Navigating Workcations as a Single Mom: Lessons Learned and Strategies

For more than a decade, I’ve embraced the concept of working vacations, long before they became popular due to the pandemic. Being self-employed means no paid time off, but it also offers the flexibility to work from any location, even under the shade of a palapa in paradise.

Balancing work and travel became more complex after I became a single mom. The challenge of working with a baby away from home turned out to be tougher than anticipated.

I kept thinking it’d get easier

My first attempt at a working vacation with my daughter was when she was just 8 months old. I planned to work during her naps and after her bedtime on a trip to Hawaii. However, unexpected situations like interrupted naps and late-night work meant I left the vacation feeling exhausted.

Despite the difficulties, I persevered, hoping each new trip would be smoother. After eight workcations with my now 3.5-year-old daughter, Via, I continued to face the challenge of juggling work, parenting, and logistics.

I tried kids’ clubs

Resort kids’ clubs seemed like a potential solution, offering a block of time for me to focus on work. However, the reality was that my daughter often resisted staying at these clubs, and their operations were sometimes inconsistent with online information.

While some clubs promised facilities like nap rooms, these were sometimes unavailable, leading to more logistical challenges and less time for work.

I paid $95 a day for our recent trip kids’ club

On a recent trip to Club Med Cancún, I paid $95 per day for Petit Club Med access for 2 and 3-year-olds. This structured program, which included a nap room, made a significant difference. My daughter was initially hesitant but soon embraced the activities and even asked to return the next day.

With my daughter happily engaged, I could catch up on work and enjoy leisure activities like a trapeze class and snorkeling. This experience was a turning point, showing me that a successful workcation requires finding the right balance and facilities.