One of the most alluring aspects of having a career where you can work from anywhere is the ability to travel and still maintain an income. Unfortunately for some, having such a career can be a bit of a challenge at first with trying to juggle traveling, project and meeting schedules, deadlines, and living a well-balanced life. Not to worry, any new career will have its learning curve attached to it, and we are here to provide you with some tips on how to effectively work while traveling; in order to shorten your learning curve.
Get Organized
Unlike working in an office where you can shuffle through your desk or file cabinet to find documents that you need, working from the road requires you to develop organizational habits that keep everything that you need at your fingertips as you travel.
By using online document services such as Google Docs or Microsoft’s One Drive, you can keep all of your communications and documents easily within reach while also being able to share files with colleagues.
Take Advantage of Down Time
Don’t just sit idly when waiting on planes, trains, or appointments. Instead, use this time to take care of those tasks that often get put aside for later and take little concentration, such as cleaning out email, purging files, or returning voicemails. This allows you to remain productive while waiting.
Learn to be Technologically Savvy
In order to work from the road, you need to rely on technology to a more in-depth degree. Because of this, you will want to have a clear understanding of the equipment that you will need in order to complete your job responsibilities, as well as understand how to use and maintain it in case you have technical issues while you are in transit or traveling.
If traveling abroad, you will want to verify the type of converters that you will need for power supplies and internet connections. You may require special service plans in some countries that work to maintain cell service for constant communication if your position requires that you be reachable.
Get Familiar with Time Zones
Times zones affect your ability to meet deadlines, as well as schedule or attend online meetings in other areas of the country or world. Having a clear picture of which time zones you will be dealing with will allow you to seamlessly travel and remain timely.
Schedule Dedicated Work Hours
Setting a scheduled block of hours to work allows you to mentally transition from traveler mode to work mode. It also tells those around you that you need to be left alone during these hours to minimize interruptions and distractions.
That doesn’t mean that every day has to be the same. You choose what hours you set and what days you work. The key is to sit down and plan out your work schedule so that you and those around you are aware that you will be busy during those times.
Now that you know the basics of working whilst traveling, you have a solid foundation towards working effectively as you travel the world for both leisure and business.
