Looking to work while travelling? Essential tips and tricks

In recent years there has been a shift in attitudes regarding work – more specifically, the place where people do it. The Covid pandemic offered UK businesses an opportunity to shift staff to a remote working model, with so many jobs utilising the online digital realm. This proved once and for all that if there is a digital component to a job then it’s possible to ‘go remote’ and work from a location other than ‘the office’ (or other workplace).

Being committed to your job but being able to blend that work in to a much more balanced lifestyle is the dream for many people. So, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of people are looking to spend less time working in an office and more time remote working, away on trips. If you are working from your motorhome while off travelling or ‘on holiday’, you are what is known as a ‘digital nomad’. It’s a great way to keep yourself feeling fresh and somewhat disconnected from ‘the rat race’. It also means you don’t necessarily have to use up your leave allowance!

What is WFH in a motorhome like?

Imagine it… You wake up in your motorhome next to a beautiful Scottish loch. The birds are chirping, the sunlight ripples across the water and the hills in the background stand majestically to attention as if to wish you good morning. It’s actually a working day, so you pour yourself your usual morning coffee, open up your laptop and crack on with the day’s work. At lunchtime, that stunning view is a mere two or three footsteps away, so you have your sandwich outside – and then decide that the weather’s so good you’ll work out there. In the evening, when your work is done for the day, you turn off the laptop and immediately switch into ‘traveller chilling out in amazing location’ mode. Making the most of every single minute you have to yourself outside of your working hours – with this time also being utilised to move to any new locations, too.

The internet on the road

If you’re intending to travel and work from your motorhome, it’s important to have a highly dependable mobile internet connection. This is how the working world stays connected, with not just communications platforms but essential work tools often all online. If your motorhome does not have Wi-Fi fitted as standard, it is possible to ‘jerry rig’ a version which can work well for you. A Wi-Fi dongle with SIM card, an aerial for the motorhome roof to boost the signal (the motorhome may have one fitted, or you can buy portable ones) and away you go.

If this method doesn’t suit, or you find that your internet connection is spurious, then there are always options away from the motorhome during your travels. Popular chain fast food joints often have free Wi-Fi, and if you’re prepared to buy a coffee or fries (or whatever) then you could probably hang out in there and use this sort of connectivity for online calls or even staff meetings. There are certain pub chains, too, which offer free Wi-Fi and are therefore a good bet for settling down and getting some work done. You may also be able to locate some ‘hot desk’ open offices, where you can rent a workspace for a few hours at a time.

Power on the road

You should make sure the systems onboard your motorhome are adequate for the transmission and reception of data, and that there is uninterrupted access to power – you could opt for a campsite with 230V hook-up points when it is absolutely essential to not ‘drop out’. Make sure you charge your essential devices during periods of travel, so that everything is ready and waiting and ‘juiced up’ as and when you need it.

Every motorhome is furnished with a 12V leisure battery, which powers the onboard lighting and various utilities, and by using an inverter you can convert the 12V DC supply from the batteries into a 230V AC output. If necessary it could be possible to install a lithium battery system in your motorhome (which could even be complemented by roof-mounted solar panels). In addition, top-tier campsites often feature Wi-Fi, which will reduce any reliance on your mobile data.

Ultimately, remote working from your motorhome (whether permanently on the move or taking a break of a couple of weeks, or even just a weekend), there are key things to take care of – connectivity and power. There’s simply no reason not to venture off when you want to, even if this is during the working week.

Waking up somewhere spectacular will help your mental health and stress levels when dealing with professional tasks from the comfort of your motorhome. Maybe that old acronym WFH could even be changed to WFM!?