5 Ways To Run Away From Your Office And Work At The Beach

June 28, 2012

… or anywhere else for that matter.

For most working adults, summer is pretty much the same as the other seasons… work, work, work. My kids get to come home from college, stay up late, go for gelato at midnight, have a beach bonfire, swim in the pool at all hours and not worry about a Skype call with London the next morning at 7am like I do. Occasionally, and especially since we’re a virtual office, I’ll snap and jump on the golf cart and drive the 2 blocks to the beach. I realize, I’m pretty lucky. I can drive the 30 seconds back home if I need to take a call or meeting. But that’s annoying and sort of defeats the purpose of a quick decompressing getaway. So, since it is summer, and since there are ways to work anywhere in the world these days, I thought this week I would share my tips for a quick “workcation” at the beach.

Here’s the key – you can do this so no one will ever know. Here’s how:

1. Plan for stealthy, uninterrupted phone call service. Today’s office is virtual and the tools go way beyond the simple mobile phone. Our office uses RingCentral to manage it’s calls which gives me the ability to take or make any call from anywhere, including the beach. I can put calls on hold, conference others in and get my voice mails via email, too. For home-based folks who don’t need multiple extensions or on-hold music, you might want to use a version of Google Voice, which has many of the same features for free!

2. Check Your Email Via Your Kindle. While you’re enjoying the sounds of the surf, you still need to keep up appearances that you’re on top of everything. While you’re reading your favorite trashy novel, jump over to check your email every now and again – but not too often! All versions come with built in email apps and it lets you turn off your noisy phone notifications. Only use your phone or laptop as a backup – leave them in the car unless you absolutely need them. Same with the iPad – you’re less likely to work if you’ve got a limited device.

3. Bring the Interwebs With You. If you’re using the day as a true “workcation” then you might need to fire up the laptop or tablet for more robust computing, which means you’ll need a hotspot. Chances are you won’t find a rogue open WiFi connection at the beach so you can bring your own. I have two suggestions. I use Clear Internet service which offers both a USB stick for my laptop, as well as a battery operated hotspot to connect up to 5 devices. Since I’m on the go a lot, the pricetag of $55 per month is worth it to me, and I generally get good connectivity. For those times that I don’t, I invested in a backup option through Sprint for my iPhone and it can be used as a password protected hotspot. So, I can connect my Kindle Fire (which requires a WiFi connection) through my iPhone, as well as my laptop. I wouldn’t stream videos or movies through this method as it can get pricey if you go over the 5GB limit, but its great for checking email quickly, drafting and sending documents or surfing the web.

4. Still need a conference call or virtual meeting? Take Skype on the go, or use the built-in iPhone Facetime application. Today’s smartphones have great apps designed to keep things personal. If they require WiFi, then be sure and use one of the hotspot options above.

5. Get comfy and stay protected. Lily-white home-based folks often forget the importance of sunscreen and shade. We see so little of the sun since we’re always working! Be sure and stay productive and in the shade with my favorite canopy chair. At $49 it’s a bargain for the comfort and cool-factor!