Living and Working Remotely on the Road

You've dreamed about it for so long, but will you make the leap? There's a growing draw for many to experience full time RV living. But the decision to live on the road isn't one that can be taken lightly. Careful consideration is necessary with many decisions to think through.

Our guide to RVing is a good place to start and is chock full of facts and advice for living and working remotely. We hope our 10 tips for full time RV living helps you enjoy the ride as you embark on your journey.

10 Tips for Working While RVing Full Time

1. Weigh the Pros and Cons

Before you embark on full time RV living, spend some serious time contemplating. Weigh out the pros and cons carefully, asking yourself questions like:

• Am I open to relying on multiple streams of income?
• Do I like my current job?
• Am I capable of working remotely long-term?

2. Research Remote Work Options

If you decide to pursue your dream of living on the open road, do some research on the available work opportunities. There are three main options to work remotely:

Take Your Current Job Remote

This approach won't always work, but you can ask your employer if you can continue your job remotely. This works well if you love your current position.

Find a New Remote Job

There are increasing numbers of remote jobs available. These offer steady employment, as well as benefits. However, they tend to be less flexible than freelancing and you should beware of scams when searching.

Begin a Freelance Career

Freelancing means creating your own business and taking on clients, or businesses that hire you to do some form of work. The benefits are that freelancing is flexible, you can be your own boss, and you can work remotely. The drawbacks can include inconsistent work and pay, administrative duties (taxes, insurance, etc.), and limited fields for freelancing.

3. Find a Remote Job

Now that you've selected a path for remote work, you're well on your way to full time RV living. But before you pack up, you must find a job, or several, that will allow you to "work from home." Many remote workers, especially freelancers, have multiple income streams coming from more than one job. These are often found in fields like writing, graphic design, videography, and consulting.

Think about the skills you have to offer and what kind of career path might be a good fit. Be aware that finding sufficient remote work can be an a difficult process. If you don't have a strong portfolio or much experience, you may need to do some free work at the beginning if you're planning to try the freelance path.

Our biggest tip for finding remote work? Reach out to your network. Friends, family, past employers, business acquaintances, that entrepreneur from your college business course; all these people are contacts who may be able to help you find work.

4. Plan a Budget

Once you have a job, you can plan a budget for full time RV living. There are many considerations in this process and it might be easier for you to use a spreadsheet template. A template allows you to plug in your own numbers and the formulas in the spreadsheet will do the math for you.

5. Set Clear Working Hours

One of the most beneficial things you can do when working remotely is to set clear working hours. Typical office hours give you the weekends off and keep you synced with traditional workers. But you can also vary the schedule to give you longer evenings or certain weekdays off. Whatever schedule you choose, stick to those working hours and don't carry work outside of them.

6. Have an Internet Game Plan

A great perk of staying with Sun RV Resorts is that you'll enjoy Sun WiFi from coast to coast. However, you should always have an internet game plan to ensure connectivity. Remote work relies on the internet far more than traditional work.

Consider investing in a portable hotspot or using your mobile phone as a hotspot. Try to also keep your workstation portable, so that you can go to a coffee shop or library if you need internet in a pinch.

7. Designate an RV Workspace

Within your RV, designate a clear workspace. It doesn't need to be fancy, but it should be a spot where you can focus and get the job done. Don't be fooled into using your bed either. It may sound comfortable, but it generally leads to poor sleep and poor work.

8. Avoid Distractions

During working hours, avoid distractions. Make sure you stay off social media and don't try to watch TV while you work. If you have kids, formulate a plan with your partner to keep the kids occupied while one of you is working.

9. Travel Slowly

When you begin full time RV living, it may be tempting to make a long list of places to visit. And that's great, but don't rush the traveling. A rookie mistake is to try and visit a new destination every few days. That can make it hard to focus on work. Instead, try to plan your stops in weeks, rather than days. This will save you from uprooting every week and will provide a more stable lifestyle.

10. Make Friends with Other RVers

Finally, we strongly recommend you make friends with other RVers. A social life is very important for full time RV living, as you often won't see acquaintances unless you intentionally try. Get to know your neighbors and look for other full time RVers. They may have some great advice for you.  

Though full time RV living and working remotely can be challenging, it's worth the hurdles to travel frequently and enjoy the freedom on the road. We wish you the best of luck in this new adventure. If you know others who might be interested in the RV lifestyle, share this helpful post with them as well.

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