5 tips for your (first) workation

Working remotely, everyone has an opinion about it. There is a lot of talk and discussion about it, because it works for some and not for others. Everyone has their own needs when it comes to work and the workplace. Even before covid, I regularly worked from home or a place other than the office. But in 2022 was the first time for me to combine travel and work: a workation, as everyone likes to call it. I went to Portugal for a month. Here are my 5 learnings from my period of remote work in Lisbon.

Do at least a little bit of preliminary research

My need for good preparation made me do extensive preliminary research. That’s just how I am wired. My research mainly focused on: which hostels have co-working spaces and which co-working places are all within walking distance of my accommodations. My research turned out to be an advantage because it saved me time and energy on figuring stuff out while I was there. Next time, I will expand my list of hotspots in the city that I really want to see. Especially if you're going for a relatively short period of time, that can be handy. Then you can be sure you have time for those places you find worthwhile.

Co-working spaces in hostels are not always the best place to work

More and more hostels are offering co-working spaces for their guests. These offered spaces are just not always the best/most comfortable places to work. You can end up at a table that is too high (or low), on a wooden chair, in an open space, where employees and guests are constantly walking through. Oh and where your fellow remote worker has a (loud) video call every 15 minutes. So if you have a lot of work to do and prefer to do it without distractions, look beyond your hostel and be willing to pay a daily fee for a nice co-working space. For example, I really enjoyed working from Second Home Lisboa. You’re surrounded by plants! If you’re going on a workation to Lisbon, definitely consider this place!

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Stay in one place

Before I went, I had several accommodations booked. I would move places every 4-5 days. Fortunately, I had free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance because I ended up canceling two reservations. Once I had found a comfortable place to sleep and work, I thought, why leave? When I had finally found a place where I felt at home I didn’t want to pack up and start all over again. Next time I will book a longer stay in one place. It gives me more time to relax (because packing and unpacking your backpack every few days is annoying) and I create more space for myself to experience the place I am in.

A comfortable place to sleep is important

Dormitories in hostels are the best for quickly finding people you vibe with. But sometimes a shared room is not the best for your sleep. And when you have to work, sleeping well is a necessity. In Lisbon, I slept in hostels during my work weeks, more often in a dorm than a private room. That didn't always work out well, so next time I'm going to reverse that. I'm also going to look into co-livings; a place where you live and work with other digital nomads. Sleeping well means being fit and enjoying yourself even more, so pay attention to where you stay and make sure it’s the level of comfort you need.

Plan your free time as well

When I went to Lisbon I was working for an employer. I had made arrangements with my manager in advance and included her in my plans and ideas. I wanted to immerse myself in Portuguese culture, but my work was still important and nothing had to change in that respect. In the first week I worked more hours than I did in the Netherlands. I was more occupied with my work so I didn't fully realize where I was and what it could bring me at that moment. Just like your online meetings, make sure you schedule your free time so that you can’t forget to enjoy yourself!

Good preparation is never a bad thing, especially for you the places where you’ll be sleeping and working. Work is important, but don't make it the most important so that you are open to new adventures, people and experiences. These lessons have made me approach my next remote adventure abroad differently. The next time it’ll be different in another aspect as well, because I am now working as a freelancer. I’m guessing a pitfall could be that I feel like I have to work, otherwise there isn’t any money coming in. We’ll see how that goes. I am already looking forward to it!