Don’t get me wrong, I do take a laptop away with me, and do understand the need for the small business owner to keep in touch whilst away, but some people can’t seem to drag themselves away from work!
So for those that absolutely can’t switch off from the office here are some tips for successfully working on holiday.
First of all preparation. Check what Internet access you will be able to get. If you are using a 3G card then check the providers coverage map. If they don’t have coverage it might be worth getting a Pay as You Go card from another provider. They are very inexpensive now, and will save having to drive around trying to find a signal (I have a contract on T-Mobile and a PAYGO on 3 just in case).
- http://www.three.co.uk/_standalone/Coverage_checker_mbb
- http://maps.vodafone.co.uk/coverageviewer/web/default.aspx
- http://www.webmap.o2.co.uk/
- http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/coverage/street-check/
- http://web.orange.co.uk/coverage/
Remember that if you want to get on the Internet then it is the 3G coverage that you probably want.
Check Roaming charges. If you are going abroad check roaming charges. These are coming down for voice and text, but data is still high.
Take data with you. Just because the brochure says Internet Access available don’t rely on it. If there are a few files that you know you will need to work on then take them with you. That way you can still do a bit of Off-Line working. And take it securely, encrypt it if you can.
Prepare in advance. Remember that if you cannot connect from home the week before, then the chance of being able to do it from the Seycelles is next to none.
Schedule your day. More for your family’s sanity, I find it best to schedule the work you are going to do as part of the day, so you don’t miss out on the fun, and they don’t have to sit and watch you plugging away at a Blackberry for the whole day.
Enjoy yourself. No point going on holiday if you sit in front of the laptop all day long. Enjoy the downtime and deal with any problems when you get back.