Travel Tips for Digital Nomads: How to Stay Ahead of Deadlines
The pandemic changed the work landscape significantly, making work-from-home and hybrid models a norm. Countless people embraced freelancing roles following the job cuts during the pandemic crisis and economic slowdown. The digital nomad trend took off in 2020, with 35 million professionals worldwide stepping into the role as of 2023.
A study reports that 16.9 million American workers are digital nomads, translating into a 131% increase since 2019. Undoubtedly, the trend has entered the mainstream, with talented professionals making the most of their skills and traveling while working. According to statistics, 45% of these workers state that they stay in one place for a period of one week to three months.
Living on the go sounds exhilarating, but not everyone can keep pace and manage tight deadlines. It is easy to lose control amid quick moves, long-distance flights, jet lag, and low-speed-internet locations. However, a little planning and organization can keep you on track and ahead of your work commitments, regardless of your challenging lifestyle.
Here are a few proven tips seasoned digital nomads swear by:
Create a Structured Routine
You have all the freedom to manage your schedules when you don’t work from the office. However, not having to sit at the desk from 9 to 6 can affect your deadlines. A consistent daily routine can be a savior for digital nomads. Start by defining your tentative work timings and allocating specific hours for each day (except when you are traveling).
Consider the jet lag factor when traveling long distances because it can disrupt your schedule. Research suggests that one in three people are not prone to jet lag. Even if you are among the lucky ones, ensure scheduling short breaks from work during your travel days. You may need more if you move to a different time zone. A structured routine fosters a sense of stability, easing deadline adherence.
Set Realistic Deadlines
Besides creating actionable schedules, digital nomads should set realistic deadlines to stay on top of them. Although your job may seem less stressful, it can lead to burnout if you try to press yourself too hard. Many digital nomads work on weekends, and some even lose control over their work-life balance. The burnout threat is as real as that for people working from the office.
Effective planning can help you meet deadlines on the road. Digital-age tools such as calendars, to-do lists, and project management apps can be your saviors. You can even break down tasks into smaller and manageable chunks to keep deadline stress at bay. Find ways to focus and avoid potential distractions to keep your projects on track.
Organize Your Stuff
Studies show that workplace clutter can significantly impact productivity, and traveling workers are no exception. Imagine the stress of hunting for your planners, documents, and work stuff in your luggage while traveling. You may even miss out on a deadline or two if you fail to find the essentials on time.
Investing in a tech travel organizer is the best way to keep your small tech items easily accessible at all times. Choose one with enough room for your cables, chargers, batteries, adapters, SD cards, flash drives, headphones, and a mouse. Having them handy means you can work on the go when running on a tight deadline.
Tortuga recommends an organizer that easily fits into your backpack. It enables you to reach out for your essentials at the airport, in a taxi, or on a flight. You don’t need to wait for them until your luggage is available.
Practice Effective Time Management
Fulfilling deadlines is about effective time management, whether you are an office worker or a workaholic digital nomad. The latter may need to go the extra mile because they don’t have managers hovering around and pushing them to speed up.
A daily to-do list gives you a head start with time management. Also, prioritize tasks and pick the hardest ones first. Self-discipline is essential when it comes to time management. You cannot expect to stick with the to-do lists unless you are committed to following them. Software tools and apps take you a step ahead with the initiative.
Avoid Multitasking
Most people think they are masters at multitasking, but the approach itself is wrong. According to surveys, only 2% of the population can multitask well enough to achieve results. Others lose productivity, make mistakes, and end up feeling stressed. As a digital nomad, you may feel tempted to multitask, but steer clear of it and pick one thing at a time.
Dedicate your full attention to completing one task and moving on to the next, even if it means delaying a deadline. You should be honest with clients and employers about potential delays because they understand more often than not.
The Bottom Line
Digital nomads live a dream life, but it entails a fair share of struggles when it comes to tight deadlines and work stress. However, you can effectively manage your projects and stay ahead of deadlines with these simple and actionable tips. Integrate them into your work ethic to give your best and avoid the stress of running late.
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