How to cope with time differences on your workation - Working from Asia Edition

Can you picture yourself waking up on a sandy beach in Thailand? What about taking your lunch break in the bustling Gangnam district in Seoul? Yet, there is an issue hindering these unique moments: time differences. Effectively managing work when dealing with significant time differences, such as those EU employees face when taking a workation from Asia, requires a strategic approach to ensure productivity and team cohesion.  

Working from destinations such as Japan, Thailand, or South Korea entail being between 7 and 9 hours ahead of Central European Time (CET)! Let’s face it, also quite a challenging time difference. 😅

But since each person has their own way of working and its productivity peak, so depending on if you are an early bird or a night owl some destinations will fit better than others. Working from Asia can actually be the solution for the one's that feel more productive working late at night - the Night owls 🌃🦉

Generally, “night owl” people are more goal-oriented, creative, and indulgent and can also benefit from time differences for higher levels of productivity. 🚀

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Here are 7 tips that can help you work from Asia to make sure you can make the most from your workation:

🗓️ Adapt your schedule:  
If possible, align your work hours with the core working hours of your team in the CET zone, this will mean working during the evening but by adjusting your daily routine, a good coordination flow can be achieved. Try to schedule meetings during the CET morning hours to align with your team's working hours in the CET zone. After 4 pm, it can be quite late, so keeping your afternoons flexible is a good strategy.

🚫 Don't look at your mails & messages right in the morning:
To avoid feeling like you're working all day and night, it's essential to give yourself some time in the morning to relax and clear your mind. Starting work too early can lead to burnout.

☀ Enjoy the whole morning:
Instead use the time for exploring, trying local food, or going shopping. During the morning is pretty convenient to enjoy your working days. But also, you can simply spend some time laying in bed, after all, you don’t need to wake up early to go to the office.

🏢  Check if co-working spaces are open 24/7: It's easy to forget that not all co-working spaces have round-the-clock access, so make sure you find one that suits your working hours and preferences.

🚶Take breaks and prioritize well-being:  
Nights can be tough even for night owls, so take breaks when needed and prioritize a healthy work-life balance. ⚖️

📊  Balance your workload:
Avoid overloading yourself with work before starting your day. Consider splitting your week into a mix of "normal life days" and "tourist days" to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

🛏️ Wind down before bed:  
To ensure a good night's sleep and clear your mind, try to stop working at least 30-60 minutes before going to bed. Establishing a bedtime routine like meditation, a short walk, or journaling can be helpful in winding down after work.

So, whether you choose to seize the dawn or embrace the night, your workation in Asia can be a rewarding adventure. It's all about finding your rhythm and making the most of every moment. 🌏✨

We wish you a wonderful workation! WorkFlex employees have worked remotely from India, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Singapore and many more countries in Asia.

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Check out our other blog entries on workation advice.

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