Marrakech — They say work doesn’t stop just because you’re somewhere new. But what if the “somewhere new” is a cafe in Paris, a riad courtyard in Marrakech, or a sunlit balcony overlooking the Mediterranean? 

Suddenly, the emails feel a little less heavy, the deadlines a little less intimidating. Working while traveling has always sounded like the perfect dream, but as with most dreams, reality has a way of sneaking in with its own set of complications.

The Wi-Fi cuts out just when your boss schedules an “urgent” call. Your laptop charger suddenly feels like the most precious object in your carry-on. 

And the truth is, squeezing in work between sightseeing, lounging, or simply existing in a place that isn’t home can feel like a tug-of-war: one hand reaching for your laptop, the other reaching for a glass of wine.

Still, I’ve learned that working on the road isn’t about balance, it’s about flow. 

You can’t force a 9-to-5 when you’re in a city that doesn’t eat dinner until 10 p.m. or where mornings are made for strong coffee and people-watching. 

The trick is to lean into the rhythm of the place you’re in and let your work adapt. That might mean submitting a presentation at midnight in Rome because the streets are too lively to ignore during the day. 

Or answering emails at sunrise in Bali before the beach fills up with sunseekers.

But beyond the logistics, there’s something deliciously indulgent about blending work with travel. It’s almost like a secret; your office is everywhere, but no one has to know you’re typing away in a linen dress with your toes buried in sand. 

You’re still working, still responsible, but the backdrop transforms everything. Even a spreadsheet feels different when it’s filled in against the hum of a new city.

Of course, the line between discipline and distraction is thin. I’ve been guilty of promising myself “just one more hour” of strolling through side streets, only to find that my laptop is still untouched when the sun goes down. 

Then again, isn’t that the point? To remember that work is just a piece of the puzzle, not the entire picture? Traveling while working teaches you that deadlines will always be there, but that sunset, that street performer, that plate of fresh oysters might not.