WORKCATION
By Jason Jourdan
According to the Urban Dictionary, a ‘workcation’ is working in the morning and vacationing in the evening someplace fun. You’re still working while on vacation from the office.
As the world reopens, the definition is evolving to accommodate the changes in our understanding of remote working. In the wake of the year-that-shall-not-be-named, the travel industry has witnessed the rise of the digital nomad. Digital nomads are remote workers utilizing technology to work from coffee shops, hotels, co-working spaces, or any WiFi-connected location from anywhere in the world.
It began with Steve Roberts, who made a trailblazing bicycle journey in 1984 while working remotely from a Tandy Model 100 from Radio Shack! Roberts wrote travel articles on the road and sent them to his assistant via a payphone and a CompuServe account! In 1997, Japanese technologist Tsugio Makimoto predicted the rise of digital nomads in his aptly titled book, Digital Nomad. Makimoto believed remote working would promote declines in materialism and nationalism and provide organizations with access to a global talent pool.
Remote work is on the rise as professionals forced to work from home are becoming more accustomed to the flexibility offered by working remotely and find the digital nomad lifestyle more appealing. As the trend continues, the travel industry responds to the arrival of market shifts once thought to be ten years out.
According to Upwork’s Future of Workforce Pulse Report, which surveyed 1,000 business owners, human resource managers, and leaders nationwide, 1 in 4 Americans will be working remotely in 2021, and 36.2 million Americans will be remote by 2025, an 87% increase since the onset of the COVID calamity.
Big-name hotel chains introduce day-stay packages and other remote workcation options like fixed rates, complimentary IT support, and passes for professionals in need of an office for a day. Many digital nomads are also taking their offices on the road and embracing recreational vehicles (RVs). As a result, RV and van sales are rising as remote workers recognize these options as ideal offices and a safe way to travel overall.
Whether they are trekking around in an RV or sending their TPS reports aboard a boat harbored in Portofino, Italy, digital nomads are seeking the adventure of an independent lifestyle with reliable Wi-Fi! Moreover, they see digital nomadism as a means of supporting wanderlust without forgoing their careers.
Some of the most popular vocations options among digital nomads:
- Blogger/Writer
- Content Creator
- Tech Consultant
- Virtual Assistant
- Marketer
- Amazon Sales Affiliate
The Expert Vagabond has a more extensive list of potential careers for those interested in the digital nomad lifestyle.
The opportunities to choose remote careers will only increase as more companies divest themselves of physical office space. Emerging technologies like Elon Musk’s high-speed satellite internet service, Starlink, are making remote working more effortless than ever.
There are pros and cons to the nomadic lifestyle. The ability to travel to exotic locales with a career and income in tow is not without risks. Accidents occur anywhere, and moving from country to country requires nomads to be prepared with the protection of travel medical insurance. Point Comfort® offers digital nomads policies designed to cover a variety of contingencies:
- CCOVID-19 Medical Expense Coverage up to the Policy Maximum
- Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
- Emergency Medical Reunion
- Return of Minor Child
- Emergency Traveler Assistance
While an insurance policy won’t mitigate every risk associated with a nomadic work lifestyle, it will provide a healthy dose of peace of mind. Discover your point of comfort with the benefits of Point Comfort® international travel medical insurance.
Enjoy coverage that’s simple, fast, and secure while you work from wherever you are!
CLICK HERE for your FREE quote.
