What to remember when going on a workation?
Many of us can’t take time off during the summer for a variety of reasons. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t go anywhere, as long as you work remotely. A workation allows you to combine working with traveling so that the thought of summer ending doesn’t bring you to tears. To fully experience and benefit from this type of activity, you must prepare accordingly. Together with Marta from EVERYDAYTRIP, we prepared some tips and observations to help you better plan your next workation.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
Choosing the spot
There are people who dream of specific places they’d like to visit and no power on earth can stop them from doing so. Marta is one of those people - a digital nomad and influencer who chose to settle in Mexico.
I first came to Mexico on a regular holiday nearly 3 years ago. I came back after 2 months. I kept returning, 6 times before I took the plunge and decided to move in permanently. Flying back and forth seemed illogical and went against my values of supporting environmentally conscious tourism and local communities - therefore I avoid unnecessary flights and use alternatives, etc.
What made me fall in love with Mexico was its people, people who celebrate familial bonds over material goods. Some people live very humbly. They put value in sharing a meal, having genuine conversations, and catching the sunset at the beach instead of designer clothes. Amazingly, Mexicans still find time to indulge in those activities even though they work 6 days a week and can only take 12 days of leave a year.
On one hand, life in Mexico brought me relief, moderation, analysis, and insight into many of life’s issues, especially during my time in a small town right by the ocean. On the other, Mexico can be known for its cultural and social intensity, which overwhelms some.
There are also people who might need some guidance in picking their destination - if that is your case, read on to find out what to look for in the perfect workation spot.
Strong internet signal
Working remotely without internet access is like swimming in a pool with no water. And although visiting a secluded sanctuary from time to time sounds fantastically relaxing, a workation simply won’t work without WiFi. Mobile internet is a good solution, but make sure to check it’s within range. Another important factor is internet security to prevent confidential information from leaking while using public WiFi hotspots.
The documents
If you’re planning a longer stay abroad, ensure you have the legal right to work there. Apart from visas, look into the country’s tax system to avoid double taxation on your income. Consult a tax advisor before becoming a digital nomad for the long term. Remember about health and insurance: check what rules apply even for short stays.
For example: what does sorting paperwork needed to work remotely in Mexico entail?
You can legally stay in Mexico for 180 days. At the airport, you go through passport control where the officer asks you about your reasons for visiting and how long you’ll stay. They then stamp your passport with a visa for a set amount of days. If the official happens to have a bad day, they might ask you to show your return ticket.
In recent years, the procedures have gotten more complicated. This is due to Argentina and Colombia’s economic downturn and the wave of migrants who wish to get into Mexico, often work illegally and don’t think of ever going back. Internet forums are full of heated discussions on how to get the longest visa or what to do when the visa ends. You must leave Mexico if that is the case. A lot of people try their luck and go to the US or Guatemala for a day so that they can return and reset their visas. However, officers at the Guatemala-Mexico border have already caught onto the popular trick and are way stricter ;)
I personally have temporary residence status. There was a lot of paperwork and your success depended on who you encountered on the other side of the desk. The fee for temporary residence was almost 8000 MX, which is around 430 USD. You need to get used to the fact that, in Mexico, you have to pay for everything, everywhere, with anything and corruption is not just an empty buzzword.
Time zones
When traveling far, outside of your timezone, consider the time difference between you and your team back at home. If the difference is rather large, meticulously plan your work so that the most important tasks are done on time. Meeting online might be problematic: you’ll have to occasionally stay up late - but isn’t being able to work from anywhere in the world worth it?
The time difference is very problematic. By the time I get up and start making my coffee, the day is already halfway over in Poland. An alarm, calendar, and a reliable WiFi connection (often a problem in Mexico) are key. Aside from that, I often look for assignments locally, so my daily rhythm is aligned with everyone else. Another thing you have to get used to in Mexico is punctuality - it is not the locals’ strongest suit. “Ahorita” is a very popular word here and it means “in unspecified time”. If a Mexican tells you “ahorita, ahorita”, it can mean in a few minutes, hours, days, or never.
The cost of living
Regardless of whether you’re leaving for a week or a few months, it’s always important to calculate your budget beforehand. This doesn’t just mean accommodation and tickets. Where possible, check the prices in the local restaurants, shops, and supermarkets you intend to frequent. Find out any tourist attractions and how much they cost. Plan your budget with a margin in case of unforeseen accidents. This will allow you to fully enjoy your trip without having to count each dollar spent.
If you’re working with a limited budget, these calculations will help you choose the location - find places where the prices are similar or lower to those you’re used to at home.
Create a mobile workspace
You don’t have to sacrifice ergonomics and comfort on a workation. Consider packing at least a few productivity-boosting accessories to make your job easier, even during short trips. Of course, the length of your workation and the size of your luggage matters. But even the smallest suitcase can fit our sleek wireless charger, or our compact charging dock which you can use to charge your Apple Watch, AirPods, and iPhone all at once. If wires are your thing, spare yourself the frustration of having to untangle them and invest in our felt cable ties to keep them tidy.
If you have some more space to spare, consider packing our MagSafe iPhone stand and a wooden laptop stand. These will come in handy for longer stays - working with your laptop on your lap is fine in a pinch and only for a few days but it can be tiring in the long term so it’s good to have some of your familiar work accessories to make you feel more comfortable.
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
Plan for after work
Don’t waste your precious workation time on figuring out what you want to do after work - plan leisure activities in advance but leave some space for spontaneous exploration.
It’s also a good idea to schedule some days to be completely free from work, at the very beginning and end of your trip - so you can taste real vacation and acclimatize yourself with your new environment before jumping into work.
Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash
Finish the most important tasks before leaving
If possible, try to deal with the most pressing and challenging tasks, and finish them before leaving so you can travel stress free. Plan each workday and optimize your time to avoid wasting even a minute of your workation. And this will allow you to combine productive work with leisure and exploration.
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