As the crisp autumn air rolls in and the leaves start their dramatic color show, we can’t help but feel that familiar itch to escape—whether it’s from the impending winter (sorry, Northern Hemisphere folks) or simply the daily grind. Maybe you’re already dreaming of a sun-drenched beach or a cozy mountain retreat, but wherever you are, this month’s Travel issue is your ticket to hitting the road without leaving your remote work lifestyle behind.

Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to blend work with wanderlust? Whether you're planning your next epic work-from-anywhere escape or just scrolling through Instagram wishing you were already there, we’ve got you covered. We’re diving into the art of remote work travel and why it's not just a dream—it’s your new reality.

So, while you sip that pumpkin spice latte (or whatever keeps you going in the colder months), let’s make travel part of your new remote work mantra. And if you know someone who’s still tethered to a cubicle, send them this newsletter—let’s expand the tribe and get more people living the life they’ve always dreamed of. ✈️🌍

Let’s go places, virtually or otherwise.

Please share the newsletter love!

— Eric Fish, Shellie Sullivan and Ric Pratte

TRAVEL

‘Work From Home’ was so 2020. ‘Work From Anywhere’ is what cool kids do now

During the COVID-19 pandemic, “Work Remotely” pretty much just meant “Work From Home” – and, let’s face it, that was the reality for most of us. But as things started to open up again, a whole new world of possibilities emerged: "Work From Anywhere." Suddenly, the digital nomad dream went from a far-off fantasy to a legit lifestyle. But, as dreamy as that sounds, not many remote workers are ready to sell their stuff, leave their home behind, and hit the road with just a laptop and a backpack in tow.

Enter “semi-digital nomading.”

This means keeping your home base but taking longer and more frequent vacations. It means having the option to relocate somewhere warmer for a spell if you’re getting those winter blues. It means working outside your normal mental confinements, giving your creative juices a new environment to thrive in. It means settling down somewhere, not permanently, but long enough to get involved in the social scene and truly appreciate a destination’s atmosphere and culture. It means different things to different people, but in a nutshell, it means untethering yourself and making the most of your location-independent situation.

But that’s all easier said than done. Some remote workers book a multi-week sojourn, only to find themselves lonely and less productive than they’d envisioned. So here are a few tips for organizing your most fulfilling ‘workation.’

• Find the right location: If you’re planning to combine work with play, you’ll want somewhere with the right technical and social infrastructure. Fortunately, there are many beautiful destinations with reliable internet and electricity, co-working facilities, affordable long-term accommodation, and whole communities of remote workers and associated activities to plug into. Some of the most prominent are Bali, Medellín, Chiang Mai, Lisbon, Lima, Cape Town, Oaxaca, or Mexico City, but there are many more around the world for all sorts of travel tastes.

• Find a good, social hostel: No longer just for miserly 19-year-old backpackers, many hostels now have private rooms and higher-end facilities, while still keeping the close-quartered social atmosphere hostels are famous for. Find a good one these days, and you’re likely to see many 30-, 40-, even 50- and 60-somethings working on laptops during the day and traipsing about town with each other by night. A good place to start is Hostel World, with its reviews that can give a good sense of how safe, clean and social particular hostels are all over the world.

• Find a co-working trip: With so many digital nomads gallivanting around the world these days, several companies have sprung up catering specifically to this demographic, hosting groups of around one to two dozen remote workers for anywhere from two weeks to two months, setting them up with accommodations, co-working space, professional development programming, social activities and weekend excursions. Some of the most popular are Hacker Paradise, Remote Year, and Wifi Tribe, but there are many others if you search for ‘co-living’ or ‘co-working trips’.

Whether you’re over the WFH grind or just craving a little excitement to spice up your remote routine, “semi-digital nomading” could be your escape. It’s all about striking that perfect balance—exploring new places while still holding on to the comfort of your own space. So, what’s stopping you? Start planning your next workation and shake up your remote life with a new twist!

Keep an eye out for more tips and inspiration in our upcoming issues—your next adventure is calling!

THE VIBE

Stay in the know

• 66 Countries With Digital Nomad Visas—And How to Apply to the Top Programs

• Housing Market Demand Surges from Booming Remote Workforce

• Entrepreneurs As Digital Nomads

• Parents Who Work From Home, Here's How to Balance Life and Work

• Digital Nomad Communities and Travel Groups to Join

LIFESTYLE

Recharging While Thriving: The Lifestyle Perks of Remote Work

Alright, let’s pause for a second, take a deep breath, and appreciate the remote work perks that actually fuel our productivity and keep us thriving. Sure, not everyone gets to create their own schedule (and honestly, some of us might prefer a bit of structure), but let’s be real—the lifestyle perks that come with working remotely are hard to ignore. These perks aren’t just about being more comfortable—they’re about making us better at our jobs and even improving our mental health along the way.

For starters, let’s talk about flexibility. While it's true not everyone has total control over their work hours, remote work still gives us more room to play with our day. The commute? Gone. That alone shaves off a huge chunk of stress and wasted time. Need to step away for a quick walk or grab lunch with a friend? That’s a mental reset you can actually afford. These little breaks are perfect for maintaining high energy and focus, without the mental exhaustion of staring at the same four walls all day. It's not just about avoiding burnout—it’s about staying sharp and productive for the long haul.

Next up, there’s the work-life harmony (or balance, depending on how much you buy into that corporate jargon). Remote work lets us integrate both work and life in a more fluid way, and for most of us, that means the chance to live with intention. You can start your morning with a cup of coffee on the patio, take a break to walk the dog (or feed your plant that’s looking a little sad), and still be back in the zone, cranking out the tasks you need to tackle. The beauty is that your "breaks" are productive in a way that fuels your mind, keeping you engaged rather than distracted.

Connection is another big win here. It’s easier to connect with your colleagues when you're not distracted by noisy offices or random hallway chats. Video calls, team check-ins, and social events are all opportunities to build strong relationships—without the pressure of being “on” for hours at a time. And let's not forget about the sense of fulfillment that comes from creating a workspace that’s truly yours. Whether it's the soft glow of natural light or the exact ergonomic chair you've spent months picking out, remote work offers the freedom to design a space that brings out the best in you.

While it might not be perfect, the lifestyle benefits of remote work are huge. It's a chance to be more productive while also staying connected to what really matters. So, next time you find yourself fully immersed in a task, appreciating that 3:00 PM break, or just soaking in the satisfaction of finishing up your work without the stress of a commute, remember: these perks are the unsung heroes of a successful remote work life. Keep it going—your productivity (and sanity) will thank you!

ACTION

To-Do-List

✅ Build Emotional Resilience: How you can build it in a remote environment.

✅ Feeling stiff after a day at your desk? Four stretches to help you bounce back.

✅ How To Negotiate Your Salary For A Remote Job

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS

What is the biggest issue when leading a remote team?

POLL

THRIVE LOCAL

Work hard, play hard: How co-working retreats help us unwind…productively

Meet Eric Fish, a professional podcast producer and founder of Triangle Remote Workers & Digital Nomads in Raleigh, North Carolina, a founding chapter of Thrive Remotely

About three years ago, I started Triangle Remote Workers & Digital Nomads in Raleigh and my immediate aim was to connect people like myself and reestablish some semblance of a daytime social life after more than a year of remote working in isolation. We began mostly with co-working meetups at coffee shops, but as covid’s reach got weaker, I started traveling/working solo more often and thinking, “Gee, wouldn’t be great if those Raleigh coffee shop buddies were also with me when I traveled?”  

Turns out, I wasn’t the first to think of this—there are several organizations aforementioned in this newsletter offering big co-working trips around the world for weeks or months at a time. But I wondered if that concept could also work on a smaller scale, with destinations closer to home where a bunch of us in Raleigh could hit the road together.

So in late 2022, we tried our first co-working retreat, where 12 of us booked a big cabin in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley wine country for four days. During the day, we co-worked around the kitchen table and took turns making meals. In the evenings, we played games, did karaoke, skill-shared, chilled in the hot tub, and generally had a blast getting to know each other. Then on the weekend, we hit nearby wineries and went hiking. The best part: none of us used any vacation days.

We had such a good experience, we’ve since done two more of these trips—to a beach house on Topsail Island, and a big hostel in Asheville.

I’ve found these trips don’t only provide a great time and expedite the bonding process with awesome fellow remote workers, they also challenge my normal work habits. Studies have shown that the novelty associated with travel can boost creativity, motivation, learning and exploratory behavior. So by integrating normal work into this abnormal experience, it promotes new ways of thinking and approaching your trade.

Eventually, I hope to scale up these retreats and bring the rest of the Thrive Remotely community in on them. So stay tuned!

Learn more about Thrive Local Chapters

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Until next Thursday! 🕺