When I started working remotely I had no idea of what etiquette to follow. I saw a few photos of people working along the beach or in cafés and I assumed that as long as I had my laptop everything else would be a breeze. I was wrong and with the new found experience that I have, I’m here to share some tips while working and traveling full-time. Here are mistakes to avoid while traveling and working online:

Mistakes To Avoid While Working Online

Sitting at a coffee shop for hours.

I always enjoy checking out local coffee shops, but they aren’t all made as working spaces. Staying for an amount of time after supporting the establishment is always great, but it isn’t cool to sit there for hours after only buying one drink. These places need money to run and if you’re holding a table hostage they won’t get money from new customers. If you are interested in sitting with your laptop for a longer period of time while getting work done, I recommend asking permission from the establishment or specifically finding a co-working space so that your needs are met.

Not planning your voice and video calls.

Similar to sitting in a crowded coffee shop with your laptop, not planning your video voice calls is another mistake I would avoid as a digital nomad. I’ll let you know I have ability to work from more places than just an office, it does it mean that all of these places offer the proper environment for you to complete your tasks. If you are clients facing, frequently making video or voice calls, or in a customer service position I would definitely recommend specifically seeking out working spaces while you travel.

Working spaces are not created equally, they also don’t even exist in some locations. As a way to avoid finding out the hard way whether or not you can get your job done, I recommend reserving accommodations with working spaces. Making sure that your accommodation photos have a desk and chair for you to work on and following up with the host on the Wi-Fi speed will allow you to properly plan your new trip while working.

Thinking you can work outside with your laptop comfortably.

I have taken cute photos outside with my laptop, but truthfully I didn’t get much work done. Away from a charger my laptop probably lasts an hour and a half with all of the programs that I’m running so it isn’t very efficient away from the charging port. Thinking that you will comfortably be working outside, in the sun, every day isn’t a realistic expectation; I recommend making sure you have a solid work space for you as well as any accessories you may need to get your job done.

Not thinking about the change of time zones while traveling.

This may be obvious for some, but another great tip when working or traveling is planning out the time zone that you need to be in for your clients. Depending on the type of remote work that you do, you may have time constraints that you need to abide by in order for you to take your trip. Could you imagine how irresponsible it would be to sleep through a meeting because you completely forgot the time change while traveling? Of course you’ll get through it, but it’s a mistake that we want to avoid.

Forgetting to inform your employers you’re traveling.

Lastly, I would avoid forgetting to tell my employer that I will be traveling. Some employers aren’t able to hire people in certain locations and if you potentially move to that location it may be a threat to your employment. There are also stipulations when using company-issued accessories that would be out of service if they’re too far away. Instead of lying to your employer because you are unsure, I recommend asking about their policies upfront so there is no gray area. This tip is definitely dependent on the type of employment you have, but it is something to stay mindful of as you work and travel.

Have You Made Any of These Mistakes?

Have you made any other mistakes listed? I’ve made some mistakes like sitting at a coffee shop for too long waiting for transportation and forgetting my laptop charger while going out, but luckily they were just learning experiences. I would love to hear about any experiences that you have while working remotely and any tips that you have for someone who may need them in the beginning of their journey.

Digital Nomad