We’re still answering chats and important emails from our colleagues, still crunching the keyboards on our laptops for approximately eight hours to get our tasks. We still attend meetings and conferences via apps like Zoom or Skype.

But this time, we do it while lounging on the restaurant of a hotel resort with an infinity pool. Or from a rooftop of an affordable AirBnB rental with that perfect mountain view. Or from a cool cafe in the outskirts of a city instead of our usual home office. This time, we’ve taken a “workcation”.

Workcation or simply a “faux vacation” because we also do work, is a perfect chance for any full-time remote worker to get a change of scenery (Buh-bye, burnout!) without using your precious vacation days. This is also your best choice if you can’t totally leave any important tasks or you can’t let your work pile up while you’re away. This summer season, if you want to unwind or visit new places but don’t exactly enjoy the idea of requesting for a leave, then workcation is what you need.

That said, it requires some planning to ensure that you’ll enjoy your time outside your regular programming while still getting productive (aka getting your job done). You need to plan your work the way you see fit and take into account potential distractions along the way. You may work for a couple of hours in the morning and then another four hours in the evening, it’s totally up to you and your desired set-up. Just make sure that before you pack your bags and book that flight, heed these tips to ensure a productive and successful workcation.

Your primary question when choosing a hotel or an AirBnB rental should be, “How fast is the Wi-Fi?” Sure, that hotel boasts an incredible pool deck and exquisite bar, while that AirBnB’s cozy interior is so IG-worthy. However, having high-speed internet access should be your utmost priority if you want to get the most out of your workcation. It’ll also be helpful to carry your own portable Internet connection so your devices and private information are secured.

Backup your files in both a hard drive and in the cloud. Storing your files in the cloud can be useful just in case you’ve unexpectedly lost or damaged your USB drivers and other removable data storage. Likewise, storing your files on a hard drive protects you just in case you found yourself without a stable internet connection and you can’t access data in the cloud.

Aside from testing the reliability of your Internet connection, you need to plan when it comes to your workspace. This might mean choosing a hotel room or accommodation with a desk and a comfortable chair where you can concentrate and stay productive, instead of just settling on a sofa bed. If you want to work in coffee shops near where you’re staying, do check them out in advance so you’ll know what to expect.

Be proactive in communicating with your clients and colleagues when you’re on a workcation. Remind them when you will be working and when you won’t be so they clearly set their expectations. Defining your work hours is especially essential if you’ll be staying in a country with a different time zone. Browse through your tasks in advance and delegate those that you won’t be able to do while you’re away. Also decide which scheduled meetings you’ll be able to attend and make a plan for any obligations that you’ll need to pass off.

Communicate the best way your colleagues or clients can contact you while you are away from your regular workspace. Will you be available over chat or will you prefer to be contacted via phone, especially if people in your team have an urgent request? If some urgent issues come up and you can’t be reached, who will decide on your behalf? Addressing any logistic differences beforehand will prevent frustrations on both sides and will ensure you still won’t miss out.

Here’s the biggest tip: workcations are not for destination hopping or touring around too much. So save your dream Southeast Asia trip or the ultimate African safari encounter for your actual vacation and go somewhere a little low-key. Else, make it a single-destination trip so it’ll be easier for you to keep work as a priority. And your best options are relaxing destinations such as resorts with Wi-Fi or quaint towns with beautiful cafes and striking sceneries. This way, you can focus on finishing work during the day and then enjoy eating out, hanging out in pubs, or just lounge comfortably by the beach while watching the sunset.

Just like any trip, take the time to plot out potential challenges and prepare solutions for any worst-case scenario. If your laptop crashes once you got off the plane or your phone got lost while on commute, how will you contact your co-workers? This is the best time to go old school and keep a hard copy of your colleagues’ phone numbers so you can still get in touch with them in case something goes wrong and you can’t immediately report to work as they expect you.

Also, consider your potential distractions and be responsible enough to prepare for those things. Make a clear line between work and leisure and don’t be afraid to shut yourself up in the hotel room for a few hours to finish your tasks. This way, you can enjoy sightseeing the city’s nightlife and enjoy a worthwhile dinner afterwards without any work-related things to think about. #