At some point, we’ve probably all had that dream of packing in our 9-to-5, leaving behind rush hour traffic and office life for a tropical paradise. The good news is, with remote working becoming an increasingly popular option, you can now make this dream a reality.
Before you rush into booking that flight, however, there’s a lot to think about in order to make this lifestyle work successfully for you. This post takes a comprehensive look into the benefits and pitfalls that can come from working online in a secluded location so that you can fully prepare for the reality of your new life as a remote island worker.
Before Traveling
WiFi:
The first thing you need to confirm before you commit to a particular island is whether you will have good access to WiFi. This is an essential part of your toolkit, as without it you won’t be able to work! It goes without saying that the more isolated the location, the more difficult it will be to rely on continual free access or high-speed connections. With advance planning, however, this shouldn’t be an issue, especially as WiFi access is continually improving across the globe.
Base yourself in an area that has internet cafes or free wiFi available in shops, restaurants and bars, so that you can stay connected whilst you look for somewhere more permanent to live. Most hotels will offer WiFi but often this incurs costs, so knowing where your local free spots are will help you save money in those first few weeks abroad. Purchase a phone plan with a large amount of network data so that you can access the most important emails and documents even when the signal drops. You can also set up your phone as a WiFi hotspot, so that you can connect your other devices in times of need.
Time Zone:
Another important factor to consider is the new time zone you’ll be moving to; you need to decide if your job will be easy to maintain without instant communication during your working hours. For many, this can be a benefit of the island lifestyle; if your client is asleep, you can focus uninterrupted on the work at hand. With good time management, you can also use these hours to enjoy some freedom and explore your new home. However, if it’s essential to your role for you to be available at the same time as your clients, you need to factor this in when picking a destination, trying to stay as close to their time zone as possible.
Weather:
One of the biggest benefits to island life is the beautiful weather you’ll experience. Sunshine has a proven positive effect on our mental health, and especially for those of us moving from cold or rainy countries, this is going to help with relaxation, which will ultimately lead to you becoming a more creative and focused worker. With sunshine comes heat, though, so you do need to consider how you’ll remain a productive worker in a hot and potentially humid environment. When looking for places to live, do not consider renting or purchasing anywhere that isn’t equipped with A/C.
Upon Arrival
Work-Life Balance:
When you first make the change to working online, it can be tempting to pile all your efforts into your work, in order to prove to your clients that moving abroad won’t affect your abilities or your communication. The key to enjoying your new lifestyle, however, is to amend your schedule to allow a healthy amount of time off. Most island locals will work their set hours and no more, because they understand the importance of spending time truly living life comes above the need to sit at a desk making money. Even if said desk overlooks a spectacular beach lined with palm trees, you still need to leave it from time to time to get the most out of your experience.
Isolation:
The overall problem with working remotely is the limited face-to-face human contact your job entails. Throw into the mix the time zone and cultural differences, plus the fact your new home probably has fewer inhabitants than where you’ve moved from, and you could find yourself feeling lonely.
As with the point above, the best way to combat this feeling of isolation is to invest your free time into exploring your new home. Friendly locals are never hard to find, and with the growing trend in meetup apps and social media groups, it’s easier than ever to connect with other expats and remote workers. If loneliness is something that worries you, perhaps start your journey on an island known for sharing similar cultural values or languages to your home country, or one that has a large expat community.
Island Fever:
If you’re considering working remotely to move abroad, chances are you’re doing so because you love to travel. Travelers can find it hard to remain settled, especially once the excitement of living on a tiny island wears off. The remote appeal can soon become a curse if you feel cut off from the rest of the world.
The best way to combat this is to move around, either permanently or by taking day trips or vacations, so that your island feels fresh and you can fall in love with it again once you return. Most islands these days are reached easily by air or by sea, so whether it’s hopping on a plane from Hawaii to the mainland, or taking a ferry from Indonesia to busy Singapore, there should always be a way for you to get your city fix before reconnecting with island life.
Is Working Online Right for You?
Hopefully reading this guide has helped clarify whether making the change to remote working and island life is right for you. Overall, there is no denying that it will be challenging; moving anywhere new brings challenges and requires an adjustment period as you find your routine again. Yet, once you figure out remote working can suit you, you’ll experience newfound freedoms and flexibility, planning your own workload and ultimately enjoying the satisfaction of finishing the working day in time to go surfing, snorkeling or sunbathing in your own backyard.
Thanks for reading!
PS – Online Expert Empire is how you efficiently create your first product and build your online business so you can live/work anywhere (coffee shop, home office, while traveling).
This is how I efficiently get moolah dropped in my account each Monday.
This is how I help you make your business more efficient with the support of awesome people want to help you.
This is how you efficiently increase your blog’s rank on Google
