Holiday Traveling Any Time of The Year

For many people, their professional lives make holiday traveling challenging. Whether it’s going to visit family during the winter, heading to another state to enjoy springtime on a beach, or exploring another country when the leaves are changing in the fall, coordinating it is difficult if your company limits your access to leave. I feel that I’m incredibly fortunate. Since I’m a full-time freelancer, holiday traveling any time of year is a legitimate option. Here’s how I make it work.

Remote Work, a Laptop, and a Car

Technically, all you need to holiday travel any time of year is a remote job, a laptop, and a vehicle. If you have those three things, it’s possible to explore more of your world without hindering yourself professionally.

Most remote work – including the freelance projects I take on – requires no equipment beyond a computer. Couple that with an internet connection and productivity software, and I’ve covered the majority of my work-related bases.

By having access to a reliable vehicle, I can do far more exploring than many people would expect. Whether it’s a quick trip to a neighboring city or a multi-week road trip around the country, I can head to new places (or old favorites) with a surprising amount of ease.

However, if flying makes more sense, I can go in that direction, too. There are low-cost options out there, especially if you’re somewhat flexible about the timing or destination. Getting tickets on Frontier for $200 or less is a way I save money while giving myself the convenience of flying when needed.

Usually, the biggest part of the equation is ensuring I have reliable connectivity if I plan on working while traveling. If that’s the case, I simply do a little research. Since writing is my main source of income, I don’t need top speeds. Instead, just a connection I can count on, which typically isn’t too hard to find.

Work-Life Balance as a Freelancer

Since it’s easy for me to work while traveling, you might assume that I never get away from my professional responsibilities. However, that’s not the case. I have the option of working nearly any time I travel, but that doesn’t mean I don’t make room in my schedule for anything from typical days off to full-blown vacations.

Generally, I don’t work on any federal holidays. Additionally, I plan for other breaks throughout the year. Since I freelance, I simply have to coordinate my efforts. In some cases, that means digging deep for a few weeks to handle any tasks that I would need to complete while I’m away. In others, it’s simply managing my workload to ensure I’m not overloaded at points when it matters.

Ultimately, being a freelancer lets me holiday travel practically whenever I’d like. It’s one of the main reasons I continue down the path of self-employment. It’s a freedom I couldn’t get elsewhere, and it’s one I plan on keeping for the rest of my career.

Does your career allow you to holiday travel any time of year? Are you currently looking for opportunities that give you more flexibility? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More:

• 4 Ways We Save Money with Cross-Country Travel
• Sun, Sea, Sand and Cash – Top Careers for Those with the Travel Bug
• 6 of the Best Travel Apps for Android Users

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Tamila McDonald

Tamila McDonald is the Chief Operations Officer at District Media, Inc. A U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of distinguished service—including five years as a military financial advisor.  Tamila is a former AFCPE-certified personal financial counselor who spent eight years post-retirement guiding wounded warriors and families on budgeting, VA benefits, and long-term planning, bringing more than 15 years of specialized writing and content leadership in personal finance and HR topics to ensure District Media delivers trustworthy, experience-backed guidance.