The idea of working remotely at your favourite destination sounds perfect, but imagine your parents, spouse, or siblings entering the picture. Productivity becomes much trickier — particularly when family travel and work overlap. 

Whether you’re running an online business, attending conferences, or keeping daily operations afloat on a weeks-long family trip, you may not have the luxury of pressing pause on work while abroad.

Attempting focused work gets less fun when you’re helplessly drawn into unproductive conversations in a shared hotel room or navigating family logistics. But despite the chaos and countless distractions that can ensue, there are ways to juggle family and work travel without losing your mind.

Having embarked on four family trips over the past 1.5 years, I’ve distilled several key strategies you can implement to help you stay productive on a family vacation.

Maintain a Work Routine and Keep Things Simple

The first and most important tip: Maintain a work routine and don’t overcomplicate things.

A straightforward schedule can make all the difference. For example, work during the day and rejoin your family in the evening. Not only is this understandable, but it naturally establishes work-family boundaries — this step alone eliminates many logistical hassles and complications.

This doesn’t mean your work hours must mirror a 9-5 schedule. If you prefer work hours, that’s perfectly fine. You can work from 9am to 2pm or 11am to 3pm. If working daily is too much, take full days off to focus on family and travel, while keeping to the same work routines on the other days.

The key principle is this: Sticking to a familiar routine helps maintain productivity even in an unfamiliar environment. If possible, align your work hours with your usual schedule at home.

Communicate your work hours to your family in advance, so they know when you are unavailable.

Beyond work, maintain key daily routines that help you stay productive – such as the following:

• Exercise and movement: A short morning workout or evening walk can boost productivity, keeping you from feeling sluggish.
• Staying hydrated, particularly during the mornings.
• Meditation or journaling, particularly when you are experiencing chaos.
• Eating nutritious meals, which can be tricky while traveling but doable with advanced planning.

Healthy daily habits should complement your work routine without taking much time. Keep them simple and doable to maintain your focus and wellbeing throughout your work-family trip.

Mindset: Adjusting Expectations for Work & Travel

The next thing to note is a mindset shift: Accept that you won’t have the same level of productivity when abroad, particularly when traveling with family members.

While sticking to routines and structure is beneficial, you should still lower your expectations. Traveling with family often means less predictable schedules, alongside more spontaneous activities and distractions. You will encounter less stress simply by accepting that your focus and productivity will be negatively impacted to a certain extent.

Thus, set realistic goals, and be flexible about when and how you work. Instead of aiming for long, uninterrupted hours, you may plan for shorter, focused work sprints. 

Accept imperfection: unexpected delays such as cab booking delays or extended family activities might disrupt plans. Give yourself more buffer by planning lighter workloads on travel days, since the days you arrive and depart are often logistically hectic and time-consuming.

On the other hand, when you are with family members, focus and be present with them, so you don’t feel guilty about work later.

Plan Your Workspaces in Advance

Identify the places you’ll work before you arrive. Save these cafes, restaurants, or coworking spaces to a document or Google Maps before your trip.

This to-do item is important before any work trip, but even more so during a family vacation when you’ll need to coordinate around their itinerary. 

Plan multiple workspaces that are easily accessible before or after your family appointments, so you can avoid the disaster of navigating an hour to a distant cafe after a family lunch. 

It helps to know both your workspace options and family appointments ahead of time. This will help you navigate smoothly from one destination to another and transition smoothly into work mode.

Furthermore, choose the right workspace to avoid disruptions and stay productive:

• Ensure your workspace is work-friendly: Choose spaces with reliable WiFi and power outlets.
• Look up operating hours in advance: Avoid unpleasant surprises by confirming opening times.
• Have backup options nearby: Find 1-2 alternatives within a 5-10 minute walk in case your first choice is too crowded or closed.

If You Can Do This…

One of the best ways to boost productivity while traveling with family is to stay in separate hotel rooms or accommodations if your budget allows. Try it.

While your mom or sibling may protest against this idea, staying in a separate room ensures you don’t get drawn into unplanned family chit-chats or logistical coordination sessions that will further sap your time. You must do your best to protect your time on a work-family vacation. 

Having your own room gives you more control over your work environment, allowing you to stick to your schedule without interruptions. If separate rooms aren’t an option, consider booking a suite with a dedicated work area. 

For maximum productivity, try staying at different hotels altogether. Out of sight, out of mind — you’re less likely to be roped into unplanned family hangouts beyond your shared agreed itinerary. I estimate that staying in separate accommodations from your family could save you 1-2 hours a day, particularly during mornings and nights when there is idle buffer time.

This article was originally published on unboundist.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.

Managing Family Schedules and Setting Boundaries

What about managing tricky schedules when travel or family appointments take up parts of your day?

On some ays, activities, sightseeing, or family events may take priority during the day, leading to fragmented work schedules. Flexibility is key; you’ll need to plan your work hours around family plans.

On such days, communicate your schedule in advance so your family knows when you’ll need focused time. Set clear expectations, and follow through. 

It’s harder to enforce boundaries when everyone is in vacation mode, so treat your planned work hours like an appointment with your boss — non-negotiable.

For instance, if you plan to work after a family lunch, make sure that you head off. Resist the temptation to “go with the flow” and let work slide while traveling with your family — remember that this is still a workcation. Establish these boundaries, so you can balance both work and quality family time.

Smart Work Strategies for Tricky Schedules

When juggling family time and work, efficiency is everything. Before wrapping up the article, here are some additional smart strategies:

• Work Early in the Morning (or Late at Night If You’re a Night Owl): Get important tasks done in a focused manner during the early mornings (or late nights) when disruptions are fewer.
• Engage in deep work first: Focus on high-priority tasks before handling emails or admin work.
• Maximize travel time: Work during flights, train rides, or long car journeys if you’re not driving.
• Learn to work offline when connectivity is down: Save documents locally and sync later to stay productive even without Wi-Fi.
• Use Noise-Canceling Headphones: Block out distractions and stay focused even in noisy environments.

With the right mindset and strategies, you’ll be able to survive your work-family trip and enjoy the best of both worlds. Plan ahead, and enjoy the challenge!