Stuck in a Rut? How About Working Abroad for a Month!

This article was submitted by Larry Alton and originally appeared on Huffington Post. It has been republished with permission and does not constitute the views or opinions of Upwork.

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Have you ever found yourself in a work funk? You know, the kind of slough where you find yourself staring off into space, only to realize you haven’t done a productive thing for the better part of an hour?

We all experience such ruts — some more than others — but they can be especially frustrating when you’re a remote worker. There’s nobody around to snap you back into the groove; the solitude of makes it difficult to remain energized and engaged.

You probably have some quick fixes to get your rhythm back, but every now and then, you might get stuck in a deep rut. These call for bold solutions. Since you’re able to work remotely, why not take advantage of that circumstance and transform your working environment?

And I’m not just talking about moving your computer from the study to the living room. I’m talking about booking a plane ticket and leaving the country — for a month! It sounds crazy, but it could have a profoundly positive impact on the course of your career.

Benefits of traveling abroad

If you’ve never traveled abroad while working remotely, you’re in for a treat. It’s an experience that’s unlike anything else. You’ll be doing the same work you’ve done for years, but it’ll feel totally different.

Everything around you will be new, and you’ll experience a level of energy and excitement that you’ve been lacking. Though you may think you’re the sort of person who thrives on routine and has to operate on a strict schedule, you’ll probably discover this is simply not the case.

It could be your “plain Jane” routine that’s really holding you back and stifling your creativity. Travel abroad has a way of exposing this. Because time zones are different, early in the morning or late at night may be more ideal for your work, which will definitely be a new experience.

Maybe you’ve been a night owl, but you learn that you function just as well early in the morning, and maybe even better, with a hot cup of coffee in your hand.

Do you fear it may be too expensive to live abroad for a month while you have a mortgage payment and other bills to meet at home? That doesn’t have to be the case. There are plenty of affordable places to call home for a few weeks.

Take gorgeous Wellington, New Zealand. Remote contractor Jeffrey Trull recently spent a month living there. He found it was quite reasonably priced.

“According to the site Nomad List, the average cost of monthly expenses in Wellington is $2,191, and the average price for a one-bedroom apartment is $866 a month,” explains Jackie Lam of Credit Sesame. “To keep his costs down, Trull travel-hacked his airfare to Wellington, using reward points to fly. He paid just $100 for taxes.”

If you’re seriously worried about cost, you could sublease or rent your apartment or home while you’re away. By doing this, you might be able to break even on housing for the month.

Similarly, most of the excuses that hold remote workers back from travel aren’t that valid. You’ll have to make some sacrifices and deal with a few logistical complications, sure, but you can (and should) make it work.

Four tips for maximizing productivity

The key to working while traveling abroad is to make sure you remain productive. There should be plenty of time for fun and exploring, but you aren’t traveling strictly for pleasure; you’re traveling for work and need discipline yourself to that end.

Here are a few tips for maximizing productivity along the way:

1. Have a plan for Internet

Internet access is your first priority. Given the free and easy access we have to the web here in the U.S, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Internet access can be more challenging to depend on in other parts of the world.

Do the necessary research to be sure you’ll have solid access wherever you plan to go. This isn’t something you want to stress over once you’ve arrived.

2. Pack the right tools and gadgets

From your experience working remotely stateside, you’ll have a variety of gadgets and tools that you can’t operate without. Make sure you have these packed and accounted well before you leave. A quality pair of noise-canceling headphones, for example, is one item that may not be obvious but could turn out to be invaluable as well as hard to pick up overseas if you don’t have it.

“Trust me, you’ll need them,” entrepreneur Katie Doyle says. “Although the standard Apple earbuds, or their generic equivalents, are convenient to pack, they aren’t the best for blocking out the noise. Even with the volume on full blast, I’ve found my Apple earbuds don’t do a great job of blocking out background noise, especially when it’s a boisterous conversation in Russian or the drone of motorbikes whizzing by.”

3. Get on the same page with everyone

“One of the most difficult parts of business travel is keeping up with your normal workload when your day-to-day routine is suddenly nothing like normal,” travel blogger Michele Herrmann points out. “So, preparation is key to make sure everything at the office stays on track while you’re away.”

Before you hoist sail, notify all employers, clients, and business partners. Let them know you’ll be out of the country, but still readily available. Apprise them of the time changes, your plan for communication, and how you can be contacted. Doing this in advance will reflect well on you.

4. Give yourself some time off

Remember, the reason you’re traveling is to get out of a rut. Work is paramount, but you’ll also want to schedule some time off so you can experience the places you visit. You’ll return to home base and your regular work routine considerably refreshed.

Rediscover your passion

You may love your life here at home: You enjoy your family, friends, and comfortable schedule. But sometimes these comforts have a way of lulling you into a funk.

Before you know it, productivity has fallen nearly to zero and you’re struggling to make ends meet. So here’s the challenge: The next time you find yourself in a rut you can’t get out of, start planning a trip.

Even better, have one planned in advance so you’re ready to deal with that rut when you hit it. One month is a suitable duration for most people and will allow you to slip away for a decent amount of time before returning to the comforts of home.

Just make sure you prioritize productivity while you’re away … otherwise your “business trip” will become a missed opportunity.

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