How to Balance Work and Leisure while on a Holiday
There are many reasons why I love having a virtual business, but having location freedom is definitely at the top of the list. Having the ability to be spontaneous and and leave whenever I want is kind of exciting- and a little overwhelming.
As the temperature began to drop at home and the days became shorter, I decided to book a last minute flight to Mexico to meet up with my partner who was already there for a work retreat.
As we all know, work-life balance at home can be difficult enough, but bringing your business on the road can be a WHOLE other challenge. Keep reading as I share some tips and insight on how to keep the stressors down while working remotely in a different country.
Notifying Clients of Holiday
Whenever I travel, I like to give my clients a head up about a week prior to travelling to let them know it will be business as usual, but that I may be in a different time zone and working unusual hours. The beauty of my business is that it is mostly task- based, so more often than not I can complete tasks anytime of day or night. If I’m taking any days off during my holiday, I will also let them know ahead of time.
What to Pack
I only bring a carry- on and a backpack when I travel and really try to pack as lightly as possible. Luckily, I don’t need many things to run my business so these are my must have items while traveling:
Laptop, charger & keyboard
Mouse, mouse pad & wrist pad
Ear buds & charger
Laptop stand
Notebook & pen
Phone charger
What to Look for in Accomodations
Since my partner and I both work remotely, I try my best to find Airbnbs that have at least one dedicated workspace with an actual desk (sooo many Airbnbs say they have dedicated workspaces, but it is just a countertop with stools or kitchen table), good wifi and preferably a separate room (bedroom) for some privacy to take client calls. It is very important to read the reviews and I always make sure to find ones that specifically mention internet or wi-fi. Sometimes, finding these requirements is not possible if you are on a budget, so I would say that finding a place with good wi-fi is the most important.
Once at your Airbnb, set up your workspace as ergonomically as possible and in an area where you can focus during work hours. This is the best case scenario and doesn’t always happen. During my last trip, my partner and I were both working in a studio apartment that had no dedicated workspace and I found myself working on the bed or in cafes.
Working in Cafes
When I’m at home, I have a dedicated home office and I will rarely go to a cafe to work. But, while traveling (especially with a partner who works a remote sales job), I find myself working at cafes sometimes to get some space, do client work, or to take client calls. It is important to be mindful of your length of stay if you choose to work in a cafe and I usually only work for about 2 hours before moving on. Here are some tips to follow when working at a cafe:
Research cafes that have good wi-fi
Try to find a cafe that has a larger seating area
Ensure you are purchasing drinks or food throughout your stay
Bring earbuds or ear plugs to limit distraction
Be mindful if you are taking calls
Limit your stay to 2-3 hours
Alternatively, you can almost always find a co-working space in major cities or digital nomad destinations where you can pay for daily or weekly passes. This is a great option for guaranteed good wi-fi, private rooms and also good to meet others working remotely!
Scheduling Work and Play
When travelling, I try to start my work day as early as possible (I’m NOT a morning person) so I can finish my day up early afternoon. In Mexico, my days looked like this:
8-8:30 am wake-up
Work for a couple hours
Walk to the beach, swim & eat brunch
Work for a couple hours at Airbnb or cafe
2-3 pm done my workday
Explore
Since you are likely working normal work hours while travelling, you will find your weekdays to be very busy trying to fit in regular work days and sightseeing. If you have a more flexible schedule, you may find that sightseeing during the day, and working at night works better for you. It also depends on the country and time zone that you’re in.
Taking Real Time Off
While being able to take my business on the road is a great option to keep an income while travelling to new countries, it is also very important to take real time off where you can completely relax and unwind from your business. In the first year after going full- time, I didn’t feel the need to take more than extended long weekends. But, as I became fully booked and more busy, I realized that taking actual time off is very important.
You don’t even have to travel to take real time off… and I’m currently typing this at home enjoying my first week off from client work since starting my business! Sure, I’m taking some time to plan goals for the new year, but mostly I’m binge watching RHOBH, eating Christmas cookies and just doing what I want and it’s AMAZING. Taking this time off is something I really needed and all it took was a bit of extra planning and a little extra work at the beginning of the month.
Cheers to taking more time off in 2024!
