On March 11th, 2020, WHO declared the novel coronavirus outbreak to be a pandemic, and with it came a string of two-week-at-a-time-long lockdowns that lasted well into the new year. We’re now two years into the pandemic, and because of its lasting effects, we’ve seen companies across the globe, including our own, shift to a remote or hybrid style of work.
This trend, better yet, revolution, offered millions of office workers the chance to redefine their work styles. It’s easier to cook, clean, do laundry, and complete errands throughout the day while you’re home without the distraction of coworkers or being under your manager’s watchful eye. And to the surprise of said managers, these companies didn’t crumble after the shift. They thrived. Productivity went up while expenses went down.
But, the true beauty of working from home is that you don’t have to be there. You just need a stable internet connection, a working laptop or computer, and–optional but highly recommended–a niche for time management, communication, and organization. Then, you can become a "digital nomad" and spend your non-working hours exploring new destinations and immersing yourself in different cultures, local and abroad.
The Rise of Digital Nomads
A digital nomad is a person who works remotely, either full-time or part-time, while traveling to new places. It’s not a vacation, but spending your lunch breaks surfing or hiking doesn’t sound too shabby.
This concept isn't new, but it is more mainstream with the global adoption, acceptance, and increase of remote and hybrid working opportunities. The phenomenon has increased opportunities to work and travel in ways we’ve never seen before because why work from home when you can work from Hawaii?
“The pandemic has untethered millions of people from the need to be in the office five days a week,” said Airbnb’s CEO, Brian Chesky.
In addition, shutting down and restricting travel for the better half of the year may have given some of us an itch, as Airbnb has seen an uptick in longer-term rental stays because of flexible remote working arrangements. The demand for international air travel and tourism is still recovering due to the current and varying global travel restrictions, but domestic travel has returned to what it was pre-Covid.
We, The Wanderlust Group, can endorse a nomadic lifestyle such as this as it touches the very core of our company’s values. We know how difficult it is to separate ourselves from the patterns and habits we create in our everyday lives. We’re humans and, by nature, resistant to change, but we hope, with our help, you’ll find a way to participate in this movement. Our “Working From…” challenge is a small step you can take to do so.
The “Working From…” Challenge
Whether you’re working remotely, hybrid, or in person, we challenge you to schedule an hour or pick a day to work outdoors in a unique location. This could be from your boat, at the park, or on the deck in your backyard. The point is to break up the mundane by getting outside. Remember, this is not a vacation; you don’t need to plan one to participate.
Pro Tip: Wi-Fi extenders and portable hotspots are mostly inexpensive investments that will get you working outdoors with little effort. You can buy a Wi-Fi extender for as little as $18 or a portable hotspot for $30 on Amazon.
Another option is to turn your phone or tablet device into a mobile hotspot, but be aware that this method uses your device’s cellular data connection. If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, follow this link for instructions; for Android users, click here!
How to Participate
Post a picture to your Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter account using the hashtag #TWGNomads and tagging Dockwa. If we reshare your post, we’ll send a Wanderlust Journal as a souvenir!