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.

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.

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?

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 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.

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.

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.