Tips For Working Remotely While You Adventure

By Mandy Burkholder | March 29, 2016

Tips For Working Remotely While You Adventure

Some of us are lucky enough to have jobs that allow us to travel the world while keeping the paychecks rolling in. But with a remote working situation, it’s not always easy to stay on the productivity train. Whether you’re backcountry skiing in British Columbia or rafting the Colorado River, staying on your work game is imperative to funding these amazing adventures.

So how do you cope with the freedom, independence, and flexibility of remote work? It’s hard to do, but following these few tips will set you up to succeed on your next work-away-from-home journey.

Do you have any tips of your own to share with our readers? If so, share the wealth in the comments!

Check Your Work Equipment

If you’re going to work remotely, there are certain pieces of equipment you’ll need. A laptop and headphones are two of the most basic necessities when out of the office. So before you hit the airport, double check that your equipment is up to scruff. Did your cat chew through the wires of your charger? Oops! You’ll need a new one before you head off. Is your laptop connecting to wifi? Good! And for creatives who work with equipment like cameras, make sure that you have all of your lenses, memory cards, and chargers tucked away in a travel-safe bag.

Keep A Schedule

As with any good day’s work, it’s important to keep a detailed schedule of what you’d like to accomplish each day. This applies even more to remote work, where you don’t have a boss breathing down your neck at all times. Buy a journal or planner (or use your phone’s calendar app) and proactively create a list of each day’s goal. Think ahead: what has to be turned in by Friday? Can you divide the projects into Wednesday and Thursday? Do you have any meetings to plan for? Mapping out your work week is essential to keeping productivity rates high.

Secure Internet

Adventurers know that some of the best places in the world don’t have access to internet (or even cell phone service for that matter!) Unfortunately, the lack of technological services can put a damper on, or completely end, your prospects of completing timely work. Think ahead and do your research. You’ll be on the slopes all morning, but does the lodge have wifi? Is there a cafe in town where you can settle in and get work done? You have to figure these things out ahead of time or the whole trip might be a flop!

Stay Connected

When you’re on the loose, it’ll probably be easy to fall away from contact with your peers at the office. That’s why it’s best to remain in semi-constant contact with your boss or coworkers. Work emergencies don’t just end because you’re on a trip. You might have to solve a problem that you only know the answer to, or proofread someone else’s work before they pass it down (or up!) the ladder. Keep at least one hand involved so you remain a team player.

Plan Wisely

Lastly, don’t plan a remote work trip right before (or during) a giant deadline, a product launch, or a huge project. The workflow of the entire process will most likely be disrupted by your departure and putting that type of pressure on your coworkers is unfavorable from a professional standpoint. Don’t abandon them—you’ll want to support and be supported by your coworkers while working remotely.