Remote work is here to stay. Although most of the time I have worked remotely from my home in Bogota, remote work has allowed me to visit more than 6 countries and 20 cities in just 2 years without spending my vacation days.
That’s why I want to talk about some tips for Successfully Working remotly while travelling which have helped me to stay efficient at work while traveling and make the most of my time.
What is remote work for you?
For me, to define remote work in one word is FREEDOM. Freedom to be able to manage your most important resource: Your time. Freedom to be able to go out and explore the world without the ties of a job that controls every aspect of your life.
Believe it or not, in the process of travelling while you are working, it creates a scalable mental structure that delivers much more value than you can imagine and strengthens a work culture that is measured by results and not by how long you sit in a chair.
Understand how is your work
First of all…understand properly your work, is your work synchronous or asynchronous?
Synchronous work refers to activities that happen in real-time, where team members are expected to be available at the same time and communicate with each other in real-time. This can be through zoom or phone calls.
Asynchronous work refers to activities that don´t happen in real-time, where team members don´t need to be available at the same time and can communicate at their own pace. This can be through email, slack or project management software.
My recommendation: If your work is mostly synchronous, don´t have a time difference of more than 3 hours.
There will always be meetings, requirements and unforeseen events within the day to day. If there is a considerable time difference, it can affect the effectiveness of your work and your team work, unbalance every part of your life (food, sleep, social relations, free time) and also you won’t enjoy the places you are visiting.
Schedules for everything
It may sound counterintuitive, but even though you may not have a strict fixed work schedule at work, it is good to organize and have clear schedules. Creating habits and routines helps your brain to focus and not to disperse energy on several things at once.
A schedule where you will focus on working to meet your goals, a schedule for meals, rest and even times when you will be disconnected from work to see the world.
An example of this is that I am typically available to my team during regular business hours. My work could be considered a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous work. However, depending on my location and workload, I may start earlier and skip lunch hour in order to finish earlier and have time to do something else, such as go for a walk, get to know new places or enjoy the sunset.
Communication
Communication with your team is always key, not only when working from another city or country. Have project management tools such as Asana, Trello, Clickup, etc. Short but regular meetings to always be updated on the progress of tasks/projects that are being done. Likewise, be transparent about where you are and be aware of your team schedules, you never know what problems may arise.
Work environment
Creates an appropriate work environment. Separate leisure time from work time and don´t combine them. Despite the conception that remote work is about working in a chair in front of the swimming pool, in reality this hardly ever happens and it´s not common.
Find a quiet space where you have good internet access, electricity to connect your gadgets, a comfortable chair and table. There will be times when you can work at a table in front of the pool or the sea, but they are not really the best because you can not concentrate to the fullest, nor do you get the most out of the place where you are.
Know yourself very well and look for the spaces that suit you best. For example, I love nature; Seeing, feeling, being in spaces where I can feel nature recharges and focuses me. That’s why when I decide to go out and work from somewhere other than my conventional office, I like to go to places where I can feel like I’m in a natural space (parks, botanic gardens, etc.)
Why remote work is good business for companies?
Remote work is often seen as beneficial just for the employee, but it have many benefits for the employer. Remote work has become an option for companies looking to increase productivity and profitability.
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” – Peter Druker
Having a culture of remote work can have several benefits for companies. Remote work eliminates the need to spend time and money on office rentals and commuting, as employees can work from home. This saves them time and money, as well as generating greater job satisfaction, retention and lower absenteeism.
It also allows it to tap into a Wider talent pool, by not being limited to hiring workers who live in one specific place, companies can find the best candidates for the job regardless of location. This can lead to a more diverse and qualified workforce.
Don’t let misled, remote work is not…
- Forcing your employees to log on and off at exactly the right time.
- To exaustively control how your employees work, using intrusive programs that check in real time what your employees are doing.
- Controlling employees access by IP. If their work is completly remote, it doesn´t have sense not to allow them to work from anywhere in the world. I know several friends where they are not allowed to leave the country, even though their work is done remotely.
The work culture is what determines the performance of your employees. If you hire talented people who are responsible and have ownership of their results, you will not have to micromanage them, they will work to meet their objectives.
In conclusion, remote work is a modality that has many benefits for both employees and employers. Remember to plan, stay connected and take advantage of the unique opportunities that come with working in different locations.
Working while traveling can be a great way to see the world and grow your career at the same time. By following the tips, you can make the most of your time while staying organized and productive. I hope these tips have been useful. If you have other useful tips, don’t hesitate to write me, I would love to know them.