Workations: Not just drinks with umbrellas and museum tours
A quality workation (and one most likely to be approved by the higher-ups) takes more than a few clicks on Expedia. It takes research, preparation, and setting and committing to time and financial boundaries. But once you’ve checked those boxes, it’s all smooth sailing, right? Not necessarily.
As we all know, nothing is perfect, exploring the benefits and addressing the challenges of your potential workation are important pieces of the planning puzzle.
Unlocking the Benefits
Flexibility
You can work from a location of your choice, allowing you to explore new places, connect with locals, and immerse yourself in the local rhythm while still earning a living.
Increased productivity
A new environment can boost creativity and motivation, which can lead to increased productivity. A blend of work and leisure can also result in heightened productivity as you draw inspiration from your surroundings.
Reduced Stress and Burnout
Swapping your usual office view for awe-inspiring landscapes can help alleviate stress and prevent burnout. The ability to take breaks by exploring your surroundings revitalizes your mind and body.
Work-life balance
You have the flexibility to schedule work around your leisure activities, potentially improving your work-life balance.
Cost-effective
Depending on the destination, a workation can be more affordable than a traditional vacation. Instead of a rushed vacation, workations enable you to stay longer in a destination, often giving you access to extended stay discounts.
Networking opportunities
You may meet new people and expand your professional network in a different location.
Facing the drawbacks
Distractions
New environments can be distracting. There are so many exciting opportunities to try new things, making it challenging to stay focused on work tasks.
Time zone differences
If you’re in a different time zone from your colleagues or clients, it can be challenging to coordinate work. You may find yourself cutting into your adventure time, working late into the night, or at an extremely early hour to accommodate time differences.
Limited vacation time
Combining work and leisure may not provide as much relaxation as a traditional vacation. The line between “work hours” and “after work hours” is blurred enough these days as more people work from home. Do you want to introduce “work hours” to your vacation time? An important question to ask yourself.
Connectivity issues
You may encounter unreliable internet or technical difficulties in some locations. You can do the research and buy the converters, but there’s no guarantee your needs are compatible with what your location is offering.
Potential for burnout
Balancing work and leisure can be stressful, leading to burnout if not managed properly. Juggling multiple schedules is challenging enough at home. When you add in limited hours for the sites you want to visit, juggling varying time zones, and other nuances of travel, has the potential to rob you of some of the joy of seeing other parts of the world.
In a world where the traditional 9-to-5 job is evolving at an unprecedented pace, our approach to work and leisure is also undergoing a significant transformation. Like anything else, however, it’s not all drinks with tiny umbrellas and museum tours. Before you begin planning your workation, take a good look at the pros and cons to determine if it’s right for you and your job.
