Look, I get it. You’re knee-deep in code, drowning in tickets, or maybe you’re managing a team that thinks “urgent” is a personality trait. Been there. Still doing that actually.
But here’s what I learned after nearly burning out twice in three years – sometimes the best way to solve that impossible bug or think through that system architecture is to get the hell away from your desk. And I mean really away. Not just working from your couch instead of your home office. Last month I grabbed a Caravan Hire Brisbane setup and spent a week working from different spots along the coast. Best decision I’ve made in years.
The funny thing about being in tech is we’re always connected anyway. My mobile hotspot gives me better speeds than some office wifi I’ve suffered through. So why not work from somewhere that doesn’t have fluorescent lights and that weird smell from Dave microwaving fish in the break room?
The Setup That Actually Works
Here’s what nobody tells you about working remotely – really remotely. You need three things to make it work:
First, redundancy. Always have a backup connection. I run my main laptop through my phone hotspot and keep a portable router as backup. Learned that lesson the hard way during a client call from the middle of nowhere.
Second, power management. Solar panels aren’t just for hippies anymore. A decent 200W portable panel setup will keep your gear running indefinitely. Plus there’s something satisfying about coding while completely off-grid. Take that, electricity bill.
Third, comfort matters more than you think. Yeah you could rough it in a tent with your laptop balanced on your knees. But why? Modern caravans have proper desks, actual chairs, and coffee makers. Because lets be real, nobody’s debugging production issues without caffeine.
Why This Actually Makes You Better at Your Job
Something weird happens when you change your environment completely. Problems that seemed impossible suddenly have obvious solutions. That feature you’ve been overthinking? The answer comes to you while you’re making breakfast looking at the ocean instead of your neighbor’s fence.
I’ve written some of my best code sitting at random rest stops. Fixed architecture problems that had been bugging me for weeks while parked next to a lake. There’s actual science behind this – your brain makes different connections when you’re in new environments. But honestly I don’t care about the science. I just know it works.
Plus your team will stop bothering you with stupid questions when you’re “out of office” even though you’re more productive than ever. Win-win.
The Practical Stuff Nobody Mentions
If you’re gonna try this, here’s what actually matters:
Test your setup before you leave. Nothing worse than discovering your hotspot doesn’t work with your VPN on day one of your trip.
Book powered sites if you’re not confident with solar. Most caravan parks have decent power and often better internet than you’d expect.
Keep your routine. Just because you’re somewhere new doesn’t mean you should abandon what works. I still start coding at 6am. Just with a better view.
Tell your team you’ll have limited availability even if you don’t. They don’t need to know you’re actually more available than usual. Sometimes perceived boundaries create real productivity.
Stop Making Excuses
Every tech person I know has the same excuse – “I can’t leave because something might break.” Mate, something’s always broken. That’s literally our job. If your systems can’t handle you being offline for a few hours, you’ve got bigger problems than vacation planning.
The truth is we’re the perfect candidates for this lifestyle. Our work is portable. Our tools fit in a backpack. Hell, most of us prefer working weird hours anyway.
So stop pretending you need to be chained to your desk. Book a week away. Bring your laptop if you must (you will). But change your view. Your code will thank you. Your sanity definitely will.
And who knows, you might actually remember why you got into tech in the first place. Before the meetings. Before the sprints. When it was just you, a computer, and an interesting problem to solve.
That feeling? It’s still out there. You just need to go find it.
