Workation: Top Benefits of Working during your Vacation

What if you could work while taking a vacation? How about if your company would pay you for it? That's the idea behind the recent "workation" phenomenon, and it's taking the world by storm.

Working during your vacation may seem counterintuitive, but there are many employee benefits to it, promoting a healthy work-life balance and increased productivity, which are essential for maintaining employee morale.

Whether you choose to work from home or take your laptop somewhere like the beach, there are several reasons why a workation can be a great idea for both your mental health and your career prospects.

If you are an employee and are looking for a way to spice up your life, improve performance, to know about workation top benefits of working during your vacation, and knock a few things off of your bucket list all at the same time, this article is for you.

What Is Workation?

Workation combines the phrases work and vacation, enhancing the digital nomad lifestyle and fostering opportunities for those remote workers seeking a better work-life balance. It entails combining work and leisure to allow individual employees to unwind while being productive, thus creating a way to reduce stress without sacrificing precious vacation days.

Consider it working while on vacation, a practical approach to manage work tasks during leisure time, aimed at those who thrive in a new environment. Just like your childhood summer cabin was your 'home away from home', a workation is best described as a 'work away from work'. It's a way for you to unwind and improve your scenery & leisure time while still providing meaningful work output, ideal for digital nomads looking to blend daily life with fewer working hours.

It's important to understand this definition because it is soon to be one of the prevailing modes of work in the future. With remote sign-ins and work tasks occurring more and more often online, the need for individual employees to physically be in the same place as their employers is diminishing, thanks to a strong internet connection. Workations boost productivity and are becoming more common in companies in the United States and Europe, according to research, marking a shift towards hybrid models of work.

Workplace productivity tools and collaboration technology have advanced, making it easier for workers to stay on top of projects from remote places while taking a breather from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You could, for example, take a medium term workation to Mexico with your laptop, where a reliable internet connection ensures you spend time effectively.

As long as you have a stable internet connection, and your hours are such that they work in your destination time zone, there's no reason why you can't get just as much (if not more) done sipping Pina Coladas on the beach than in an office or at your home.

This also creates more opportunities to earn money, which will undoubtedly benefit companies and employers, reflecting positively on the generated paystub by the venture you've started or the company you work for.

Workations of various kinds

The pandemic was a major factor in the increase of workations. Businesses were obliged to implement remote work due to the pandemic. Other businesses adopted hybrid work structures, which are quickly becoming the norm. Work and travel are now inextricably linked as a result of the pandemic. Hybrid models mix working remotely on certain days and in the office on others. Remote employees could take a workation as a result of entirely remote and hybrid working modes during the pandemic. Workations are classified into three types based on their duration:

• Short-term 

• Medium-term 

• Long-term 

Short-term workations

This form of workation lasts a few days, similar to a three-day mid-week excursion or a weekend getaway. A short-term workation is usually in the surrounding area. A person in Los Angeles, for example, can take a short-term job assignment in Phoenix, Arizona.

Medium-term workations

Medium-term business trips run a few weeks to nearly a month, and the vacation location is frequently farther away from home than with a short-term work trip. Current type of job assignments is typically accepted within the country.

Long-term employment

Long-term employment assignments might last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years. These workations entail relocating temporarily to another site. Long-term work permits and visas are frequently required when traveling overseas or to a neighboring nation. However, depending on the number of persons participating, there are two types of workations:

• Collaboration in groups

• Working alone

Collaboration in groups: Your organization can arrange a workation for a group of employees, which often lasts a few days to a week.

Working alone: Individual employees may also participate in a workation. Solo job allows the employee to plan their stay accordingly.

What’s the Difference Between Remote Work & Workations? 

It can be challenging to distinguish between a remote worker arrangement and a long term workation, though both offer many benefits and opportunities to spend quality time away from a traditional office setting. The difference between the two may not be that great, but it has important implications when you're making a workplace proposal or looking for jobs. A remote worker arrangement typically arises after a lengthy conversation with your boss about the merits of working from home versus in your office.

During specific periods throughout the year, you then work from home as opposed to make the lengthy commute into work. This can be a great option for many people, offering fewer chores and more quality time, though there are usually restrictions on the length of time away and it can require a significant amount of planning to ensure a strong internet connection. A workation, on the other hand, is often more permanent and relaxing, with workations boosting productivity and exposing individuals to new cultures, all while ensuring a strong internet connection.

Instead of simply opting to work remotely, you take your laptop with you while travelling, which can result in fewer chores, many benefits, and a deeper engagement with new cultures. (similar to the idea of digital nomadism). As long as your hours sync up with that of your original job, there are no restrictions or limitations to a workation because it allows for complete flexibility. In a nutshell, remote work usually means a special arrangement with your boss or colleagues, and it involves doing everything from home.

A workation, on the other hand, means travelling the world with your laptop - getting things done in another city or country, for example, just because you can. A workation is usually less stressful, more interesting, and lets you strike a fantastic work/life balance.

Who Can Take a Workation?

Anyone can take a workation, but it may not be suitable for everyone. Some jobs are more conducive to this type of arrangement than others, and if the company you work at doesn't allow remote working, your options will be limited.

People working in white-collared jobs usually have the option of taking a workation because the work they do can be done anywhere. However, those in the blue-collar profession may not do the same because they need to physically be at their workplace.

Benefits of Working During Your Vacation

If you are considering taking a workation, then it is important to know the benefits. Taking advantage of your free time and making productive use of it can be highly beneficial. Here are some reasons why working during vacation may help not only you but also benefit the company you work for:

Increased Motivation Levels 

People are often more productive when working away from the office. So, if you have a clear, well-defined goal for your vacation, then it makes sense that motivation is high. For example, if you know exactly what you want to achieve during your time off work and use this as an incentive to get things done, the benefits might be much more significant overall.

You Get More Done

Productivity tends to decrease as we spend more time away from work. This means that you will get a lot more done if you are working during your vacation than if you just sat on the beach all day long. If you work for your company’s accounting department, you can even manage and create invoices away from the workplace with online invoice generators. 

You Learn New Skills

Working during your vacation allows for extra learning opportunities because it is possible to try different things and see what works best for you in certain situations. In addition, learning new skills can help you earn more money because you will be able to offer the company more than just your regular services.

You Are Less Likely to Come Back Burned Out

If you spend your vacation working, then you will be more relaxed when it is over. This means that the transition from work and home life may not feel as rough or daunting once your break is finished.

You Don’t Have to Feel Guilty

If you choose to take your laptop with you, you will be able to get something done while on vacation. You will also be able to enjoy your time away from work without the guilt of not working, which is an excellent benefit for anyone who loves their job.

Increase in Creativity

When you are working during vacation, the chances are that it is for pleasure and not because you have to. This means that there will be more opportunities to explore your creativity without the pressure of deadlines or any other factors getting in the way.

Increase in Employee Retention

Employees who are satisfied with their job and feel like they have accomplished something while on vacation are more likely to remain at the company. This is beneficial for both sides because it makes employees happy, increases productivity, improves quality work, and raises morale.

You Get to Explore Your Destination While You Work

Working during a vacation in other places can help you get out of your desk while still getting things done. You can take your work with you and do it in a new location without the pressure of not doing anything during your time out. It is a great excuse to explore your destination.

In addition, you may find like-minded people who want to collaborate or share ideas on a particular topic that can benefit everyone involved. It's an opportunity to learn about different cultures through interacting with locals or other travelers in the area where you are staying. This can help you to become more culturally aware and be able to work better in different situations.

Workations difficulties

Not every employee will like going on a work vacation. This is why:

• Some employees prefer to work in an office atmosphere.

• Work may suffer as a result of time spent on leisure activities. 

• Working during a vacation undermines the concept of work-life balance.

• Work can be pricey.

According to studies, not all employees like working remotely. Some individuals like to work in an office setting where they may complete their duties while interacting with coworkers. According to a poll of 9,000 workers in six nations, 12% of employees always prefer to work in an office atmosphere. Working while on vacation is incompatible with work-life balance. Workations can be detrimental at times, especially if you spend more time on recreation than on work.

Workations can also lead to a loss of work-life balance. Aren't employees meant to take a complete break from work when on vacation? Work and vacation together blur the distinction between the two. As a result, some employees who take a workation may begin to integrate their personal and professional life.

While working from home saves time and money on commuting, it comes with additional costs. Travel, food, lodging, and other living expenses can rapidly mount up. As a result, workation can be costly, especially if personnel must fly internationally.

Is a workation appropriate for your company?

While workations have numerous perks that are difficult to overlook, working on vacation does not suit every employee in every organization. Some actions, for example, cannot be performed remotely, such as:

• Machine operation

• In-store client transaction processing

• Taking care of patients

• Using laboratory equipment

As a result, workations are best suited for professions that aren't adversely affected by working remotely. These are some examples of jobs:

• Marketing

• Generation of content

• Data examination

Client-facing jobs, as well as jobs in retail and hospitality, cannot be done remotely. This is due to the importance of face-to-face communication and physical presence. Workations may not be suitable for you if these are the roles available in your firm.

The Bottom Line

Working during vacation can have some great benefits.  Whether you choose to do this from the comfort of your own home or take your laptop on holiday with you, it can be a lot more productive than just sitting around and doing nothing.