It’s estimated that 3 out of 4 professionals expect remote work to become the norm. But, for this trend to continue, these professionals need to deliver results while working at a distance.
As a workationer, you’re among the ones leading the charge for change. However, taking a successful workation requires more than venturing to an exotic destination and staying in touch with your team.
In this article, we’ll go over the definition of a workation and the elements you should consider during this experience. We’ll also share 6 tips to help you prepare for a successful workation in 2022. Let’s go!
What Is a Workation?
As you may have noticed, the word “workation” is the perfect combination of “work” and “vacation”. While these terms mean the exact opposite, they combine to form an innovative concept.
Workations are a form of telecommuting that allows you to perform your professional duties remotely. That said, workations are different from conventional remote work setups.
This is because to be on a workation, you need to do your job while based from a travel or holiday destination. In short, workationers do their jobs on warm beaches, in beautiful parks, and in similar locations.
Elements to Consider During Your Workation
Taking a workation is a great perk. There’s no denying that. But, you also need to remain productive to deem your workation a success.
With the above in mind, there are many different elements that impact your experience. So, you need to keep in mind things like:
- The day-to-day life in your location of choice;
- Online and physical security;
- The legality of your workation in the destination country;
- Factors that affect your productivity.
All workationers are different. You have to identify the most important factors for you in order to find the best location and setup.
6 Things That Can Go Wrong During a Workation (and How to Prevent Them)
The concept of a workation is relatively new. This means that most professionals don’t have actual experience with this type of telecommuting.
Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of 6 things that can go wrong during a workation and how to prevent these from happening.
1. Your Accommodation Isn’t Conducive to Work
The first thing you should do when planning for a workation is adjust your mindset a bit. Unlike conventional holidays, you’ll need to factor in your productivity when selecting accommodation.
You should set a certain standard for accommodation and adhere to it. Think about your temporary home as an extension of your office. Make sure that you have multiple areas to set up a workstation and hold meetings.
2. The Environment You’re In Doesn’t Allow High Productivity
Having a great work space is a great start, but you also need a setup that drives productivity.
Consider things like temperature fluctuations, cost of living, and internet availability as all of these can impact your work environment.
This step is essential if you want to choose the right location. It’s easy to romanticize destinations, so try to get as clear a picture as possible before organizing accommodation and travel.
3. You’re Lacking Basic Tools
All workationers need a laptop, a passable workstation, and a decent internet connection.
You should take the time to evaluate your job’s unique requirements and make sure that you have all the tools you need to perform your duties before setting sail.
Internet connections are a great example.
Some professionals only need a connection that’s stable enough to send messages. Others work with huge files and require fast connections.
So, take the time to create a list of must-haves and ensure that your destination ticks the boxes.
4. Moving from Place to Place Becomes Burdensome
Packing is often overlooked as an essential element of a successful workation. However, the number of items you have with you will impact everything about your trip, including travel costs and overall effort.
As a rule of thumb, you should apply a minimalist mindset and avoid overpacking. Make sure to prioritize work tools including chargers, but avoid taking a huge amount of clothes. Especially if you can (and probably will) pick up extras once you get there!
5. Your Computer or Work Accounts Get Hacked
Workationers may face a significant number of security challenges, like getting hacked. In addition to securing your physical well-being through insurance and safety best practices, you also have to take digital precautions to protect your work tools.
The latter is especially important because a security breach can compromise your entire company’s network.
If you’re planning a workation, you also need to take online precautions like using a VPN. Providers like Surfshark VPN can help you establish an encrypted connection, creating a safer environment for you and the rest of your team.
6. You Get Into Legal Issues or Forget to Enjoy Your Holiday
Lastly, don’t assume that you can work remotely from any location. Remote work is a new concept and legislation around it is murky at best. To avoid legal problems, you can research visas before getting to your location of choice.
Also, make sure to schedule some actual time off! It’s often hard to unplug from work while visiting an exotic destination, so inform relevant team members and schedule time offline to recharge and unwind.
To Wrap Up…
Taking a workation can be one of the best experiences of your professional career. That said, you need to take precautions to increase your online safety and overall productivity to ensure a successful trip.
If you plan ahead, follow the tips above, and keep your specific requirements in mind, you should be able to organize an amazing workation. Have fun!
