Behind the Scenes from Greece: 2 Keys to Balancing Remote Work and Travel

In January, I spent over two weeks working remotely from the Greek island of Crete.

For a little back story,  it was not the first time I had worked remotely in Crete but it was the first time since 2017 when I spent an entire summer living the dream (working remotely and helping run a Christian guest house).

I’ve been back to the island since but if you would have told me when I left in 2017 that it would be FIVE whole years before I would work from there again, I would have cringed at the thought… but that is another story for another day. 

Back to January:

Working remotely and traveling has its pros and cons. You feel like you’re on vacation, but you’re not. Other people think you’re on vacation (but you’re not). You are just doing life in another place.

It can either be a great time, a stressful one, or somewhere in between. I can now say I’ve experienced both extremes and what I’ve learned so far is there are at least 2 keys to balancing working remotely and traveling:

The first key is knowing what your priorities are and being able to comfortably set boundaries around them. Is work your priority? Then you have to treat it like it is. It’s very easy to get distracted with new places, friends, and experiences so you must be ok with missing out on some things.

Obviously, you’ve got to get out and do things… live… but you also need strong convictions about what your priorities are in a given season – this may change depending on which season of life you are in and what God is calling you to do in that particular season and/or place.

During my previous time working remotely from Crete, working at the guesthouse had been my priority. Even though I also worked remotely, helping run the guesthouse was where most of my focus was. 

2023 has been different because it was my first time being in Crete in a season where my remote work was my priority. This was actually a breath of fresh air because my priorities were crystal clear and while I did have to miss out on a few things, I was comfortable with that because my priorities and purpose were rock solid.

The second key, along with knowing your priorities, is knowing and protecting your energy. I’m not talking about woo woo energy here. I’m talking about your actual social and physical energy. Are you an introvert, extrovert? Will you run yourself ragged trying to do all the things and be with all the people? Or does being with people all the time energize you? I personally need a good mixture of both.

Previously in Crete, I lived, worked, and did community with a house full of people (the guesthouse guests and summer staff). I loved being around people… so much so that I had a hard time getting things done. I had a difficult time concentrating when I needed to focus on my remote work and felt like I was burning the candle at both ends —helping with my guesthouse responsibilities, taking care of remote work clients, and staying up way too late and getting up way too early to spend time with people.

In contrast, on this trip, I primarily stayed in a hotel by myself. I found this highly conducive to keeping my work/life balance while being in Crete… more so than I had in a long time. If I had stayed with friends, which was an option, I don’t think I would have felt the balance that I did on this trip.

I love being around people, definitely experience FOMO, and I’ve learned, for myself, I am 10x more creative and productive when I have sufficient alone time… and I mean ALONE time. I don’t mean just in a room with the door shut. I mean no distractions and no one I know even remotely nearby.

When I carve this time out for myself, my priorities are clear and my energy is protected, and then when I am around people, I can actually enjoy just being with them. I am not thinking about all of the other things I need to get done. 

Maybe you’re the same or maybe you’re the exact opposite but either way, knowing your energy and cultivating a climate to preserve it is paramount to finding balance — whether remote or not — but especially while working remotely because we tend to get out of balance quickly while traveling (travel excitement is not sustainable energy).

So, if you’re thinking about working remotely and you’re curious, here’s what a typical day looked like for me working remotely in Greece:

Wake up between 7:30-8am, did a devotion, got dressed and went for a quick morning walk along the harbor. Being consistent about getting in the Word and getting moving first thing in the morning really helps set my day off on the right foot.

breakfast walks on the harbor

working from my room

I'd usually stop along the way for a Freddo espresso and a zambonotiropita (ham and cheese pie) for breakfast. Cretans aren’t big on breakfast from my understanding, but I am, and I don’t know what it is but when I’m in Greece, I can never get enough of the delicious ham and cheese pies so I had more of them this past trip than I care to admit. 

After my walk, it was time to get to work. I'd usually work from 8:30-11:30 in my room, taking advantage of the quiet morning hours. Then, I'd take another quick walk to my favorite coffee shop, Kross Coffee Roasters, to work from 12-2. The sun was always in just the right spot during this time, so it was the perfect spot to soak up some rays while getting work done. 

afternoon coffee at Monogram Coffee Roasters

working from Kross Coffee Roasters

I found that working ahead of U.S. time was perfect for me, as I was able to get really productive work in for the day without having to be in response mode. I also used Gmail to schedule any non-urgent emails and responses to my co-workers during their morning hours so they didn’t start off their day with a whole bunch of brand new emails first thing in the morning.

After my coffee shop stint, it was usually time for a break. Sometimes I'd grab lunch or another coffee with friends, go for a walk to explore the city, or stop by church to see what was happening over there. There's so much to see and do in Chania, and already knowing people there makes it feel a lot more like normal life. 

As the afternoon went on, I'd check in via email and respond as needed (3-4pm Greek time = 8-9am East Coast time). The office in the U.S. would start getting active around 4pm, so I made sure to stay on top of things. But I always made time for dinner with friends from 8-10pm. The food in Chania is incredible. I cannot say enough good things about Cretan cuisine, only that I wish I could eat it every day! 

soaking up winter sun

delicious, healthy dinners with friends

By the time I got back to my room, I was ready to wind down and relax. But one thing was for sure - I always felt grateful for the opportunity to work remotely in such a beautiful place.

If you're thinking about working remotely in Greece or anywhere, I highly recommend it! Whether it’s 2 weeks, 2 months, or 2 years, getting out of your normal scenery and immersing yourself in another culture is an experience I cannot recommend enough. 

If you’re interested in hearing more about the coffee shop ministry and church I spend time at while I am in Greece, I’m sharing more on that soon so make sure you’re signed up to receive email updates!

⬇️

TravelherCo Weekly:

Get the weekly newsletter, updates, and travel tips delivered straight to your inbox! ✈️