As the world’s workforce continuously moves away from the office cubicle, embracing the ability to work from anywhere, the additional flexibility that ensues makes it possible for people to take their work on vacation with them.

And why not? Exploring that picturesque setting might just be what you need to inspire creativity and productivity. However, you still need to make a plan that includes the necessary tools to work productively during your workation. But, first:

What Is a Workation?

A workation is a vacation that also includes time spent working. It’s a great way to get out of the office and enjoy a new environment while still doing some work.

The idea of a work vacation is not entirely new, although it has been gaining traction recently. So, why is it popular now?

This is partly due to the prolonged lockdowns that restricted people to the confines of their homes, making them want to get out and explore new places now that some restrictions have been lifted. The added flexibility of the remote work model has also helped fuel the trend, as people can now work from anywhere.

Lastly, the extensive range of internal communication and collaboration platforms have made it possible to take your work with you wherever you go, making it easier than ever before to have a productive workation.

With that being said, should you consider taking a workation? Or, put differently, what are the benefits of a workation?

Many people still frown on the idea of mixing work and play, as it blurs the lines between the two, and there’s probably some truth to this. Should you spend so much to visit that exotic beach, just to end up working? Or, should leisure interfere with your work?

However, if you plan it properly and are well-equipped, there are some definite benefits to taking a workation, including:

• Escaping the monotony of your home office to visit a new environment can refresh your mind and boost productivity.
• A change in scenery can also help jumpstart your creativity and help you come up with new ideas.
• Meeting new people and networking in new places can help to expand your professional circle.
• A change in environment can help to improve your mental health and well-being.
• Exploring a new place can help you learn new skills and knowledge.

Now that we’ve established some benefits of taking a workation, let’s look at some essentials you might need to make it more productive.

The Best Tools You Need for a Productive Workation

1. Evernote

As we have mentioned above, exploring a new environment can get your creative juice flowing, but you don’t want to lose any of your great ideas. You might not always be able to move about with all your work arsenal, but we bet your favorite hand-held device will be within reach.

That’s where Evernote comes in. This note-taking app can help you take quick and easy notes, as well as keep track of any ideas that might come to you while you’re on your workation. You can add text, audio, PDFs, and images to your notes, and Evernote will sync them across all your devices. You can also easily share notes with others, making it a great collaboration tool.

When the time comes for you to access that information, you can rely on its robust search capabilities to help you find what you need.

Download: Evernote for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)

2. Google Drive

Planning to work on some collaborative projects while on your workation? You’ll need a tool to help you quickly access, store, and share files.

Google Drive is a cloud-based storage and file sharing service offered by Google. It allows you to store files in the cloud, access them from any device, and share them with others. You can also create and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real-time.

Plus, it can come in handy when you fill your phone’s storage with your vacation pictures and videos.

Download: Google Drive for Android | iOS (Free, offers in-app purchases)

3. Wi-Fi Map

Your work vacation adventure would probably end before it starts if you can’t get online, and chances are, you picked a destination you aren’t too familiar with.

Wi-Fi Map is an app that can help. It crowdsources Wi-Fi hotspot information from its users and displays it on a map. This way, you can easily find a hotspot to connect to wherever you are. Wi-Fi Map has a built-in VPN that will keep you safe and secure while you’re connected.

The app also offers a feature that allows you to save passwords for your favorite hotspots, so you don’t have to keep filling in your login information each time.

What’s more, you can leverage its detailed offline maps to find your way around and locate a hotspot without an internet connection.

Download: Wi-Fi Map for Android | iOS (Free, offers in-app purchases)

4. Todoist

A good plan is always key to any successful undertaking, and your workation is no exception. In fact, an effective schedule is especially important when you’re trying to balance work with travel and leisure.

Before creating your daily schedule, it would be helpful for you to know the time when you are most productive. This way, you can set all your important tasks for that time frame and use the rest of the day for relaxation and exploration.

Todoist is a to-do list app that can help you to effectively organize your day. It allows you to create tasks and projects and set deadlines and priorities. It also allows integration with other productivity apps, such as Google Calendar, Dropbox, Jira, Slack, and more, to make it even more effective.

Download: Todoist for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)

5. Hardware Devices

Assuming you don’t forget your laptop and smartphone, here are some other essential hardware devices that can make your workation more productive:

• An external mouse: A laptop’s touchpad is not always the best option, especially when you’re working on tasks that need more precision. An external mouse can help you be more productive and comfortable while working.
• A good pair of noise-canceling headphones: When you need to focus, there’s nothing better than some good noise-canceling headphones to help you tune out the surrounding distractions.
• A foldable table: A foldable table can be a lifesaver when you need an extra surface to work on, especially in a small space.
• A power bank: Laptops and other devices can drain battery life quickly. A power bank can help you keep your devices powered up all day long.

Work Productively on Your Work Vacation Using These Tools

With the right tools, a well-planned schedule, and an explorative attitude, you can have a productive and enjoyable workation. By following the tips in this article, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying all that your work vacation has to offer.