Workcation

About a month back, I went on family vacation, to a resort in Kerala. As I was sitting in the reception desk, I saw a young couple from Mumbai, enquiring with the receptionist about the facilities available in the resort. The receptionist started to explain the sightseeing options available around the place, but the couple didn’t seem interested, in any of those. On overhearing the conversation, I was intrigued to understand, why they weren’t  interested to go around the place, having travelled such a far distance. They said, “We are both IT Engineers, and we have come here for a week.  We are tired of working from home, during this COVID period and so for a change, we have travelled here to work with our laptops, overlooking the natural beauty of the lake and the lush greenery. It is not a vacation for us, but a workcation”. I was taken aback for a moment. Though, I have heard this terminology “workcation” before, this was the first time, I was seeing someone actually having it.

So, what is Workcation? Workcation is the combination of Work + Vacation or in other words a working vacation. Workcation is the new concept of a vacation that combines business with leisure.

I am someone who thinks that work and vacation, are two different things and doing it together dilutes the benefit of both. The essence of work life balance cannot be fully achieved through this, in the true spirit of a vacation. I feel a vacation should be a mindful time, to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, without any compromise. The advent of mobile phone has already made people stay connected with their work 24x7, in spite of taking a break, which by itself is an idea, I often admonish. However, things seem different today. The concept earlier frowned upon as it was believed, for blurring the lines between work and leisure, now seems like an appealing prospect. Though this idea sounds weird, I see that this sort of holidaying is catching up, with youngsters.

With people working from home during this pandemic, this concept seems to be a welcome change.  People have realised all they need is electricity and a good internet connection to work from anywhere, which is why workcation is going to be the next big travel trend. Workcation seems to be a good option for those who are able to earn good money but not able to enjoy the pleasures of earning, because of their work overload or nature of work. Travel companies around the country are exploring the idea of a workcation fully to provide people a chance to enjoy work and a leisure holiday at the same time. Their enticing caption is “The new way to travel and end your work from home boredom”. Workcation is an idea that believes, that if you can't go on a vacation, take your office along. The idea of relocating for a few weeks, a month or even longer to a destination that is within driving distance seem like a lucrative idea. The aim is for a person to work for five days, then enjoy for two days around the destination they are staying at.

Imagine yourself up in the mountains or sitting in front of a serene beach with your laptop, in comfiest clothes and a cup of hot coffee. Who wouldn't want that? It also comes with the benefits of pleasant weather and unlimited access to outdoors along with some fun activities like trekking, fishing or biking.

Have we not heard of poets and writers, taking off from the hustle and bustle of the hectic city life, into the calm mountains to find a peaceful, serene place?  They believe that they can get their creative juices to flow, when they connect with nature and have the alone time to focus on their work, without any disturbance. 

Also, in this era of internet, we hear of freelancers, who have harnessed the power of internet, to gain a complete control over their time and place of work. Travel bloggers and vloggers are always on the go, doing their jobs too. It is a world of many possibilities and workcation is one such thing too.

So, if your heart craves for travel, but your work is stopping you from travelling, then workcation might be the thing for you to try. This is a new change that we will all be experiencing in course of time. Our children might very well be getting into this sort of holidaying, in the coming days. So, we might as well look up at it, with an open mind and tell ourselves, that it is the part of the new normal.

   D. Senthil Kannan,

   Managing Trustee, PALMS, Tuticorin.

   Author of "Transformational Thoughts" - A Journey of learning 

   Email: senthilkannand@gmail.com