A work holiday is where you leave your home and travel to a new place – with the intention of both working and exploring the world at the same time.

This recipe is not for the traveler who is always on the go, or for the person who only works in one place. It’s for those of us who are exploring the world while working. It’s the ultimate experiment in work-life fusion!

Over the last few work holidays, I’ve put together a recipe for working on the go. And of course, I’m still experimenting and improving.

Ingredients

• 1 table (at least 1×1 meter). When 2 people are going on a work holiday together, there should be 2 separate rooms with 2 tables.
• 1 chair (preferably with a cushion – or a pillow)
• 1 power converter for the country of travel
• 1 stable, fast internet connection (ideally). If you’ve been promised stable, high speed internet? Ask for a speed test. If you’re staying in a hotel – check out Hotelwifitest.com!
• 1 phone. You may be able to rely on Skype for communication, but check the tariffs for how much phone calls actually cost. If the Skype connection is bad, it can be worth it to pay for a phone conversation.
• 1 headset

 Garnish

• 1 external monitor. Ideally, it should be able to fit in a backpack or suitcase (Pro tip: get a light-weight monitor whose base can be disassembled).
• 1 external keyboard
• 1 extension power cord (you never know where the nearest power sockets will be)
• 1 power strip (ideally all-in-one with extension cord)
• 1 extra mobile phone – can be used as a mobile hot spot
• Extra lighting. Sometimes you’re working in a dark room – or at night. That monitor glow isn’t always flattering. I’m looking forward to trying Chatlight!
• Whatever you need to be well rested and in your routine for work. For some it’s a coffee mug or a favorite tea, for others it’s a travel pillow.

Preparation

Pack light! Keep it simple, but don’t economize on technology. Bring the best equipment for the job you need to get done.

Getting set up for productive working can take time. Plan for it.

Privacy considerations:

• Are you able to have business conversations without other people overhearing or being bothered?
• How early/late will you be working? Is it socially acceptable to work the hours you want to?
• Do you need it to be quiet? Is it quiet?
• Can you work there all day?
• Will the walls be thin?
• Can you lock the door?

Location considerations:

• Will it be blazing hot? Cold?
• Do you need lighting? Will it be dark?
• How large of a space do you need?
• Do you need to look professional?
• What does your background look like?
• Are amenities accessible? For example, how far away is the grocery store?

If you’re staying with others, recognize that remote working is weird to most people. Introduce what you’re doing gradually (don’t start with robots). Play well with others. Share your resources. Offer your knowledge. Clean the dishes. Be sociable.

Directions

Experiment and establish a routine that works for you.

Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy where you are – and plan your workload to maximize enjoyment and exploration. For example, don’t attend a conference the week prior to the work holiday. Chances are, you will be tired and will already need extra time to catch up with work, and follow-up with the new people you’ve met.

Make sure you give yourself the space to play.

With good planning and a healthy amusement with the absurd, work holidays have the potential of being the ultimate balance of work-life fusion!

And thank you to Florian for being the ultimate fun life partner.

Have I missed anything? What have you tried? How would you alter the recipe?