This post was most recently updated on July 9th, 2019
Many of us dream of taking a vacation and jetting away to some exotic foreign destination, but with a 9 to 5 job, this can be tough to do. There are personal, professional, and financial concerns that most people are anxious about putting work on hold for a couple of weeks. Luckily, it’s possible to get your work done while out of the office, even if you’re holding down a full-time job.
Special Contribution by Lucy Lees
While working while on vacation may seem like a recipe for disaster, it can actually save you from stress in the long run. You won’t have to worry about a pile of responsibilities waiting for you when you get home, and you can enjoy more peace-of-mind while indulging in fine dining in the Caribbean or hotel spas in Budapest. Here are a couple of simple steps you can take to continue producing your best work while wandering the world.
Stay Connected
New technologies are making it easier than ever to communicate across long distances. It’s vital that you stay connected to professional contacts using the Internet. You can take a wifi-capable laptop or smartphone along with you and still be able to connect so long as there is a good internet connection. You might also choose to book a room in a hotel that has a business center. Email and messaging options allow you to communicate instantly with others across time zones, while face timing programs such as Skype allow you to talk directly to clients and coworkers.
Budget
Working while you travel can eliminate some of the financial stressors from your vacation. You won’t have to worry about spending too much, as you’ll have a source of income, and you won’t have to work as hard to build your travel fund. Still, you should continue to keep track of your income versus your expenses to ensure that you don’t return home to a pile of bills.
Use Your PTO for vacation
Earning money while taking a vacation doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to keep working. If you’re a salaried employee, it’s important that you take full advantage of your benefits, and this includes vacation days. More than half of Americans don’t take their vacation days each year, which can lead to burnout and poor productivity. Using your PTO can help to keep you refreshed by giving you a paid vacation without the work. If you’re short of PTO, you may be able to earn time off by working overtime.
Or Use Your Business Trips to Travel
If you’re going on the trip anyway, why not extend a day or two…or use a weekend for travel adventures. Your transportation and lodging will be mostly covered by your business. You’re already there — might as well enjoy it!
Whether you work from home or hold an office job, with proper planning, it’s possible to take a vacation while continuing to earn money.
Lucy Lees is a professional freelance writer with many years experience across a variety of sectors. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her.
I love this and agree with it. I’ve always worked while traveling.
Sounds like a good idea anytime off is a win I think. Too many people live to work I work to live and that how it should be.
My husband, daughter and I did just this for a year while we were growing our online business. It was a great time, sometimes stressful but truly rewarding.
As a travel writer and blogger, I find I never get much time “off.” But as I love my work and my writing allows me to share my passion, it’s all good. 🙂
These are great tips to help everyone get away! There’s something for everyone here. 🙂
Great ideas that I should have applied when I was still working but now that I am retired, no more need!