What Are Smart Workcations? 5 Tips To Plan One This Summer
Find out why workcations are becoming more popular this year and how to take one that's balanced.
Summer is just around the corner, and vacation plans are heating up. Many travelers are staying close to home this summer, staying in the U.S. or headed to Canada or Mexico, according to Squaremouth. Or they're staycationing at home, enjoying slow summer vacations. The tanking economy, jammed airports, travel disruptions, canceled flights and flight delays--plus lost luggage claims up 18%--are causing vacationers to rethink how they want to spend summer vacations. As a result, smart workcations are becoming more popular in the summer of 2025.
Almost one year ago to the day I was writing about 'hushcations' for Forbes.com in which younger workers were sneaking vacations without calling off work or disclosing their location to their employers. The 'hush movement' grew among remote workers across the country as they tried to find risk-averse ploys to combine remote working with their desire for job flexibility.
Now, as summer 2025 nears, Americans hit a 15-year low in travel planning, according to Fortune, explaining that job insecurity from DOGE layoffs and tariffs are shattering 2025 vacation plans. This summer vacationers are turning to a different kind of break called 'slow summer vacations,' shying away from baggage delays and loss, long lines, flight delays and disruptions and scaling back activities, cutting costs and allowing more unstructured time.
A new Monster study reveals that most employees aren't getting the flexibility or support they need to enjoy the summer months. A notable 84% of U.S. workers say they aren't offered any designated summer benefits. And64% say they struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance during the summer,
When it comes to managing seasonal schedule conflicts, 42% report feeling unsupported by their managers or employers Among employees who receive summer benefits, 55% say it improves their productivity, proving that seasonal flexibility is more than just a perk--it's a performance booster.
Workations are having a moment, as almost half of office workers (46%) have taken a one, with one in four doing so to obtain a better quality of life, and eight in ten claiming that a workation helps them cope with burnout. In fact, one in three workers have completed tasks on a beach or on a plane, according to a recent survey by Headway app.
If you're like most people, the availability of technology and remote work make it impractical to plan a vacation totally devoid of work. White-knuckling through wondering if a work problem is going unaddressed actually raises your anxiety. Instead of planning a "cold turkey' vacation, it makes more sense to shoot for a smart workcation that balances play with work. Here are my five tips on how to have a fun and productive smart workcation:
Limited communication with the office while vacationing can be less stressful than no communication at all and worrying about things piling up. Feeling that you're getting behind can make you feel out of control and make it harder to chill. Strictly enforced limits on vacations such as an hour a day to check email or make phone calls can help you relax.
The breakneck speed of technology can activate your stress response, provoking a cortisol/dopamine squirt. Then you respond to the immediacy of the device as if it were a threat to extinguish. Be master instead of slave to your devices. Use custom ring tones for your family, friends or coworkers when you want to screen calls during off-hours. Ease up on instant messaging so you don't create the expectation that you're available 24/7.
Avoid working right up until the moment you leave and head back to work right off the vacation. If possible, schedule an extra-day cushion before you depart and another when you return to ease back in.
On vacation, alternate your time between staying active and restorative rest. A walk on the beach combined with five minutes of meditation both give you a biochemical boost. Activity raises endorphins. Quieting your mind stimulates the part of your brain that dampens the surges of adrenaline and cortisol accompanying stress.
Choose a colleague you trust to manage day-to-day tasks during your absence, and make sure your coworkers know you'll be away. Designate a point person to be contacted on your voicemail and out-of-office email only on matters you want to be bothered about.
Avery Morgan, workplace productivity expert and CHRO at Edubirdie, shares four easy-to-follow tips to help you stay focused, creative and one step ahead, without sacrificing the whole 'workation' vibe.
"Your golden window of uninterrupted time, without Slack texts, emails and Whatnot, is while everyone else is sleeping, scrolling or sightseeing," Morgan explains. "Early mornings and late nights are your most productive window. No pings, no loud Zoom calls or zero distractions. Just you, your work and your full focus."
"Besides, depending on your time zone vs. your team's, you might be able to sneak in deep work while everyone else is unavailable," she adds. 'So swap that midday hustle for some quiet early morning sessions--or whatever non-peak groove works.'
"Travel time doesn't have to be downtime," Morgan says. "In fact, being on flights, trains and ferries is a perfect excuse to disconnect from meetings and dig into some much-needed big thinking."
"No Wi-Fi? That can actually work in your favor!" she suggests. 'Jot down ideas, brainstorm projects, map out your goals--whatever your brain's been too busy to do lately. Pro tip: keep a tiny notebook or your Notes app handy. You'd be surprised how many good ideas hit when you're 30,000 feet in the air with no distractions in sight.'
"Nothing disrupts your flow faster than bad Wi-Fi or a forgotten charger," Morgan warns. "Before you head out, test your hotspot, download offline backups of key files and make sure you've got your gear--adapters, headphones, chargers the works."
"Scouting work-friendly spots at your destination is yet another way to streamline your processes," she advises. 'Know where the solid Wi-Fi is, have a backup location and steer clear of being the one scrambling for a charger in a noisy café with no signal.'
"It's easy to blur the lines on a working trip," Morgan points out. 'If you don't set boundaries, work will bleed into your personal time and suck the joy out of your trip." She recommends blocking out active hours and downtime as well. "In your scheduled 'unplug' time, go sightseeing, take a nap or relax--just make sure when you're done for the day, you're really done. Protect your rest time like your productivity depends on it, because it really does."
The beauty of smart workcations is that you gift yourself the freedom and to not just relax and play, but to do both. 'Try switching it up," Morgan says. "A cozy café in the morning, co-working space in the afternoon and beachside brainstorming in the evening. Different environments bring different vibes, and fresh vibes bring fresh energy.'
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