Balancing the Best of Both Worlds: Integrating Work and Travel
Hi there! Today, I’m sharing a guest post from Christine, the owner of Wealthy Way Online. She’s a blogger from New Zealand who’s aiming to boost her online income while traveling the world and enjoying the best desserts.
When I started traveling in 2010, I had no clue how I’d make money long-term. I wanted to travel indefinitely, much longer than the usual 2-3 week vacations, which I found too short and expensive. I wanted to take my time and really settle into each place.
During my travels, I created a blog called The Wrong Way Home, which eventually started generating some income. Over time, I explored more ways to make money online and settled on freelancing. Later, I shifted towards advertising and built a network of blogs. Now, I earn all my income online. After spending 1.5 years at home, I’m about to embark on a journey to become location independent with my partner.
How Will I Mix Working and Travel?
1. Outsource as Much as Possible
I currently employ two virtual assistants and three writers on an as-needed basis. For my personal blogs, I write my own posts, but for lifestyle blogs, I outsource the content. This saves me time to enjoy activities like sunbathing, watching my partner surf, and snorkeling.
2. Work Smarter, Not Harder
I believe that 20% of the work yields 80% of the results. Since my income is based on performance and client availability, not hourly work, I can usually manage with 10-15 hours of work per week, leaving plenty of time for fun.
3. Move Towards Passive Income
While I enjoy my work, I aim to diversify my income and make it more passive, so it’s not dependent on my active involvement. I have a few projects in mind but haven’t started any yet. I know this is the best move for me.
4. Utilize Transit Time
Traveling involves a lot of downtime, like waiting in airports or during transit. I buy a local SIM card and tether it to my laptop to work on the go. It can be challenging in confined spaces, but it helps me get ahead so I can explore new places without worrying about work.
Working online offers the ultimate freedom: location independence. My partner and I plan to move to Panama for its lower cost of living, stable economy, great weather, and surf, and because there’s no tax on overseas income.
Are you interested in becoming location independent, or do you prefer staying put and going on holidays? Let me know in the comments below.