(Photo above courtesy of socialmonsters.org)
You work hard and you play hard, but can you do both at once? These days, there’s no reason you can’t take your work with you on vacation. Whether you spend an afternoon on the Great Wall of China, scuba diving in Thailand or climbing the Austrian Alps, you can still focus on work back at the hotel if a report must be written, a conference call is scheduled, or an event needs promotion on social media. But how do you balance work and play on a vacation?
The Working Life
With advancements in digital asset management software, Wi-Fi technology and mobile devices, more and more people take at least some work with them wherever they go. Newsweek conducted a study that measured the percentage of people who work while on vacation. Of the 2,903 people polled, 40.2 percent said they checked emails while on vacation. But work takes many forms while on the go; 22.1 percent of people said they checked voicemail, and 23.9 percent said they even took calls while on vacation.
When?
You’re never going to suddenly have a month, or even a couple weeks, completely blank on your calendar. The only way you’ll get away is when you learn balance in your life and work. Simply choose a span of time in the future and organize your work so that you can do it remotely for this time. If you can, work ahead so you’ll have less urgent business while on vacation. Pay bills, send out invoices, do the essential, simple tasks you usually leave until the last minute well before you depart. This way you won’t be stuck at your computer while in another country.
Schedule Time
If you plan correctly, you’ll have plenty of time for leisure and enjoyment as well as work. Just make sure you stick to that schedule. You’ll easily be caught up in adventures while abroad, and if a routine isn’t kept, you could fall behind. If you’re a small business owner, never forget that you’re the responsible party, even when you’re on vacation.
Disconnect, Reconnect
If you’re on a work vacation it doesn’t mean you can’t disconnect. As long as you plan your trip out and create designated work time and play time, you won’t fall behind. But when you’re out and about with friends or family in a foreign place, don’t let work creep into your interactions and fun. Working vacations only work if you can disconnect and reconnect effectively.
Off The Grid
Sometimes the best vacations take you to uncharted territory. Territory that isn’t covered by cellular data, Wi-Fi or traditional technology used for communication. If you plan on an adventure such as this, but need to be reachable, a satellite phone can keep you connected no matter where you are.
