There is no doubt about it – traveling the world is an amazing journey that is the dream for many and a reality for just a lucky few. There is also no doubt that it can also be a very stressful and expensive time. However, if you run your own business and you are doing all of the work while on the road, you might find that you are presented with additional challenges, and you'll need to find ways of working through them. This might sound complicated, but focusing on the basics can make the whole process a lot easier.
Make sure you have the right equipment
An important first step is to make sure that you know what to bring with you on this journey. For example, if you own a business that is based on writing and online work, all you will need is your laptop and notepads for writing down ideas or article plans. It would be much the same if you own an illustration business, except you might also need to pack your drawing tablet.
On the other hand, things get a little more complicated if you work with crafts, as you are going to need to bring all of your craft materials with you (which, as you know, is going to be quite a lot). For this, you might find it easier to travel in an RV so that you can store all of your work things in one place, and it will also give you a safe place to stay when on the road. You might find that this is useful if you need to attend virtual meetings and things that require a certain amount of space to work – something you don't want to be doing in a cafe or a hotel room.
Time management is also key
Even though you are technically ‘on vacation', you will also need to think about time management. This is important, as it can be a real slog to get through a day of driving and business work and enjoy your time traveling too. One answer might be to focus on a certain period of time to work like you would if you were at home.
You should figure out what time you are most likely to concentrate and to make this easy. You should also plan your days well in advance. This can help you create the right mindset and have a good idea of what you need to do on the days before – and it also can help you generate goals to work toward on days when you would rather be doing something else. You might find that you are very focused in the morning, so it is best to get up early and work, then spend your day traveling and sightseeing.
If you work better in the evening, it might be an idea to switch it around the other way (although this might put a dent in any socializing).
Things to consider when traveling solo
If you are traveling solo, you are going to need to make sure that you are making the most of it, but there are also some other things you need to bear in mind. After all, traveling isn't supposed to be stressful, and by doing these things, you can keep stress to a minimum.
- First of all, make sure that you are keeping an eye on your budget. Every good traveler, solo or in a group, must make sure they are planning ahead with their finances. You need to make sure that you are trying your best to stick to these budgets, as if there is an emergency, you are going to need some money in a hurry.
- Next, make sure that you are insured. This is important in case something happens and you are unprepared.
- If you are a solo traveler, especially a lone female traveler, you need to make sure that you are researching any areas thoroughly before you commit to traveling there. Unfortunately, for solo female travelers, a lot of precautions need to be taken to ensure your safety, and it is a sad fact that you have a tracker on you – and just in case and you avoid going to areas that make you feel a little bit uncomfortable or send up any red flags.
Tools to help you work remotely
You need to constantly look out for tools that can help you work more efficiently while traveling, all of which can help you cope with the workload and stress. Here are some that can help you out no matter the size of your business.
- SEO. This can be something that can take some time, but if you are working on the go, it is something that you will need. You are going to need to invest in outsourceable agencies, such as clickintelligence.co.uk, to help you build your online presence – once in place, this means you should have more work coming in organically.
- Project Management Software. This can help you organize and orientate tasks without needing to worry so much about micromanaging those in your team while you are away. It can help you deliver instructions clearly and concisely without you needing to constantly nag.
- Gantt charts. This, combined with Project management software, can help you out when it comes to organizing employees. You can clearly communicate with them, which is all important when you are on the other side of the world in a different time zone.
- Integrated email calendar. This can help you keep track of important dates through your email, so you can plan more efficiently while on the go. You will get notifications about upcoming meetings, events, and deadlines that can be easy to slip your mind when you are having fun on the road traveling.
So, to wrap everything up
As you can well imagine, there are many things to consider when balancing running a small business with traveling the world. You should be taking the same precautions as you might when you normally travel and making sure that you are managing your time carefully. You should also get some extra help by outsourcing tasks like SEO to reputable companies and investing in software that can make managing a team so much easier – and help you keep all of your plans and goals in check.
