You want to rent a motorhome to enjoy more time with your family. But finding a way to escape the daily rat race and hit the road, even for a weekend, seems to evade you. There just isn’t enough time in the day to complete your work AND indulge your family…or is there? Why not put that “escape vehicle” to work for you? Take your family on a long needed vacation, and with some planning, you can also accomplish some official “work” without much interruption along the way. Let’s refute some of your misgivings about a working vacation in an RV.
Keeping up communication while traveling
Think you can’t communicate well while on the road? Balderdash! Technology has made working from the road so much easier today. In most cases, all you need is internet access and a smart phone or a laptop to get things done while basking in the sun or lying in a hammock along a river. Here’s a few items that every RV “telecommuter” might want to have in their briefcase:
- Hot spot or Jetpack – these are typically issued by various cell phone service providers and require at least a data plan with said provider. That will give you internet access wherever you have cell service.
- Cell Signal Booster – if you can find a cell signal, but it’s weak, a booster can increase the signal and make that internet access a reality!
- Laptop, Tablet or Smart Phone – whatever platform is easiest for you to do your best work.
- 12-volt Outlet Splitter – this will give you at least three outlets to charge electronics while you travel. So, you can charge a phone and your kids can make sure their electronics are ready to go, as well!
- Chargers for EVERYTHING!
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Balancing travel with work
Think travel will take too much time away from work? Actually, travel might give you back some time for your work! Stock your recreational vehicle with all of the necessities that will keep you at your campsite for as long as possible. One of the many benefits to RV vacationing is that you don’t have to spend time looking for lodging, restaurants or even bathroom breaks along the road. So make sure you’ve got plenty of great food, comfy bedding and that ever-important toilet paper on your trip! Then use the time you saved to work on your business needs.
Creating an office space in an RV
Most travelers have found ways to work from virtually every nook and cranny of their motorhomes or travel trailers. Many who utilize laptops put the kitchen table on double duty: a desktop space for work, then dining space for dinner. Some work from the front seat of their tow vehicle if they need privacy and soundproofing. Others love catching up on their emails from their camp chair around the fire pit. Your work space will depend on what you need to accomplish and if a professional environment away from the “sounds of fun” is required. But you have many options…many more than you’d have in your cubicle back at the office!
What about distractions?
Have you considered the fact that getting out of the office into the wild unknown might just spur your creativity to new heights? A change in environments can give you renewed discernment for problem solving and may even provide the insights for new product creation. You might be surprised at how energized you will be after some time away from the office on a working vacation!
Controlling your time
Many RVers who work on the road will tell you that the best benefit of all is having more control over your time. Think about it: at the office you may have constant interruptions and pull on your time – sales meetings, office lunches, and the proverbial jokes around the water cooler. At a campsite, you can schedule your work time vs. your play time. You might dedicate two hours in the morning to writing sales copy or working on that company proposal. Then spend the next several hours taking the family on that fishing boat or racing mountain bikes through the woods together. When the kids go to bed, spend an hour handling office correspondence. Then enjoy an evening under the stars with your spouse. Wouldn’t you rather put out the campfire each night than all of the little fires every morning at the office?
If you’ve been persuaded to take a working vacation and don’t have an RV yet, why not try out the whole concept by renting a motorhome or trailer from Outdoorsy? You can test different styles and floorplans to see what works best for you. And who knows? Maybe you’ll end up purchasing your own “escape vehicle” to make working vacations a permanent way of life!
