How to Become a Traveling Worker
by: Avery Phillips
The availability to work from the road has become increasingly more accessible than ever before. Many companies have started to close their offices, and many startups don’t even bother with renting a building as their employees take on remote work.
Some people’s drive for working remote is to give them more time with their families and create their own hours, but for others it is to see the country while traveling and working from the road. It is also easy to stay fit and active while working remotely since you are no longer tied to a desk. If being a traveling worker is your priority, you might even want to consider changing jobs to fit this lifestyle.
Career Change
There are numerous seasonal jobs that can keep you both active and traveling for a large part of the year. Employment with the Forest Service as a park ranger requires little qualifications other than an adventurous attitude and a love for the outdoors. You can lead tours in wilderness area and reach your 10,000 step goal before lunch, all while earning money and experiencing a beautiful state park or nature reserve.
Another option for the outdoor lover is being a camp host at a state park or remote camping area. You can live out of an RV, equipped with all the luxuries of home while being able to walk out your front door on to hiking and biking trails to keep you on your training schedule for your next big race.
After a summer of working on Appalachian trails, you can hit the slopes and work a seasonal position at a California ski resort. Bouncing around season after season makes for a great way to generate income while experiencing different areas of the country.
Working the System
If you want to become a traveling worker and are in a position that would allow you to keep your current job and work remotely, power to you! Why would you not just grab your laptop and hit the road?
One great way to travel on a budget is using that laptop to work the system. During a traditional work day you would take coffee breaks, walk breaks, smoke breaks, snack breaks. When working remotely, you can use that break time to work the system to find inexpensive accommodations and plane tickets.
A student at Arizona State University did just that — she found ways to travel to and stay in 5-star resorts in Asia and Europe for less than $1,500. By purchasing flights on certain days of the week or well in advance, you can save hundreds of dollars. Look for deals on sites like Expedia or stay in hostels to save costs on accommodations. There are endless ways to make the system work for you that won’t break the bank.
Not About the Money
Perhaps making a lot of money isn’t your goal while traveling; however, you also don’t want to necessarily spend a lot of money to travel the globe. There are many different opportunities to volunteer internationally that will provide you with free room and board in return for your helping hands. If you have a job working remotely, all you need is a WiFi connection to keep your funds coming in while you’re not spending in the places you are staying.
You can arrange the hours that you volunteer to flex around your committed work schedule to kill two birds with one stone.
The international organic farming co-op, WWOOF, is a website that allows farmers to post their need for volunteers to help with many different styles and types of farming. In exchange for a predetermined amount of hours per week, you can work on the farm and be rewarded with farm-fresh meals, a fair amount of exercise and a comfortable place to stay.
Workaway is a site similar to WWOOF that has many other opportunities to volunteer other than farming, such as education, marketing for small businesses and others.
Becoming a traveling worker isn’t as hard as it seems. If it is your goal to be making money while exploring what the world has to offer, set your sights on the goal and make the appropriate measures to get there. Start the conversation with your current boss and offer ideas about how your position could be done remotely. Like the saying goes, it never hurts to ask.
