The COVID-19 pandemic introduced more employees to the world of remote work. While some found it hard to separate work duties from home responsibilities, others found it improved their job satisfaction and productivity.
Workations are popular because they allow employees to work in an environment of their choice, where they can also explore new places independently or with loved ones. Workations allow employees to free themselves from their monotonous work life by integrating travel, which can inspire and motivate more productivity on the job.
1. Determine the Location and Verify the Amenities
The location you choose for your workation can help make it productive or hamper your productivity, so you need to choose wisely. One of the vital things you need to confirm is the access and reliability of the internet connection.
The last thing you want is to miss an important meeting because of poor Wi-Fi connection. You also want to make sure that the area you’re in allows for a decent phone signal. You want to be reachable by your employer, friends, and family back home.
To help ensure your workation is productive, you may want to choose a location you’ve been to before. By choosing a location you’re familiar with, you don’t have to look for good local restaurants or research things to do while there.
you’re able to search different sites to find a place that meets your needs. Sites likeSonder,Homestay,Booking.com, andAirbnbare examples of where you can find a residence for your workation.
You can also ask colleagues who have been on workations previously for recommendations on where to stay. If none of your colleagues have done a workation before, you can find groups on social media dedicated to digital nomads. These groups can provide you with valuable advice and insights.
Do You Need a Dedicated Workspace?
A dedicated workspace is one of the amenities you may want to confirm you have access to. Do you need a desk or a dedicated office? You need to ensure the space you’ll be working in will allow you to be productive.
If you’re able to’t find somewhere to stay with a desk or dedicated office space, you may consider working in a co-working space, which is an excellent way to get out of the house and network with other remote workers. You may be interested in learning aboutwork from home vs. co-working space: what’s right for you?
2. Consider Your Transportation Requirements
If you’re not driving to your workation, you’ll need to check the different means of transportation available and the cost. Depending on your chosen location, it may be cheaper to travel by public transit rather than renting a car since rental rates can vary depending on where you’ll be located.
While you may be planning to use a ride-sharing service likeUberorLyft, you should verify that the service is available where you plan to do your workation. If the location of your workation is a foreign country, you should check if your local license will work or if you need an international driver’s license.
Getting around in a new town or city can be challenging, especially if your new location requires driving on the other side of the road. You may be interested in learninghow to use Uber’s Explore feature to discover new experienceswhile on your workation.
3. Research the Tax Laws
While you usually pay taxes in the country of your permanent residence, depending on the length of your workation, the country you’re working in may consider you a resident for tax purposes. Tax laws differ in each country, so your best option is to consult a tax advisor to understand your obligations.
If you work for a company where colleagues have done workations in different countries in the past, you can ask them for advice, and you can contact your human resource department to see if they can offer any help. In the event you do your own taxes, you may be interested inways to prepare your taxes using Excel’s SUMIF function.
4. Ensure Your Technology Can Function Optimally
Different countries have different voltage requirements. While this is only a concern if you’re doing your workation outside the country, it can be a critical concern since it can short out your electronics, which will hamper your productivity.
Check if you’ll need adapters for your computer and other devices that you’ll be plugging in. If you decide to do your workation in a developing country, you may encounter periods without electricity or internet, so you’ll have to have a backup plan should that happen.
You may consider packing an extra mouse, charger, and headset if the ones you’re currently working with stop functioning. In addition to packing extra accessories, you may want to talk to your company’s IT department about the rules regarding using company equipment outside the office.
If you plan to work from a co-working space, there may be rules about using the public internet and things your company wants you to do to ensure data security. You may be interested in learninghow to secure your browsing data (and why you need to).
5. Establish Your Workation Budget
Your budget is one of the most critical considerations when planning any trip. You don’t want to go on a workation and have it cost more money than you earned while you were away.
The cost of a workation can cover a wide range depending on where you’re doing it and the amenities you want for work and relaxation. The costs of a workation are determined by four factors: who’s organizing it, the destination, how long you’ll be gone, and the cost of incidentals and accommodations.
The more control you have over the four factors, the more you can manage the costs of your workation. Thankfully, you can use a site like budgetyourtrip.com to help you determine how much your workation will cost. You may be interested in thebest budgeting apps to get your finances in order.
A Productive Workation Is Possible
While wanting a productive workation can seem like wanting your cake and eating it too, it is possible with careful planning. There are several factors you need to take into consideration. If you’re traveling with family, you’ll have to budget for time to spend with them too.
Setting firm boundaries and sticking to a set work schedule will help you stay focused and get work done while enjoying time off on your own or with friends or family. If you can, speak to others who have done a workation to help you manage your expectations and be prepared for the challenges.
