How do you work from “home” on the road
Working from home has a lot of advantages- you set you own hours, you can work on your couch in your pajamas, and you’re your own boss. For me, it means I can raise my children and still get a paycheck. With all those benefits, there are definite cons to working from home, too. Being at home means there are a million distractions just waiting to grab your focus- the phone, TV, internet, dishes, laundry, etc. It’s difficult to balance it all. To complicate matters even more is when you throw in the holiday season. Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do or deadlines to meet. Plus, most of us end up traveling quite a bit to see parents, grandparents, in-laws, or even grown kids. So, how do you work from “home” while on the road for Christmas “vacation?”
Tips for Working from Home on “Vacation”
Set realistic expectations for what you can get done. It’s hard to work at the same level somewhere other than home, so either be proactive in your planning or allow some flex room for making up the time elsewhere. It is vacation after all.- Find a spot to work where you can set up and have everything you need to be productive. You may not love your spot, but it’s important you have somewhere to work. It may be at your host’s home, or you may need to carve out time to leave and hit a nearby library or coffee shop.
- Talk to whomever you’re staying with and discuss your needs, even your preferences. Often, your family just doesn’t know what you need (or don’t need) to be able to work.
- Similarly, it may be helpful to talk with each other and even your kids if they’re old enough to understand what and when you need to work. It’s never good to assume everyone understands what you need if you haven’t actually said it.
- Use a fan or a portable sound machine to mask distracting noises, including your own flesh and blood.
With realistic expectations and a good sound machine in place, here’s to returning home having accomplished all that you hoped to!







We all want to make the most of our time at work. But instead, we are constantly bombarded by distractions or discomfort at work. Here are some helpful tips to increase your productivity and efficiency.