This summer I will have been on the road for about 7 weeks total. From our time traveling through Japan to our volunteering experience in Ecuador, Aaron and I have learned to work productively while we’re away from our usual space.
One of the benefits to working remotely is that it allows for flexibility of location. Freedom of location is something many of us desire– and yet, productivity can be elusive.
Some friends have asked me how I keep up with posting, emails, and even social media while I’m traveling. The truth is, it takes quite a bit of effort, but it’s definitely doable.
If you want to work while while away from home, you’ll have to throw out any preconceived notions of bronzy, attractive people lounging with their margaritas and laptops at the beach. Instead, you need to start practicing discipline– and finding a good rhythm so that neither your work nor your travels will suffer too much.
How to Work from Anywhere and Still Be Productive
1) Feed your brain and rest your body.
On the road, our bodies and minds are already under more stress than usual. Changes in time zone, diet, and schedule can take a toll on our productivity.
Keep yourself hydrated, well-fed, and well-rested when you’re trying to get work done. It will do wonders for your focus and creativity.
2) Turn off notifications, ads, and apps.
This is a good rule-of-thumb for productivity in general, but especially when you’re not at home. Those emails, Facebook notifications, and smartphone apps can distract us at any time.
If I have to use my computer, I open up my work in a brand new window and hide everything else. If I need to look out for an email or text, I will set regular intervals of time during which I check those; otherwise, the only windows open are what I need to attend to immediately.
Furthermore, AdBlock can be an excellent tool. I know that AdBlock is controversial– it was estimated to have cost Google $887M in ads in 2012.
But if ads are attractive to you and you need to do research on the Internet, then I strongly suggest installing it. You can always pause it if you want to see the ads on your favorite blogs.
3) Evaluate company versus solitude.
Some people work better in the presence of friends or strangers; others work better completely alone. Figure out what you need, and stick with it. This may mean drawing boundaries when you are visiting friends.
I’ve rarely had success working in a coffeeshop, but I love working at libraries; my husband is the opposite. Finding your ideal work environment can be key to great productivity on the road. The familiar setting will help your mind get into gear.
4) Create an achievable task list and tackle one item at a time.
Plan, plan, plan. This is the most crucial time to make check lists, schedule times, and waver as little as possible.
When I make lists for my work, I usually start with the biggest and most urgent tasks. These are the ones I tackle first. Smaller tasks can be attended to during unexpected free time, or when you’re a bit tired. The items at the bottom of your list are the best ones to neglect after a busy day of travel.
5) Choose your most productive time of day and be consistent.
Luckily for me, I tend to be productive in the evening, when most travel activity is over. I rarely stay out late when I travel, so I’ll usually work after dinner.
However, knowing your most productive time of day– and sticking to it like routine– can foster a consistent level of efficiency. We are creatures of habit, so we must build habits that are most advantageous for us.
6) Plan ahead for when you need Internet.
The availability of Internet can vary, and we need to be okay with that (or purchase an expensive data plan). If you absolutely need the Internet– or perhaps lighting for photos, or other time-sensitive things– plan ahead.
There’s no need to throw a fit because Internet is not available. Planning is the best you can do.
7) Manage expectations for your work, travel, and relationships.
If you intend to work while you travel, be sure to integrate that into your expectations for the journey. It’s best to tell anyone that you are visiting (or traveling with) that you’re going to need to set time aside. Be intentional about spending time with those people, too.
Manage your own expectations by choosing the most important things that you want to see or do while on the road. There may not be time for everything you want to see, but at least you’re not stuck at home or the office!
When our expectations are appropriate, we can dedicate our time to work without resentment or distraction.
8) Take a break by stepping away fully.
This is the best part about working while on the road: there are so many options when it’s time to take a break!
So instead of surfing the web, scrolling through your phone, or watching TV, take advantage of your current location. Enjoy it– and let it further inspire your work.
The reality of working on the road…
… is that it requires major compromise. It is certainly a privilege not to be chained to a particular desk or space, but it is also restrictive to have to work while traveling.
Before you find a good rhythm on the road, your work can suffer. And when you’re hard at work on the road, your adventure can suffer too.
The idea of working remotely is attractive, but consider the amount of discipline you need in order to do it well– and then decide whether it’s a good choice for you.
[Tweet “8 secrets to working on the road– and staying productive! via @daisylinshih #smallbiz”]
So true about “THE REALITY OF WORKING ON THE ROAD…… is that it requires major compromise.” I spent 5 weeks travelling with my family through Europe this summer, and it was SO HARD to work while they all got to run off and play at the beach in Italy and have a nice dinner in Prague. I got what I needed done, but I sure didn’t want to do anything “extra” that could wait until I got back to my regular routine at home. Great article and very time appropriate!
So neat!! I’ve never heard of that! Thanks for sharing it with me.
Yes, finding the perfect environment for writing can be difficult. Sometimes I find myself staring at the screen, my mind vapid, because my surroundings are less than ideal. I think working in the same spot, if I’m staying in one place for a while, can be helpful. Building that initial consistency can go a long way! Glad you found this helpful, friend! 🙂
Thanks friend! I’m so glad to read that, and please do come back!
I was so excited when I saw the title for this post and it did not disappoint! I am one of those people who work the most productively in a quiet, familiar environment — i.e. my desk at home, with soft music and no distractions. But I’m on the go a LOT and I need to learn how to be better at working while not at my desk. Otherwise both the trip and my work suffers. These tips are all really helpful, and I’m saving this post to review before I next travel — re-reading this each time will definitely help put my mind in the right spot =)
xo
http://www.threadandbones.com
From someone who is generally unproductive in new environments: thank you for this post! And on an unrelated note, I love your blog layout! I will definitely be back for another visit. 🙂
That’s great Mandi! Good luck to you!!
i will be working as i travel most of fall so these were helpful <3 thank you!
live.lifechurch.tv 🙂 I’m a chat host, which means I’m the online version of the greeters at the church doors. I just say hi and make everyone welcome. It’s such a fun job!
Thank you Christina! I’m realizing that the toughest times to work are when we’re traveling with friends and family we don’t see often. I can usually pump the brakes on my own travels, but when someone else is involved, it’s much harder!
Thank you, friend!! I’m so glad you were able to balance church and your travels. Which church is it, by the way? I’m interested to know!
These are great tips Daisy! I’ve found myself working on the road multiple times since I became self-employed a few years ago and find all of these tips to be very on point. Planning ahead for internet is crucial too, as well as managing expectations of how much you’ll actually be able to achieve while you’re gone.
Great tips! You have been so good with blogging regularly while you’re away 🙂 I definitely agree planning is the best thing you can do. Our last holiday (pre-baby wow it’s been a while!) I took my laptop as I had church commitments (I work in an online church) but the rest of the time I had it off, planning to just enjoy my holiday and do the blogging later.
Away From The Blue Blog
It’s called Isolator. Super ancient app for Macs, but it’s so good!
Thank you friend! Your 5-minute task list is brilliant; I need to do that too! It helps to have a to-do list for when I’m waiting and want to be productive.
Oh that’s an awesome app, Tiffany! What is it called??
Thanks for reading, Erin! And yes, this definitely applies to working at home, where there are many things that demand our attention!
Yes absolutely. I use Facebook mostly just for blogging, but even those updates can get distracting!
Thank you Anita!! So good to hear from you, I’m really glad that your move has gone well. And yes, having a list is so helpful when there are a million things to think about.
Thank you Pia! And yes, sometimes procrastination is the only thing standing between us and productivity! That determination is an excellent discipline.
Thanks Kaelene! I need silence (or a background humming noise)… hah!
Thanks Kat! I think your point about keeping the phone somewhere else is a great one. I’ve also learned to close my email so that I’m not constantly looking to see if new mail has come in while I’m working!
Absolutely!! I’ve never had the facebook app and I’m so glad I don’t. And thanks for reading, Kiki! Hope you’re well. 🙂
Thank you Joy! The balance is tough– travels are for exploring and not for sitting at a desk in front of the screen, but the fact that we can travel at all is a blessing! Drawing good boundaries between work and travel is important, but they don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Thank you Helene! And yes, I think many of these insights also come from the work I do from home.
I’ve so admired your ability to keep up during all your travels this summer! Tip #2 is something I should do regularly, but I don’t! I get distracted so easily, and I really need to learn to turn off the distractions for myself. I also totally agree with #4. It’s always tempting for me to ease into my work with the easiest tasks, but then it’s harder to do the bigger projects and more creative work later when I’m tired. On a similar note, I like to keep a running list of 5-minute tasks; this way I can pick a task to accomplish and maximize those awkward chunks of time when I’d be likely to check emails or social media.
I have a perpetually messy desktop that constantly distracts me, but there’s an app for that! Or, at the very least, a plugin that darkens everything but the window that I’m currently using. It is awesome. And definitely shutting off Wi-Fi and putting some big headphones on and having tea at easy reach. All of these things really need to be together for me to be in a productive mindset wherever I am.
I NEED to turn off notifications – they definitely cause me to get sidetracked! I also love lists – they help me plan and focus! This working on the go post totally relates to my working at home with littles as well! Thank you for the tips!
Oh my gosh…yes to #2!!! I have turned off most notifications and deleted a lot of useless (ahem…Facebook) apps. I kept the app for FB pages so I can interact as my blog but otherwise…see ya!
These are awesome tips, Daisy! Between all of our traveling (and our cross-country move) this summer, I’ve found that working first thing in the morning is when I’m most productive. Life gets so hectic as the day goes on! And of course, I truly don’t know what I’d do without my to do list. 🙂
Always love hearing your thoughts — hope you’re well!
Always, Anita
You have so many great points in the post! For me the most important thing is if I’m going to get something done, I just have to sit down and say that I’ll do it. Just taking the time to do things really. I do totally understand the internet struggle too.
xx, Pia
http://gymbagsandjetlags.com
Such great tips! I don’t do well working in coffee shops either, I get so distracted! I basically need silence to focus ha.
These are such great tips! I work from my home most frequently — I’m like you, I’ve never had success in coffee shops, as much as I’d love to! But, I’ve been playing with keeping my phone out of my workspace (provided I’m not expecting any phone calls), and it has really helped me a lot with focus and productivity!
xoxo
Kat
Turning off my Facebook notifications has been the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Not only has Facebook become a mecca of negativity and rants, but I seem to let myself become consumed in it. I think it’s amazing you get as much done as you do. Like seriously, mad props. Lately I’ve been in a slump and feel constantly drained unless I’m over caffeinated. Totally need to take some of these tips to heart! Happy travels, be safe!
http://www.accordingtokiki.net
Great post! Working on the go can be very difficult. Especially for those of us who are easily distracted by the new sights on every corner. Being habitual with your time is so important. I haven’t worked a lot on the road because I figured I would never be able to give it the attention it deserved, or my vacation would suffer. As a planner myself, I read this and thought “duh, I can do that!” Thanks for sharing this. When my husband travels for work, I travel with him. But I no longer want it to be an excuse to leave work on the way-side.
This is so spot on! I work from home and many of these tips also apply to that! Thanks for sharing!