Work and Wanderlust: How to Master Travel with Job

Do intrusive thoughts of sitting on a beach in Puerto Rico or standing atop the Eiffel Tower ever get in the way of work? With a pile of tasks in front of you, you may wonder if you’ll ever get to see these places. Read our 6 tips for travel with job to help you plan your next adventure.

For many, work comes first, taking up nearly all their spare time. However, you can juggle travel with having a successful career – some employers even encourage taking a break from the tasks at hand. 

Set your notifications to “away” and get ready to see the world. Here are several benefits and tips for balancing travel and work.

The benefits of balancing work and travel

The daily grind could affect your mental health. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Better Life Index, 10% of Americans work longer than the 40-hour average. As a result, they have less time to devote to their family, hobbies, eating, sleeping, health and travel – all essential to people’s happiness and well-being.

Microsoft’s 2022 Work Trend Index report says 53% of workers are more likely to prioritize health and mental wellness following the height of the pandemic. 
Meanwhile, companies are eager to implement mental health programs for their workforce, focusing on improving leadership, engagement, communication, culture and organizational policies. Strategizing mental health benefits and training are also top concerns for corporations.

Juggling a busy career with new experiences is challenging. However, there are benefits of balancing work and travel you can’t overlook, including the following:

• You remove yourself from a stressful environment or situation.
• You can give your body the restful sleep it needs for your physical and mental health.
• Taking a break from work could enhance your thinking, creativity and concentration.
• Travel can reinvigorate you and increase your energy and productivity.

If you feel your mental health is declining from a stressful job, it may be time to pack your bags and book your flight.

Signs you could use a break from work

Getting wrapped up in deadlines, meetings and office drama is typical – you might not even notice it negatively affects you. Here are some telltale signs you need a vacation from your desk:

• You forget to eat or see other changes in your eating habits.
• You no longer get enough sleep.
• You struggle to concentrate.
• You lack the energy and motivation to get your work done.
• You get sick more often, including frequent stomachaches and headaches.
• The job has you feeling depressed, frustrated or burned out.
• You’ve isolated yourself from friends and family.
• You work even when you’re not on the clock.
• You’ve begun to self-medicate with alcohol or substances.

These signs should all be taken seriously, especially since your career can impact your physical, mental and emotional health. Remember that even you deserve optimal work-life balance – perhaps travel should be a part of that.

How to balance work and travel: 6 tips

Learning how to balance work and travel is necessary for healthier living. It also ensures giving the job your all again when you return. If you’re struggling with juggling travel adventures while having a career, these six tips can help.

Prioritize new experiences

Many people have a difficult time saying no to their bosses and co-workers. If someone has too much on their plate, you may be the type of employee that offers to take on the extra project. However, setting boundaries for personal time is the key to balancing work and travel. 

Make an effort to prioritize travel and new experiences for yourself. Although it may prove difficult to turn down assisting people at work, it could be your only opportunity to break away from your desk.

Remember that you only get one chance at life, so fill it with exciting excursions, new perspectives and the ability to connect with others worldwide.

Move abroad

Have you ever vacationed somewhere and felt the trip wasn’t long enough? You might decide that moving abroad is the best way to balance travel and work. 

Many companies have transitioned to remote work since the pandemic. It may be worth asking your boss about restrictions on location. Once given permission, you can move anywhere you like.

How does Amsterdam or Berlin sound? Look for temporary housing for five to six months or book an extended stay in an Airbnb. During this time, you can work and explore after the workday or on the weekends.

Vacation around public holidays

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 31% of private industry workers receive five to nine days of paid time off (PTO) after one year at a company. About 34% receive 10 to 14 days of PTO. The story is a bit different in Europe because you tend to earn a bit of more PTO averaging to around 20-30 per year.

Some employees are more frugal than others when tapping into their vacation benefits. For instance, you could schedule trips around public holidays to save those PTO days.

The federal government recognizes 10 public holidays in the United States, although some companies don’t give employees off for all of them. For the holidays they do, you could submit your PTO for an even longer weekend. 

If the Fourth of July lands on a Monday, take off the prior Thursday and Friday for a full five days of traveling. You could also take off on a Monday for a three-day bed-and-breakfast experience a couple of hours away.

Load up your itinerary

A full itinerary doesn’t leave much room for rest. However, if you only have a week to spare for travel, the last thing you want to do is sleep in late and miss out.

While on some of the holidays I enjoy camping around the city and on the other I tend to plan longer itinerary. For that you have to check the transportation schedule for wherever you plan to visit. Exploring one city a day is possible depending on whether you rent a car, take the bus or travel by train. 

For example, it’s only a three- to four-hour train ride from Cordoba to Valencia, Spain. From Valencia, you can hop on one of the 12 daily trains to Barcelona and arrive in three hours – that covers three days of exploring.

Although slow travel is popular, loading up your schedule with activities is a great way to see everything in a short window.

Stay close to home

Who said you need to book a flight anywhere? Some of the best vacations could be close to home. You may live near a major city or a few hours from the beach – either location could be the perfect place to visit between your hectic work schedule. 

Traveling far away from home leaves some people feeling more stressed than before they left. If you stay within driving distance, you might feel less pressure and get your traveling done in a day. 

These trips could also be more cost-effective and provide a fresh space to shoot off a few critical emails in the morning. 

Unplug

Of course, an essential tip for how to balance work and travel is to disconnect from work altogether. Studies show that using digital devices often could increase depression by 28% – an unavoidable situation at the office.

When you put in for your well-deserved vacation time, make it known you’ll be unavailable until your return. Set a message reply for your emails and ask a co-worker to handle important requests until you return.

Getting into the mindset that you’re not available when off the clock is important for juggling career and personal time, especially for travel. Commit to turning off your devices and stepping back from your work when visiting somewhere.

Explore the World While Working

There are many ways to juggle travel and a career without burdening co-workers or your boss with your absence. Everyone is entitled to care for their mental and physical well-being. If that means you need to go someplace new, a trip could benefit your work performance when you return.

Conclusion : Tips for Travel with Job

In conclusion, traveling with a job can seem challenging, but with the right approach, it’s possible to strike a balance between work and leisure. By utilizing some of the tips and strategies we’ve outlined, such as planning ahead, being flexible, and communicating effectively with your employer, you can make the most of your vacation time and enjoy new experiences while still fulfilling your job responsibilities. Don’t let your job hold you back from exploring the world – start planning your next adventure today!