“Get your motor running. Head out on the highway... cause baby you were born to run.”
The lure of the road calls you. In your heart and mind, you’re filled with the desire to experience that sense of adventure and curiosity you had as a child. Yet, adult responsibilities and the need for security dampen your dreams of hitting the road.
Fortunately, today there are endless possibilities to blend travel and work. Conventional work is changing. New online tools that didn’t exist a couple years ago can now make even traditional jobs location independent.
Boomers looking to blend work and play are wise to consider these three keys to finding the right balance.
1) Prepare a Plan - Explore all the options of retirement travel trends. Do you plan to travel full time? Travel and work part-time? Where do you plan to travel? Whether you plan to dip your toes in water close to home or sell the house and car and go all in -- technology and flexible working arrangements can make just about anything possible.
Identify your “must haves” and “deal breakers” for this lifestyle. How much flexibility do you desire in your work opportunities? How much time do you want to work? Do you want to settle in for a month or two at a location or keep moving?
Your finances, health, family obligations, and community responsibilities will shape your travel/work lifestyle. Stepping away from the security and comfort of your home and job is a big step. It’s smart to do a test run close to home to identify your personal limitations and desires.
2) Don’t Ditch the Daily Routine - You finally have the freedom to fill your days with more of what you want to do vs. what you have to do. Stress remains, but it’s a different kind of stress. Learning how to be productive is essential to finding balance when traveling.
It’s easy to get distracted because every new destination feels like a vacation. But if you get too caught up in work assignments, you'll miss the adventure. The key is to maintain a daily routine. Schedule your work time and your play time.
3) Travel Tech for Both Work and Play - The internet is transforming work and travel. The very idea of traditional work is transforming. Online tools open up new locations for independent job opportunities, and this type of work is becoming more and more mainstream. Digital nomads are no longer coach surfers doing odd jobs.
Access to a reliable wifi connection is a must for email, online collaboration, and video calls to get work done. A tethered wifi plan through a mobile provider ensures reliable internet access when traveling throughout the United States. Mastering online work tools such as Google Docs, Google Hangouts, Basecamp, and Dropbox are vital for the traveling and working Boomer.
A Chromebook, Tablet, and/or iPhone provide you with all the tools you need for work and fun.
Taking the time to put together a plan, exercising daily discipline while on the road, and the smart use of technology helps you unplug from a traditional job, experience adventure, and find balance between work and fun.
If you’re healthy, curious, enjoy diversity and meeting new people, and have the time and money, why not head out on the highway? You have all the options and tools to do it on your own terms.
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