Tips for Traveling While Working Remotely
If you ask ten remote workers about their favorite parts of working remote, you’ll probably get ten different answers. Everyone who loves this lifestyle loves it for their own reasons.
For those with some wanderlust in their blood, one of those reasons might be that remote work allows them to jet off around the world and explore nearly any locale without needing to finagle weeks of vacation time.
Traveling while working remote does take some planning ahead, though. Before you start packing, check out these tips to make your trip both productive and fulfilling.
Top Travel Tips
1. Scope Out Your Work Sites
At home, you probably have a mental directory of all the best places to work: your home, specific coffee shops, libraries, and so on. You want to have a mental directory of workplaces wherever you’re traveling as well.
Make sure your hotel or accommodation has wi-fi and look up other places with wi-fi in the area too, from local spots to established chains. No one wants to be stuck with no wi-fi or cell service and no backup plan. Don’t forget to scope out good places to take calls and video meetings too.
2. Communicate with Stakeholders in Advance
At the risk of sounding like a goody two-shoes, honesty is always the best policy. Give clients, co-workers, collaborators, and any other stakeholders a heads-up about your plans.
Make sure all these stakeholders know which days you’ll still be working and which days or timeframes you’ll be unavailable because you’re on a plane or in the car. Even if you’re planning to get all your regular work done at other times, it’s a good idea to make sure they know when you’ll be out of touch so they can find someone else to put out any fires that pop up.
3. Maintain a (Mostly) Consistent Schedule
Being productive can be tough on a normal day, let alone a day when you’re surrounded by new sights you want to see. How do you continue being a rock star at work while you’re on a trip?
It all comes down to setting a routine. Create a work schedule for yourself and focus on work during those hours, knowing there’s plenty of time for tourism after work.
At the same time, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’re in a fantastic new locale, after all. This isn’t the time to overwork yourself, so give yourself some leeway.
4. Look for Remote Working Groups
Every traveler knows that the locals always have the best tips for places to visit and ways to get in touch with the true personality of a new place. Don’t know any locals where you’re going? Look for a remote working group to meet up with while you’re in town! It’s a fantastic way to meet local folks, get into great coworking spots, and make your trip that much sweeter.
Speaking of remote working groups, Ladies Work Remote has chapters in cities across the US, so be sure to look for our coworking group in the city you’re visiting next. We can’t wait to meet you!