Working at places where others take a vacation

Laptop on the table, the sound of the sea in the background and a fresh coconut next to the laptop. That's what my life has been like recently, because that's how my first workcation began. Watching the surfers in the Philippines in the morning while I work, taking a quick dip in the sea during my lunch break and then getting back to my laptop to do the rest of my work. Simply a dream for me. If you're now thinking that this probably won't work anyway and that I won't be able to concentrate or work productively, then read on, because I'll tell you more about it.

But I'll start at the beginning. What exactly is “workcation”? Workcation is a portmanteau word made up of “work” (=work) and “vacation” (=vacation). It describes working from a vacation location. It's not about working less or having more vacation time, but about combining the two and choosing a flexible work location. For me, workcation is an opportunity to live in a different place for a period of time, which creates new experiences and perspectives and in no way restricts my productivity, but rather the opposite.

Workcation at tetys

At the beginning of my time at tetys, I already let it be known that I would like to travel again for a longer period of time, as this is one of my great passions. I knew that remote working was not only accepted but also supported, but I didn't expect workcation to be so easy to implement. The freedom to work from anywhere in the world for a period of time is a privilege and makes my travel plans much easier. But of course, not everything that looks rosy is rosy. It takes a lot of self-discipline, responsibility and organization. It also requires good communication with colleagues. Different time zones can make it difficult to work together, so it's important to plan meetings and important appointments in a way that suits everyone. For me, this may sometimes mean working late in the evening, as it's the middle of the day for my colleagues. But even that can be easily reconciled with my everyday life and is a question of organization, as I mentioned earlier. Of course, a good internet connection also plays an essential role here. So far, the workcation has worked very well for me, also because I receive support and trust from both management and my colleagues, which I really appreciate.

My working day

I would like to give you an insight into my working day over the last few weeks. I've mostly spent the early morning surfing and then sat down at my laptop at around 10am. Why so late? Due to the time difference, I communicated with my colleagues in my afternoon (6 hours difference), so it was easier to work later. I mostly worked in small cafés that offer good internet and small corners to work in. On the island I was on, digital working is very common, which made the whole thing a lot easier. Inspired by many others who also worked there, I was able to get through my working day well. During the lunch break, I enjoyed a quick dip in the sea or pool before heading into the afternoon. In the late afternoon, I held meetings and dealt with everything else from Germany.

Increase in productivity? 
Before I did Workcation, I was actually on vacation and really enjoyed the time off. However, returning to work went better than expected. To my surprise, moving to a different country has not only been good for my general mental health, but has also boosted my creativity at work. My motivation and productivity are high, thanks to the daily dose of “vacation”. I enjoy the time I'm not working to the full and have lots of adventures. In return, I make the time I do work more productive and energized. My surroundings inspire me a lot.

Challenges and solutions
As nice as the whole thing sounds, it would be a lie to say that there are no challenges at all. Of course, it's sometimes difficult with the different time zones when I need something from my colleagues or they need something from me. Or the internet connection can sometimes be down for a few hours, especially on islands. And you can probably imagine that I sometimes feel more like being on vacation than working and that my complete self-discipline is required. However, all these challenges are manageable and allow me to grow. When my colleagues are not available, I try to find solutions myself or continue working elsewhere. The same applies to the internet connection. I must also emphasize that workcation is easy to implement in my area of work (marketing). I am well aware that there are also many areas where precisely these challenges become a problem. For me, however, it is a good change of pace and I can only recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to give it a try. 

Why more companies should allow workcation 
At tetys, workcation is possible and in my opinion, it makes the company stand out. Above all, it shows that trust is shown towards the employees as long as the results are right. Workcation offers a modern work culture and offers companies today the opportunity to keep up with other attractive professions (allusion to digital nomads). It can also increase productivity and lead to better results. Of course, the framework conditions, such as data protection etc., must be clarified so that nothing can stand in the way of successful workcation. Motivated and productive employees are an important part of a company and this is one way to achieve this.

Conclusion
Workcation is a good opportunity to learn that freedom and responsibility are not mutually exclusive, but can work together. With good organization, communication and trust, workcation can become a game changer for many companies and employees. Because sometimes it takes a change of location to rediscover yourself and your work at the same time.