I’m on vacation at the moment and taking a little step back from posting on the blog and Instagram, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely off the grid. Afterall, running a blog is great because it gives you so much flexibility. You can set your own schedule and fit work around your other responsibilities, and you can work from anywhere - for me, that has been from the side of the pool and while on the beach.

Looking to be productive as a blogger while traveling - whether for work or fun? Here are a few simple tips I use while on the go:

Plan Ahead

Before you even head out, make a plan for what you will do while away. What needs to get done and what can be put aside for later. Be realistic and also kind with yourself as you head off on your travels. I think it is easiest to write it out so you have a plan and can have peace about what is and is not expected while you travel.

Also remember to bring all the things you need to make blogging work on the go. What do you absolutely need? I take my camera, computer, smart phone, selfie stand, camera stand, etc…

Schedule Your Days 

Honestly, whether you are home or away, to be truly productive when you’re running a blog, it’s important to have a plan not just for what you’re going to do that day but what you’re going to post for the next few weeks or even months. This planning is more important than ever if you’re blogging from a remote location because it’s easy to get distracted. If you’re out and about in the city and there are lots of fun things to do, work can quickly fall by the wayside. But if you have a solid plan each day of what you want to get done, it’s easy to stay motivated. I treat these tasks like deadlines at a real 9-5 job. If I need to have a post done by Wednesday afternoon - that is a hard deadline I can’t miss.

While away now, I’m taking a break from posting to real plot out and plan the rest of the year. I’m scheduling future posts, brainstorming post ideas, doing my research, and getting plans in place to rock the last 5 months of 2019.

Use Cloud Storage 

Being able to access everything that you need while you’re out and about is so important. You don’t want to set up your laptop only to realize that you haven’t got a certain file that you need so you can’t do much work. The best thing to do is to use a virtual data room where you can store all of your content and work on it remotely. Shop around and find a company that offers the best solution for your data room needs and you’ll find it so much easier to manage all of your documents properly. It can be helpful to use cloud storage to give you another added layer of protection so if your blog is hacked, you can recover all of your content easily.

For post creation I use programs that store my documents in the cloud so that I can access them on my MacBook, other computers, my iPhoneX, and even my Google Pixel tablet. That flexibility means I’m never caught without my projects at hand.

Bring A Power Pack 

The worst excuse for not getting any work done is that the battery ran out on your laptop. If you’re working somewhere where you can’t easily charge it up, you can find yourself in a tricky situation. But if you just bring a portable power pack along with you, it will never be a problem and you can carry on working wherever you are. Plus, the power pack makes it easier for you to work from the beach or pool.

The same goes for your smartphone. I never travel without a power pack for that, since all the photos I take and the InstaStories I share, such battery life like no other.  

Give Yourself a Break

For me, it is relaxing to spend time thinking about and planning out the future posts. I also like writing posts and putting content together. But it is good to take a break as well. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do on vacation. Cut down your normal tasks and allow yourself the time and space to recharge. For instance, while I am writing this post and have posted occasionally on Instagram, I have cut back significantly during the month of July. I’m using this time to recharge and to plan for the days ahead. And that is a smart business move too.

And if I day doesn’t go as planned. If you spend more time playing games or relaxing in the pool, and less time on the blog - own that reality, cherish it and don’t beat yourself up about it.

Follow these simple tips and you’ll be able to work productively wherever you decide to go.