I began a short experiment with working remotely earlier this week and thus far, there have been hiccups.
I’m across the world from home now on a trip I didn’t pay for, being a part of something that I didn’t think I’d ever be a part of. It’s exciting, and before I took off from Kuala Lumpur, I decided that I’d use these two weeks as an experiment.
It’s easy to work remotely in Kuala Lumpur, where I have everything I need. But when you’re traveling, I realise that there are other things to consider.
#1 Jetlag is real
Due to my spotty sleeping habits, I’ve never truly experienced jet lag. But after flying about 30 hours to a country where you’re 12 hours behind your usual timezone, there are some effects. I’ll admit that my brain isn’t operating as efficiently as it should after all that.
A possible solution to this is probably to not schedule multiple meetings — both on-site and via call on the first day you arrive.
#2 Internet connectivity isn’t the same everywhere
If your work involves having to be online — video calls, live videos and such — make sure you have access to better Internet connections.
Although the hotel here has wifi, it’s not as decent as what I have back home. I’m currently using my travel wifi and it’s alright, but there are moments when it’s as if I’ve been taken back to the days of dial-up Internet.
But I have one more week of experimentation. Let’s see how it goes!
