Many of us want the flexibility to combine business with leisure in our lifestyles and we love sharing the glamour of traveling while working.
But remember that this lifestyle isn’t for everyone.
Some people prefer to enjoy it vicariously from the comfort of their couch. Others have jobs or lives that preclude workations.
We don’t judge!
Four questions to ask yourself before embarking on the nomadic “workation” lifestyle:
- Are you flexible? According to AFAR, 25%+ of flights show up over 15 minutes late. To successfully embrace Bleisure Living, you have to maximize every working minute..even if it’s on the floor of an airport or backseat of an Uber or in a random un-planned city as a result of flight delays. If you work for a company, make sure they’re OK with remote work in different time zones. If you work for yourself, you need to balance client/customer needs with your own penchant for travel.
- Do you require lots of sleep? Let’s face it…working AND playing in a new city (especially after a long trip) can be exhausting. Staying healthy, getting exercise and eating right is a great way to balance the 5AM flights, the 5PM happy hours, and even the midnight experiences at clubs and events.
- Are you independent? Most of our experiences often involve solo adventuring. So ask yourself if you can handle making plans and dining alone. Does meeting new people and starting a conversation energize or drain you?
- Are you focused? Sitting on a ZOOM or Teams call while watching those around you sunbathe, snowboard, sightsee, or sip on cocktails can be a challenge for the easily distracted. You very well may find yourself having the only laptop in sight. Does the thought of this frustrate you or (like us) motivate you to finish your business so you can enjoy leisure? Being a Bleisure Living professional also requires time management and time-blocking, so you can fit all your passions in with your source of income. It’s also important to remember the importance of prioritizing all of your tasks and knowing what needs to be accomplished when.
- Do you have people to handle your “at home” responsibilities while you’re on the road? Or, can you include them in your lifestyle? If you have a partner, kids, or pets at home, you either need to prepare for your journeys or take them with you. Both can be a challenge.
If you’ve answered “HELL YEAH” to these questions, congratulations and welcome to Bleisure Living workations. It’s a vibe, a lifestyle, and an adventure.
I wouldn’t trade for the world right now. But I’m also at a stage that makes it easy.
If you aren’t sure or the timing just isn’t right, combine business and leisure locally. Book an overnight stay in a nearby hotel (staycation) or just even take your laptop to a favorite or new coffee shop or resort lobby.
After all, according to travel icon Richard Branson:
“There is no real difference between work and play. It’s all living.”
