It’s interesting how the traditional 9 to 5 work structure is disappearing, and when you think about it, it’s actually quite surprising how long it persisted for. It’s well-known that people are productive at varying times of the day, with some getting more done in the early hours and some preferring to work in the afternoons and evenings, for example, and when you add that together with the fact that many people are searching for a great work-life balance, you shouldn’t be surprised that flexible working and working from home are becoming more and more important.

But what if you want to travel and explore the world? What if that would make your life better and ensure you had the work-life balance you wanted? Is it possible? The answer is that it will depend, especially when it comes to the job you do. However, if it is something you’re interested in and want to explore further, keep reading; here are some things to think about if you want to work and travel at the same time.

Set Clear Goals And Expectations

Before you start your travels, take a moment to think about your work goals. What is it you’re expected to get done over the period when you intend to be away? Are there specific milestones you need to achieve? Deadlines you have to stick to? Knowing this means you can clearly work out exactly what you have to do while you’re away, which will help you create a plan and schedule to work towards. You’ll also be able to stay more focused and productive even if you’re visiting somewhere new where there might be lots of distractions.

Of course, while your location might change, your job won’t, and you’ll need to speak to your employer about what you both want to achieve. Talk about your availability, how you can be contacted, and even any potential challenges that might come up. Being proactive like this shows how professional and dedicated you are, which should help you come to an agreement.

Create A Realistic Schedule

Time is always valuable, no matter whether you’re working or enjoying your trip, and when you’re trying to do both, it can be hard to know when to stop doing one thing and start doing another. If you’re always working and don’t have time to see anything in your new location, what was the point in going? If you’re always exploring the tourist attractions, why say you would work while you’re away (you could just have taken time off instead, for example)? There has to be a fair split, and creating a realistic schedule will help you, as long as you stick to it as much as possible.

The best thing to do is allocate chunks of time for focused work sessions and then entirely separate chunks of time for exploring wherever you happen to be. Striking this balance means you won’t miss out on the wonders of travel while also meeting your work commitments.

Use A VPN

If you’re going to a number of different places, using a VPN is a great idea to help you stay safe and ensure you can access everything you need to. What is a VPN? A VPN (virtual private network) enhances your privacy and online security by encrypting your internet connection, protecting your sensitive data from potential cyber threats (especially when you’re using public wifi networks, which you might be when you’re travelling), and giving you access to geo-restricted websites and content, which can be immensely useful when you need to access work-related information from different countries.

While you’re working on the go, it’s vital to ensure your privacy, and this is perhaps where a VPN really shines – by connecting to a secure server through a VPN, you create a sort of tunnel where you can work safely and securely and save your data from potential threats. No matter what you want to use the VPN for, it’s a vital element of being able to work efficiently and securely when you’re travelling, and whatever country to visit, you’ll know you’ll be able to access everything you need to.

Connect With Other Digital Nomads

Going on any kind of journey that combines with and travel can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone – this is something many people choose to do for a variety of reasons. That means that pretty much wherever you go, you’ll come across other ‘digital nomads’, and that’s a vibrant and supportive community to be a part of. You’ll be able to hear about other experiences, get guidance (and offer it), and make some great connections if you become part of this community too.

There are actually a number of different websites you can join that will connect you with others just like you, doing the same thing, and you’ll be able to interact with like-minded individuals through forums, messages, meetups, and many other resources too.

Plus, when you get to a new city, it’s always a good idea to search out any coworking spaces that might be available. These spaces offer more than just offices; they’re potentially hubs of collaboration and networking, and joining a local coworking space can introduce you to a diverse range of people from all kinds of backgrounds and sectors. Engaging in conversations during coffee breaks or going to networking events can give you new ideas, partnerships and, sometimes, lifelong friendships.

Regularly Evaluate And Adjust

Although you might have a great plan in place when you start your travel and work combination, sometimes things will change, and you’ll need to change with them. This is why it’s important to regularly evaluate the situation and ensure that it’s still working well for you and your place of work.

Think about your goals and the time you’ve allocated for each task, for example. Are you getting everything done and still leaving time to enjoy your trip? Are you prioritizing in the right way? And what’s your emotional state and wellbeing like? Remember, that can be affected negatively even if you’re ticking everything off your to-do list (and sometimes because you’re ticking everything off your to-do list!).

As you start to settle into your travels, you’ll likely find ways to fine-tune what you’re doing to make it work better for you, so don’t be afraid to make changes as you go if they’re going to make things more productive and efficient and give you the time you need to explore too.