Remote work has become a common option that many people rely on, and the ability to work anywhere makes traveling easier. When it comes to work-life balance, working while traveling has benefits and drawbacks, and understanding each of them will help you make the best decision based on your lifestyle. Continue reading to learn the pros and cons of remote work while traveling so you can make your adventures and work blend well.
The Pros
For many, being able to work while traveling is the best of both worlds. You can gain an abundance of new experiences and travel from place to place while maintaining your flow of income to cover your travel expenses.
If you don’t enjoy your primary work location, your remote job could allow you to work from a more comfortable spot. A change in scenery may help you feel more productive and less stressed, and you can enjoy the experience of living in a new place.
Many jobs can feel restrictive because you need to remain in one place and go to the same building every day. But when you have a remote job, you are free to travel and take your work wherever you go, making the job more satisfying and less monotonous.
The Cons
While there are many pros related to traveling and remote work, there are also some downsides. One of the most common cons of working remotely while traveling is the isolation you might feel from being the only one in your workspace.
In an office, there are other employees you can converse with, but you’ll only have yourself if you choose to work in a remote setting. For some, this may feel like a positive aspect when you don’t necessarily have an interest in communicating with people, but it’s easy to transition from being alone to feeling lonely after some time.
You’ll also need to constantly be on the lookout for internet access, which isn’t guaranteed in locations that experience regular interference. Additionally, you may struggle with a lack of structure because you don’t have the normal routine of getting up and going to work, causing you to feel more distracted and leading to an overindulgence in free time.
The Best Balance
There are noticeable pros and cons to working remotely while traveling, but there are ways to balance them and make the most of this work style. For example, you could buy a camper van and use it as your primary method of transportation while you enjoy life the road. However, there are some things to consider when working remotely in a camper van, such as finding a reliable power source for your computer.
Creating a schedule with blocks of time for work will help you meet deadlines and make it easier to set aside time to focus as you move from one location to the next. Traveling in between important work dates will help you appropriately manage your time so you enjoy the places you travel to while also staying productive in your job.
It’s nice to mix work and play when you can, and working remotely as you travel allows you to do just that. Consider these pros and cons as you book that next flight or pack up for the road, and prepare to take your work with you on your next adventure.
