WORKATION

Workation is a word that has been fashionable for some time in the United States, although in Spain it is still not very common to hear it and there is still little documentation in Spanish on the web. We are more familiar with the old term "teleworking", the idea of "working remotely" or, more recently, the concept of "digital nomad". All these terms are closely related and sometimes imply each other, but they have their nuances.

What is Workation?

The term comes from joining the English words work (work) + vacation(holidays) = workation.

Workation is similar to a holiday where you have to take work with you, but more than working on holiday, it's about working holiday: you don't just do it during your holiday period, but also during your normal working day, all year round.

Instead of always working in the same office, being in workation allows you to work in places that are usually holiday destinations. This way, you can combine your leisure time with your working day in your favourite place.

Modalities

Some companies move their offices to beach locations for several weeks to encourage their employees. Some companies also organise what are known as "workation camps". To improve team building, and entire work teams come to do workation in holiday destinations.

When your company sends you to another city or country to attend a conference or seminar and pays you a per diem to enjoy your stay, you are working in workation. There are freelancers (e.g. so-called "digital nomads"), who work in workation, move from one place to another and choose holiday destinations to settle down for a period of time.

One type of workation is when you are on holiday and have to take work with you or be available for your company, either because you have to meet an overdue deadline or because the type of work you do requires you to attend to it also during your holiday.

Differences in terms

As I mentioned earlier, there is some confusion between the terms "teleworking", "working remotely", "digital nomad" and "workation".

1. Telework involves belonging to an office and taking some days off to work remotely. These can be regular days. For example, every Friday, or seasons when working from home or another location. It does not have to imply that the person works from a holiday location. As is the case with workation, although you will, of course, work remotely from your office.
2. Remote working does not necessarily imply belonging to an office. You can work remotely with your clients but not belong to an office per se.
3. The digital nomad, As his name suggests, he is nomadic, constantly moving from one place to another. He usually travels extensively and, although he may spend long periods of time in one place, he does not have a fixed place of residence.
4. The person working in workation, work in places that are often holiday destinations. Therefore, digital nomads often do workation. However, the term workation is broader than that. There are companies whose entire work teams do workation, and there are even hostels and camps that are exclusively dedicated to workation.

Workation is a recently popularised term that refers to the combination of work and holiday in an environment that is normally used as a tourist destination. It is a way of working that allows workers to combine their daily work with leisure and to enjoy beautiful places while working. Work is done in a different and often more relaxed environment, which can increase productivity and performance.

There are various ways of doing workation. Some companies organise workcamps in tourist destinations to improve teamwork and encourage creativity among their employees. Freelancers can also choose to work in tourist destinations as digital nomads, settling in different locations for a set period of time. Other options include working while travelling for leisure purposes or working during holidays to meet deadlines or tasks.

It is important to distinguish workation from other similar terms such as teleworking, remote working and digital nomad. Telecommuting refers to working from home or from any location outside the office, while remote working involves working from anywhere, without the need for a fixed office. The digital nomad, on the other hand, refers to someone who works while travelling and constantly changing their place of residence.

The advantages of workation include the possibility of working in a different and relaxed environment, which can enhance creativity and performance. It can also be an excellent opportunity to experience new places and cultures while working. However, it is important to bear in mind that work placement requires careful planning to ensure that the work is done effectively and that the holiday does not interfere with work. In addition, it is important to consider the impact on personal life and mental health, as working holidays can increase stress and anxiety if not managed properly.

Workation and entrepreneurs

Workation can be an attractive option for entrepreneurs who are looking for a change of environment and want to continue working on their business while enjoying a relaxed and attractive environment.

Some of the benefits that workation can offer to entrepreneurs are:

1. Inspiration: Working in a different place can help to find new ideas and inspiration for the business.
2. Stress reduction: A relaxed and pleasant environment can help reduce stress levels and increase motivation and productivity.
3. Networking opportunities: during the workation, entrepreneurs can meet other interesting people and make contacts that could be beneficial for their business.
4. Flexibility: workation allows entrepreneurs to work from anywhere, which means they can continue to manage their business while travelling and exploring new places.
5. Improved quality of life: Working in a pleasant and relaxed environment can improve the quality of life of entrepreneurs and make them enjoy their work more.

However, It is also important to note that workation is not for everyone. Some entrepreneurs may find it difficult to concentrate and work in a holiday environment. In addition, some entrepreneurs may find it difficult to concentrate and work in a holiday environment, It is also important to ensure that you have the necessary technology and equipment to work effectively while in a different location.