The biggest benefit of being a digital nomad is working on your own terms, right?
Whether at the local coffee shop or halfway across the country, the ability to take your work wherever you go rather than being tied down to a physical office is the envy of those who don’t have the opportunity to travel for their jobs.
That said, balancing work and travel is easier said than done if you’re not used to the lifestyle.
Think about it: there are a wealth of distractions for keeping you from working while you’re on the road. Meanwhile, it’s easy to sour your “vacation” if you’re stuck working around the clock versus using your time traveling wisely.
If you’re struggling to balance work and travel or you want to figure out how to make the most of your next trip despite having to work in-between, keep the following tips in the back of your mind.
Set Up Your Office On-the-Go
Whether you’re working from a plane, hotel room or the guest room of a family member, it’s important to bring the essentials when it comes to working on-the-go.
Beyond your laptop and necessary notes, you draw some serious inspiration from nomads who use an RV as a mobile office. Tools such as cellular and WiFi boosters, for example, could mean the difference between actually getting work done on your trip and missing essential deadlines.
Beyond such tech tools, don’t forget other essentials like…
- Noise-canceling headphones, which are especially important when you’re traveling with multiple people or are stuck in a noisy environment (think: at a hotel or campground next to a highway)
- Back cushions: you never know when back pain might strike, and likewise making yourself comfortable is crucial to focusing on your work (think: hotel desks rarely have comfortable chairs)
- Backup batteries and chargers: if you’re not exactly sure where you’re going to be on a day-to-day basis, it pays to be better safe than sorry
Plan Your Activities in Advance
On a related note, it’s always a good idea to have a game-plan in terms of your daily activities and itinerary. That way you can plan your work blocks around time spend relaxing or doing something with friends and family. Likewise, you can better plan your deadlines with clients and customers when you know when you’ll be working versus playing.
For example, it probably makes sense to wake up on your regular schedule and work a few hours in the morning before the rest of your party gets up and around. Additionally, you can find time between activities or before bed to knock out a few hours as well. Through establishing a regular routine, managing your workload seems much less daunting.
Some Work, Some Play
If you’re traveling with others, make it crystal clear that you have to allocate a portion of your day to getting down to business. Sometimes it’s difficult for others to understand what it’s like to work on-the-go: you have to make them understand that you’re willing to play, but only when your work is done. Since it’s easy to get distracted during travel, any support you have from your party is a huge plus.
Finding a balance between work and travel is more than possible when you have the right tools and mentality ahead of time. By sticking to these tips, you can make the most of the digital nomad lifestyle and enjoy your travels simultaneously.