Workation and Digital Nomads: Combining Adventure Travel and Remote Work

Over the last couple of years, more people than ever have started working from home, and a lot of them have enjoyed their experiences.

They’ve enjoyed them so much, in fact, that they’ve decided to ditch the office altogether and take up a digital nomad lifestyle.

Does this sound like you? Do you want to travel the world, experience the outdoors, and see new sights while still getting your work done?

This situation is known as a workation. Get it? Work + vacation = workation. It allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds!

If workations and life as a digital nomad sound appealing, this guide is for you. Outlined below is everything you need to know about effectively combining adventure, travel, and remote work.

Top 2022 Remote Work Options

Remote work doesn’t have to mean working from your dining room table while you try to drown out the sounds of neighbors with your noise-canceling headphones.

You can work remotely in several different ways, including the following:

Take a Workation

As we mentioned above, a workation involves working while on vacation.

This might look like extending your vacation an extra week and doing your work — completing projects, attending meetings via Zoom, etc. — in a different location.

Set Up a Home Base

Being a digital nomad and traveling to various locations could also count as taking a workation. In between checking tasks off your to-do list, you can explore new places, get to know the locals, try delicious cuisine, and more.

Many people who take this approach set up a home base — such as an Airbnb or a hotel room — in their desired travel destination. They do their work here, then they go out and experience this new place in their free time.

Try the Camper Life

Do you prefer outdoor adventure rather than traveling to tourist-filled destinations? If so, the camper life might be a favorable option for you.

Living in and working from a camper allows you to enjoy the great outdoors, commune with nature, and still earn a living.

It’s not too hard to set up a camper so that it can be a mobile office, either.

With a router and a few other tools, you can access the internet and get your work done wherever you go. Some campsites even offer high-speed internet access, which makes it even easier for you to connect with your colleagues and stay productive.

Essential Workation Planning Tips

Whether you just want to spend an extra week working while on vacation or if you want to be a full-time digital nomad, it takes some planning to adjust to this new way of working and living.

Here are some tips that can help you set yourself up for success:

Research Your Location

Start by doing some research into the place you want to visit. Don’t just book an Airbnb or a campsite and hope for the best.

Find out where you’ll be staying, what kinds of restaurants, stores, coffee shops, etc. are located close by, and how public transportation works in this area. Learn what kind of internet access you’ll have, too, if you rely on the internet to do your work.

The more you know about the location, the easier it will be to plan your trip, make time for adventures, and meet your deadlines.

Identify Your Work Essentials

Before you pack up and take a workation or live as a digital nomad, make sure you have a clear understanding of the tools you need to do your work while on the go.

Can you do everything from a smartphone and laptop, for example? Will you need to participate in Zoom meetings or conference calls?

Spend some time thinking about your responsibilities and what kind of work you’ll be doing. Then, get all the equipment you need before you leave. This will save you from having to scramble to find certain items while you’re in a new place.

Find a Coworking Space

Some people like to work from a coworking space while traveling. This gives them a designated spot to do their work where they know they’ll have access to wifi, a quiet space for meetings, and freedom from distractions.

If this sounds like something that you would enjoy, be sure to look for coworking spaces when conducting research into a location you’re thinking about visiting.

Figure out how close the coworking space is to the place where you’re staying and whether or not you can walk there so you can plan your route accordingly.

Connect with Local Communities

More people are working remotely and living as digital nomads in 2022, which means there are many people you can turn to for advice, recommendations, etc.

You can join entire communities online — through Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, etc. — to learn about the area, find places to work, connect with other digital nomads, and more.

Try to connect with these communities before you arrive at your destination if possible. This gives you a chance to prepare, know what to expect, and ensure you have all the necessary supplies.

Share Your Plans

If you’re drawn to workations and the digital nomad lifestyle, you might love the idea of being on the go and never staying in one place for very long.

There’s nothing wrong with this. However, you should still make sure that you check in with people back home from time to time.

Let someone know where you’re staying and how they can reach you. That way, if you get lost or need help for any reason, people will know where to look for you.

How to Stay Productive as a Digital Nomad

At the start of living and working as a digital nomad, some people have a hard time staying productive. They’re so eager to go hiking, cycling, and sightseeing that their work gets put on the back burner.

To avoid falling behind on projects or leaving your colleagues in the lurch, keep these productivity tips in mind:

Stick to a Schedule

At first, the idea of schedules might seem antithetical to living as a digital nomad. In reality, though, setting and sticking to a schedule makes it easier for you to get work done and have plenty of time to hike, bike, explore, or just kick back and relax on the beach.

When you establish designated work hours, you save yourself from the consequences of procrastination — namely, missing out on fun experiences because you have to lock yourself in the camper to meet a deadline.

Take Regular Breaks

Be sure to include breaks in your schedule.

For example, perhaps you can work from 9 am to 12 pm, then spend an hour going for a swim in the lake or relaxing in a hammock on the beach. When that hour is up, you can go back to work for a few more hours.

Regular breaks let you recharge your brain and help you avoid feeling burnt out.

Set Boundaries

Clear boundaries allow you to maintain productivity, enjoy your downtime, and get the most out of your digital nomad experience.

You can create boundaries around your work by establishing a schedule and letting your travel companions (if you have them) know that you can’t go out during work hours.

You can also create boundaries with your colleagues and let them know when you’re available and when you’ll be away from your phone and computer.

Set Up a Comfortable Workstation

In theory, the idea of sitting in a camping chair and working by the river might seem like a good idea. In practice, though, it might prove to be a bit more challenging.

Whether you’re working in a camper or from a coworking space, make your workspace as comfortable and conducive to productivity as possible.

Utilize Productivity Apps

Take advantage of the myriad apps out there designed to increase productivity.

From organizational tools like Google Calendar and ClickUp, to chat apps like Slack that help you connect with colleagues from afar, you have tons of options that will improve your productivity, keep you on the same page as your coworkers, and ensure you get things done accurately and on time.

Make Time to Socialize

If you’re traveling alone, it’s easy to let yourself turn into a hermit. This is especially true if you’re traveling and staying in a camper.

It’s fine to enjoy your alone time, but try to find opportunities to get out and socialize, too. This helps you avoid loneliness, connect with other digital nomads, and learn about the place you’re staying from the people who live there.

Start Planning Your Next Workation Today

If a life of adventure and getting things done from a remote workplace is drawing you in, it might be time to consider a workation.

Cascade Mountain Tech provides all the equipment you need to stay comfortable and maximize your productivity while traveling, including camping chairs, portable lighting, and other outdoor essentials.