On social networks, you often see profiles of people filled with beautiful photos from vacations and travel. This may look like a dream come true – palm trees, beach, exotic food and a sense of freedom. Just pure bliss. But don’t be fooled. It’s not always as it seems at first glance, because most of us have to work during our trips. At least that’s how it is for me. How to combine it so that you don’t go crazy?
Workation is not a dirty word
Leaving everything behind and going away for days or even weeks, and then coming back and going crazy about what should have been done long ago? I’d rather not go anywhere. I’m lucky that I enjoy my work and live for it. Moreover, I have a team around me that helps me with a whole range of things. So why cut off all work at all costs when I can perfectly combine it with my vacation?
Workation is not just for those who can’t keep up with their work and have no time for a vacation. It is especially for people like me who don’t need to lock the laptop in the safe and keep the airplane mode on even after getting off the plane at all costs.
For some, it may sometimes mean a struggle between the desire to relax and the obligation to deliver a project on time. So how to balance it correctly? After several months on the road, including Thailand, Sri Lanka and other destinations, I’ve created a system to combine work and vacation without going crazy. So come and take a look at the tips that can help you with that.
Plan everything well
Travel is unpredictable and you can get stuck at the airport or end up somewhere without internet at any time. That’s why planning is key for every trip. Before each trip, I set at least a rough plan of where and when we will go, so I can also plan time slots for work. In my latest travelogue from Albania, you can read how AI helped me with planning and itinerary. ChatGPT prepared a complete itinerary for us, which saved us a lot of time. But be careful with the time data for trips and distances. You can’t always rely on it 100%.
Don’t rely on local wifi and buy a SIM card
For your vacation to be effective, you need a good signal and stable wifi. Well, we’ve run into that a bit in Thailand or Sri Lanka, so I’d rather recommend buying a local SIM card with data. The wifi there is not as hit-and-run as it is here.
In Thailand, we got a SIM card at 7-Eleven for 199 THB for 30 days with 30 GB of data, and in Sri Lanka it was 2,620 rupees for 60 GB, so it’s doable. But if you want to prepare in advance and don’t want to rely on buying it on site, you can use Airalo. When registering, enter the code ANDRE5430 and you’ll get $3 off your first order. You’re welcome.
Choose the right accommodation
Bear in mind that in your accommodation you probably won’t just be sleeping or eating. If you book your vacation and already know that you won’t be able to avoid work, I recommend staying somewhere where you’ll have space for it. Choose accommodation where you can set up a work corner or has a work lounge, so you can work in peace and not in chaos. If you don’t want to work directly in your accommodation, take a look in advance if there are quieter cafes or coworking spaces in the area.
Delegate and automate
Efficiency can be helped by delegating some tasks. Even though you’ll be working on vacation, it doesn’t mean you’ll do the same amount of work as at home or in the office. That usually shouldn’t be your goal, because you want to explore new places and enjoy the relaxation.
If you have the opportunity, hand over some of your responsibilities to your colleagues and set up various tools that will make remote communication and project management easier for you. It’s sometimes hard to entrust someone with competencies. Things may not be the same as when you do them yourself. But when you can detach from it, you’ll find that you can delegate a lot more things even at home. Then you can focus on what’s really necessary in your work moments and stay efficient.
