While workcations are becoming increasingly popular, Tracy Brower has found several variables to consider before taking one yourself.
Workcations are the latest –and possibly most creative – new way of working.
The trend is to enjoy a vacation destination while you’re also working your normal schedule with your employer, all thanks to the flexibility of remote work.
Large numbers of people have taken trips combining business and leisure (also known as “bleisure” trips) with the idea they are the best of both worlds.
But are workcations really all that great?
And should you take one?
The answer is mixed.
While workcations can be the perfect way to mix business and pleasure, they can also be career-limiting if you’re doing them wrong.
Here’s what to consider as you’re pondering a working get-away.
Consider the context
If you’re thinking of taking a workcation, you’ll be in good company.
An estimated 45% of people have taken a work-leisure trip in the past year, according to a poll.
These kinds of trips can be good for you, but also for your employer.
People who take workcations report they are 20% more likely to be satisfied with their job and those who don’t take workcations are 16% more likely to leave their employer.
Considering this context—that it is neither unusual nor inherently greedy to take a workcation can help you make the right decision for yourself.
Consider the Benefits
In addition to the benefits for employers, workcations also offer terrific upsides for employees.
People enjoy workcations because they get to visit friends and family (51%), experience a change in scenery (48%), explore a new city or location (24%), reduce stress and improve mental well-being (24%), mitigate burnout (18%), escape distractions (15%) and spend time outdoors in leisure activities (11%).
In addition, workcations can contribute to the way you detach.
A poll from Ceridian and Harris Poll found that 23% of people said remote work helped them travel for longer periods of time, and 22% said it allowed them to travel to destinations which were farther away.
If you’re seeking to accomplish these kinds of benefits, a workcation can be a great way to get away, de-stress and improve your frame of mind.
Consider your boundaries
But in addition to relishing the respite of a workcation, also give thought to your personal professional boundaries.
True vacations—those which aren’t combined with work—have significant advantages.
Three quarters of Americans say taking vacation improves their mental health, and 49% say it improves their physical health.
People also say that truly detaching from work improves productivity (46%) and job satisfaction (40%) when they return to their job.
But when you’re workcationing and working every day in addition to trying to relax, you may not accomplish either work or play effectively.
When you’re working, you may wish you were at the beach with your family. Or when you’re hiking, you may have trouble turning off worries about work.
If this sounds like you, workcations may be the worst of both worlds—because you won’t be able to be as focused or productive in your work and you may also not be able to completely enjoy your time off.
The bottom line: Take workcations if you can effectively manage both your work and your leisure.
Also recognise workcations aren’t a replacement for real vacations.
Be sure you still make time for vacations in which you can fully detach and enjoy the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of disconnecting.
Consider your work
In addition to benefits to you personally, it is also wise to reflect on how your workcation may affect your work and the perceptions of your contributions. After all, you don’t want your travel to derail your career ambitions.
Be sure you’re able to be truly productive from another location based on your ability to give attention to your work and also based on variables such as your Wi-Fi connection.
If you’re interacting in a situation where you need to exude professionalism, you’ll want to be sure you’re able to project it successfully with a tidy background, clear acoustics, and professional clothing.
You’ll want to be sure you’re still perceived as being productive and impactful.
I also recommend that people who are taking workcations be transparent and open.
A workcation is not a hush trip in which you travel to a vacation destination and keep it a secret from your employer.
According to a poll by RVShare, 56% of people say they’re likely to take a hush trip.
And 8% of workers say have taken a hush trip in the last year and 27% did it to avoid logging vacation days, according to the Price4Limo data.
Transparency drives not only strong relationships, but also your credibility. So, letting your employer know you’re traveling is typically a good idea.
After all, if you’re getting your work done effectively, you have nothing to hide.
On the other hand, if you’re traveling secretly and your employer or colleagues find out, it could erode trust and cause people to question your integrity. It can even fuel resentment among your colleagues.
You should also research the laws of the country in which you plan to work.
In many cases, if you’re visiting on a tourist visa, your remote work could be illegal, making both you and your employer liable. Plus, you should be careful about data security as you are accessing your company’s systems—so you’re not putting your organisation at risk by using public Wi-Fi.
With some careful planning and good choice-making, you can make workcations work for you—without limiting your impact, your career advancement or your own opportunity for fun.
* Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist focused on work-life happiness and fulfillment. She is the VP of Workplace Insights for Steelcase and is the author of two books, The Secrets to Happiness at Work andBring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work. Her work has been translated into 17 languages.
This article first appeared onFast Company
