Location: Los Angeles
One of the things I love most about being a blogger is being able to work from anywhere. Well, anywhere with wi-fi. This allows me to travel a lot and see the world while still making an income. I am sure some of you think bloggers just travel all the time and never actually work. But trust me, it’s not all vacation. There are moments and even days on the road when I’m stuck staring at a computer screen rather than taking in the sights. However, I try my hardest not to let that happen.
With all my traveling lately I’ve developed a system to make sure I stay up to date on my emails, posts, and proposals. By the way, these tips work for both bloggers and non-bloggers. Here are my 5 tips to stay caught up on work while traveling..
1. Get Organized Before Your Trip
This is the most important and therefore the first step. I make sure that all major projects, proposals, are finished BEFORE I leave for my trip. That way I’m not spending valuable traveling time trying to finish a big project. This also helps me be stress free while traveling and enjoy the sights.
If I do have a project I need to finish during my trip, I make sure I set aside time to work on it that will not get in the way. I’ll wake up one hour earlier or go to bed one hour later to fit in time to work. I’ll spend less time on my makeup or hair to give myself extra time to work. I’ll work on an item little by little throughout my trip. For example, I am writing this blog post as I am sitting on the plane waiting for everyone to board and I’ll continue writing it during the flight and while I’m on my ride home.
2. Check Emails Often
I like to stay caught up on emails which means I have to check them often. I’ll flag anything I want to come back to and then set aside time to specially go through those flagged items. I also highly recommend checking your junk email often! I didn’t check it all week on my trip and ended up missing out on a paid campaign. Bummer, but life goes on. I am not saying be on your phone constantly checking emails. But if you have 5 minutes here and there your time is better spent staying caught up than browsing Instagram.
3. Find a quiet place to work
When you do find time to work, make sure it is a place you can actually be productive. My favorite spots are on a balcony with a great view, in bed while everyone else is asleep and air port lounges. From these places I am not being distracted by my travel buddies, people watching, or loud noises.
4. Pre-schedule your posts
Scheduling my blog and social media posts in advance helps SO MUCH. This way you’re not scramming to find something to post or time to post them. I pre-schedule blog posts before I leave for my trip and then use apps to pre-schedule my social media. I use Hootsuite for scheduling to Twitter and Facebook . Then I use the LikeToKnow.IT app for scheduling my Instagram posts. I don’t have a wi-fi camera (yet) so any photos I take on my DSLR which I usually edit that night and then schedule them for the next day.
5. Be courteous to your travel companions
This is just a little recommendation as a courtesy to your travel buddies….I never want my work to impede on who ever it is I am traveling with. Therefore, I try my hardest to never make them wait while I have to finish something or be on my phone when I should be taking in the sights. I know that I’ll find 5 minutes while they are in the bathroom, we are in a cab or in line where I can quickly edit and post to Instagram. It’s not fun to travel with people who are constantly on their phones. Trust me, I am a blogger and I know this.
So there you have it, My tips for how to stay caught up on work while traveling. If you have any tips other tips you use while traveling please let me know!! Leave a comment or send me a message!
xoxo,
Laura
Shop My Look:
top: Bardot (similar) | skirt: TopShop (also in gingham!!)| bag: Express (old)| heels: Charles David (love these)| rings, choker + sunglasses: Aldo (similar)
Photos by Brittney Christie
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