Business, pleasure, or both? Pros and cons of the “workation”

For many of us, the distant dream of working from home became cold reality overnight in March 2020. This trend of mobile working has remained popular even as staff trickle back into the office. But it has also opened the door to an opportunity more exotic, more seductive, perhaps even more desirable than the “home office” model: the workation.

As with any overstuffed suitcase, there’s a lot to unpack here. What exactly is the latest evolution of mobile work, and what are the pros and cons?

Read on to find out.

Business or pleasure? Why not both?

We’ll start with the easy part: Workation, a clumsy portmanteau of “work” and “vacation,” describes the practice of working from a holiday destination. Instead of using up vacation days to tan on the beaches of Crete or drink wine in a cottage in the French Alps, modern connectivity affords many workers the chance to do their daily tasks from almost any place on earth. A workation can last anywhere from one night to several weeks or even months, and it can take place down the street or halfway around the world.

Anything that offers this many possibilities is sure to boast plenty of perks, but it also has its drawbacks. Here are just some of the pros and cons of mixing your day job with your dream destination.

Fun in the sun: the pros

1. Make the most of your time. Instead of saving all your sightseeing for your next proper vacation, take a workation and get more from every minute. Switch off the laptop and step out into the bustling streets of Barcelona, the peaceful fjords of Norway, or a nature reserve in Kenya.
2. Boost creativity. Nothing spurs a new way of thinking like immersing yourself in a different culture. More than just a change of scenery, the best workation will make you rethink your routines and inspire a new approach.
3. Staff retention. Employers, listen up: The ability to work from home and abroad is becoming decisive for job applicants and current employees alike. Making room for a workation is a great way to attract new talent and increase loyalty to your company.

“What could possibly go wrong?” The cons

1. Uneven work-life balance. Even on a workation, it’s not always easy to neatly separate time on the job from free time. You could be sipping mai tais in a hammock between two palm trees on a Caribbean beach, but if you’re thinking about that meeting you just had and your early deadlines for work tomorrow, are you really enjoying the moment?
2. Myriad logistical problems. Any number of technical problems could surprise you when you set up office in a new location. The more remote it is, the more likely you’ll have poor internet or a lack of the equipment you’re used to. Not to mention the inevitable confusion that comes from working in a different time zone than your colleagues or clients.
3. Working abroad can complicate your tax situation. This depends on where you go and how long you stay, but when it comes time to file, be sure you’ve done your homework. Nothing spoils a good workation like a hidden tax penalty.
   
   

Final thought

A good workation can help you get more from your day, lead to new creative insight, and improve the relationship between employer and employee. But if you rush into it with nothing more than an urge to get out of the house, both the work and vacation can suffer. So plan yours well. Know why you’re doing it and what you hope to get out of it. With a little preparation, it could show you a new way to enjoy life to the fullest.