Travelling while working has gone from being a trend to a reality for many modern professionals (including ourselves). Three months ago we "jumped into the pool" and started this adventure of travelling around South East Asia as a family (with two girls aged 5 and 9) and combining travel with work. The idea of combining a passion for exploring the world with work responsibilities may sound tempting, but like anything in life, working while travelling has its positive and negative aspects, especially if you do it as a family. Here's a brief summary of our experience so far:

The Good

1. Geographical Freedom

This point is obvious, but it is one of the reasons why we decided to do it, because our work allows us to do it. Being able to telework from anywhere in the world gives you a freedom that was unimaginable until now.

2. Inspiration and Creativity

Travelling to different places and immersing oneself in new cultures can be an endless source of inspiration. This constant exposure to diverse environments can stimulate creativity and help break the monotony often experienced in a traditional work environment.

3. Work-Life Balance

The possibility of working while travelling allows for greater flexibility in time management (something we already did before travelling, but now even more so). We have always thought that having a rigid timetable makes no sense: why work from 9 to 6, if you don't have to? The key here is to work on a project basis and see the results. If the work comes out, we will have more intense "peaks" and quieter times.

3. Let the little ones see the world beyond their "bubble".

One of the main reasons why we decided to do this trip is so that our daughters could see the world beyond their little bubble and understand that there are many other cultures, languages and ways of living and that all of them should be respected. It's amazing how adaptable children are!

The Bad

1. Constant Distractions

While working in novel environments can be exciting, they can also present constant distractions. The noise in coffee shops, the beauty of the scenery and the temptation to explore can make it difficult to concentrate and affect work productivity.

2. Communication Difficulties

Relying on technology for communication can be a challenge. Time zone differences and variable internet connection quality have caused us the occasional headache, but we've always been able to work around it (TIP: having a SIM with unlimited data is always a great help).

3. Lack of Routine

The lack of a structured routine (especially for children) can lead to discomfort and a sense of chaos. So for people who are highly organised and need to know in advance what is going to happen and have everything organised, such a trip is not at all advisable as it requires a lot of flexibility.

Our conclusion in these 3 months is that it is an intense experience, but that it provides so much learning and above all family time that we don't regret it for a second. If you are thinking of doing the same, leave us a comment and we will answer any questions you may have (as long as the trip and our work allows us to do so XD).