How to Keep Yourself Updated While on the Road

Being a freelancer means you need to be online most of the time, but most of us like to travel and do this quite often; so we need some methods to keep ourselves updated while traveling. All you need is an internet connection, but I do not recommend free Wireless hotspots, because they lack security.

Mobile internet connections are quite cheap nowadays and if you use it for work purposes you will get a lot of value for that money, so it is a good idea to research the market thoroughly and pick the best mobile broadband you can find. An iPhone 4 would be a very good choice for a phone, because it allows you to create a Wireless hotspot so you can connect to it from your own computer. There are several other devices that allow you this as well, so try to find out which one is the most suitable option for you.

When you want to freelance while traveling, you have to create a plan beforehand. Take the right equipment with yourself on your trip, such as a tablet or laptop. If it is a short trip you can also take a netbook, although it is really small, which makes is rather difficult to get a lot of work done on it – especially if you are a designer.

If you plan to go on a longer trip, inform your current clients that you are unavailable or briefly available for that specific period. Tell them that they do not have to be concerned about you missing the deadline of the project, and let them expect you to write again when you come back from your travels. It would be a very good idea to have an auto-response to your e-mail. Yahoo! started providing this service more than 10 years ago and it is still very useful. Most of the e-mail providers have auto-response options. It is a good idea to offer the key clients another way to contact you at short notice in case something urgent happens. There is no problem with giving your phone number either, but remind them that you are on holiday and do not wish to be disturbed every two hours.

I don’t think there are many freelancers who don’t know about these tools, but if you don’t, then you should go ahead and check Dropbox and Google Docs. It is a great solution for accessing your files while on the road. If you own a smartphone or a tablet they even have dedicated applications for these purposes.

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Remember, this is a holiday, not a business trip. You are on vacation and you don’t have to work all the time, so don’t try to do it. Make a plan and do not work for more than few hours a day, you can do that at home after your holiday. Do not forget that keeping yourself relaxed and fresh is an important part of any freelancer’s life.

If you are not traveling by yourself, try to tell your partners that you are planning to spend some hours with work every day. Set the precise times beforehand when you plan to work and when you plan to travel, and let the others know you want to keep a tight schedule. Explain that you have to work even if you are on holiday and they will understand this. But don’t overdo it, it is your vacation!

Even if you have clear plans before you leave for your vacation, things might not go according to plan. Here is a list of things you should be aware of if you plan on working while on holiday.

I have mentioned before that having a broadband internet connection is the best option, but if you want to keep working on hotspots then you must be aware that not all of them will work. Some of them are not available, request a password, which apparently nobody knows, others offer discontinued service or the place is closed. Also, security is important for everybody, especially when you work with personal data, so for this reason I do not think it is a good idea to work on a free hotspot. If you still must do that, then be sure to take proper security precautions.

If the others are having fun and you are tied to your computer, then something is wrong. It means you are working too much while the others are out. Try to inform your clients that you are taking a break and go out – otherwise you might as well have stayed home to work! There is not much fun in going on a vacation only to work.

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Even if you have an internet connection on your mobile phone, there are always places where you won’t even have cell phone signal, so be aware of this as well. It is very much possible that you will not be able to work at all during your vacation – which is not a bad thing, but your clients have to be informed about it.

Also, do not ever access your equipment while driving! Being updated while on the road does not physically mean you need to stay updated while you are driving; it means checking on your business while you are not home and leave for a few days. Do not forget that your computer and phone have your personal data, so do not leave then unattended. I would not recommend working from a public computer either. Even if you log out, you never know the applications that might be running on that computer and you might find yourself in a difficult situation involving your personal data.

Most of the hotels have wireless hotspots, but even if it is a high-class hotel, try to avoid using the hotspot while working with personal data. It is just safer this way.

To conclude this article, working while on vacation is possible and, why not, recommended, but only in small amounts. Do not forget the main reason for taking the vacation and use the days off properly. You have time to work 340 days per year, so enjoy the few days of holiday you have.

What is your opinion about working while on holiday? Do you do this or you do you leave your computer at home and enjoy the family and friends while on the road?