect against most threats associated with connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. This is the simplest solution for now.

How to combine travel and remote work?

#1 You are not on vacation

Remote work trips differ significantly from vacations. At times, the line between them may become blurry, but it’s wise to realistically consider the demands of working from locations other than your home.

Constantly changing locations, as you would during a regular trip, can seriously hinder productivity and drain your energy. This, in turn, negatively impacts both your work and your travel experience. Instead of continuously packing and unpacking, it often makes more sense to stay in one place for a longer period.

Slowing down also offers advantages from a travel perspective. By staying in one location for an extended period, you have a greater opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and build connections. It allows you to create a “mini life” that helps you discover things that most tourists rushing through will inevitably miss.

#2 Give out less information

During the early stages of the pandemic, a colleague caught my friend off guard by requesting her to turn on her video. To her dismay, the lush palm trees of Mexico served as her background, leading to an awkward situation. This incident caused her some trouble.

To avoid such circumstances, it is advisable to maintain transparency with your employer. However, if you wish to work remotely without their knowledge, it becomes crucial to conceal your location. You can use the Firefox VPN addon and connect to a server in your home country. Please note that the decision to employ this tactic is entirely up to you, and you should assess whether it is feasible or appropriate.

#3 Plan your work responsibly

You can use up to 16 hours a day as you desire (excluding eight hours for sleep). Your activities during this time depend on how well you plan your schedule. Ensure enough flexibility to explore and accomplish everything, complete your work, and engage in unplanned adventures. To achieve this:

• Assess your work commitments. Examine your workload before and during your travel period. Prioritize completing as many tasks as possible before leaving. Schedule any remaining tasks into your travel itinerary.
• Begin tracking your work hours immediately. Determine the time it takes to complete typical work-related tasks. Platforms like Toggl can help you track work hours per client, project, or activity (such as debugging or responding to emails).
• Research the operating hours of places, attractions, and other destinations you plan to visit. Create a spreadsheet listing the opening hours for the week at popular spots like museums, amusement parks, aquariums, and highly-rated restaurants. Note the average time people spend there, as well as the busiest days and times.

#4 Keep your costs under control

If the cost of your remote work trip exceeds your earnings, it can be disheartening! One effective way to reduce expenses is to opt for more affordable destinations. Instead of choosing London, consider Lisbon. Likewise, Prague can be a good alternative to Paris. Also, think about subletting your apartment or house while you’re away to lower your overhead.

Staying in one place for an extended period makes budgeting much easier. Booking month-long accommodations increases your chances of getting discounts. You could even rent an apartment through platforms like HousingAnywhere to find more cost-effective, long-term options in cities like Berlin or other remote work hubs. Exploring flexible accommodation platforms and planning ahead can help you secure a place that suits both your work needs and budget.

#5 Make sure you can always be connected

Having a stable and reliable internet connection is crucial when you’re online. In my guide to finding accommodation suitable for remote work, I discuss methods to assess the quality of the internet connection in Airbnb and hotels. To ensure uninterrupted connectivity, I suggest obtaining a local cellular data plan as a backup. Take the time to research the best data plans available at your destination and familiarize yourself with setting up a mobile hotspot. Additionally, consider investing in a portable hotspot that supports a data SIM card.

Conclusion

Traveling, like work, can take up too much time, so not everyone is able to combine these activities. However, the whole problem is planning or inflated expectations. You should take an objective look at what you will be able to do, whether this option is right for you, and on this basis, create your route. Also, do not set high goals for yourself, otherwise, literally a few hours of delay can knock you out of action.