finding balance as a freelance creative

Working remotely gives you a lot of freedom — but freedom still needs a little structure.

When I first decided to take my work on the road, one of the things I worried about most was finding a balance between actually experiencing a new place and keeping my business running.

It sounds like an ideal setup: wake up somewhere beautiful, open your laptop for a few hours, then head out and explore.

In reality, it can be surprisingly difficult to switch between the two.

When you're somewhere new, there's always something else you could be doing. A new neighbourhood to wander through. A beach to explore. A hike you've been meaning to do. And when you're working, there's always that little voice wondering whether you're missing out.

Over time, I realised that the answer wasn't trying to fit everything into every day. It was creating enough structure around my work that I could properly enjoy the time outside of it.

These are some of the things that helped me find that balance.

01 — TRAVEL SLOWLY

There is a temptation when travelling to see as much as possible.

You arrive somewhere with a list of places you want to visit, restaurants you want to try and things you want to experience — and suddenly you're moving every few days just to fit it all in.

But working while travelling changes things.

You don't have the same schedule as someone on a two-week holiday, so there's no reason to approach travel that way.

Staying somewhere for longer gives you time to:

• settle into a new environment

• find your bearings and establish a routine

• allow for delays and unexpected changes

• make time for work without feeling rushed

• get to know the place beyond its tourist highlights

• meet people and experience more of everyday life

Some of my favourite periods of travelling have been the ones where I stayed in one place for weeks — or even months.

I had time to work, explore, make friends, learn the language and simply exist somewhere without constantly thinking about the next destination.

There is something very different about experiencing a place rather than simply ticking it off a list.

02 — KEEP SOME OF YOUR ROUTINE

A new environment can be exciting, but having a few familiar things in your day can make a huge difference.

Keep the rituals that make you feel like yourself.

Maybe that's your morning coffee, a walk before you start work, a workout, journalling, a particular playlist or simply sitting down at the same time each morning to get started.

You don't need to recreate your life exactly as it is at home. The point is simply to give your day a few familiar anchors.

When everything around you is new, those small routines can make it much easier to settle in and focus.

And if your Airbnb doesn't have your favourite coffee, you'll just have to find a new favourite.

03 — GIVE YOUR DAY SOME SHAPE

One of the biggest advantages of working independently is flexibility — but too much flexibility can quickly become a problem.

If you don't decide when you're working, it's very easy for work to stretch across the entire day.

Instead, give your day some shape.

Block out the hours you need to work, but also schedule the things you want to do afterwards.

Knowing that you have a hike planned later, a swim before sunset or dinner with someone you've met can actually make it easier to focus while you're working.

And if you work a more traditional 9–5, you can still look for small pockets of time around it — a morning walk, a longer lunch break or an evening exploring somewhere new.

The goal isn't to squeeze more into your day.

It's to make sure work doesn't quietly take over all of it.

04 — USE TRAVEL DAYS DIFFERENTLY

Not every task needs your full desk setup.

Travel days are a good opportunity to work through the smaller things that tend to sit at the bottom of your to-do list.

Reply to emails. Create invoices. Plan content. Organise your files. Write notes. Catch up on admin. Save inspiration for a project.

Some things can even be done offline.

I love using travel time to collect references, sketch ideas, journal or write down thoughts that have been sitting in the back of my mind.

It turns time that might otherwise feel unproductive into something useful — without trying to force a full workday into a bus, train or airport lounge.

05 — LET YOUR SURROUNDINGS BECOME PART OF YOUR ROUTINE

One of the best parts of working somewhere new is that your environment can become part of your everyday life.

If you're near the ocean, go swimming.

If you're somewhere surrounded by mountains, take a hike.

If you usually exercise indoors, try a local class, rent a bike or walk instead.

You don't need to maintain exactly the same routine you have at home. Use the opportunity to do things differently.

Some of the best memories I've made while travelling have come from turning ordinary things — exercise, coffee, grocery shopping, walking — into opportunities to experience where I was.

06 — WORK WITH THE PLACE, NOT AGAINST IT

Sometimes the easiest way to find balance is simply to pay attention to your surroundings.

When I was travelling in Costa Rica, I noticed that the weather followed a very predictable pattern. The mornings were bright and clear, and by the afternoon the rain would arrive almost like clockwork.

So I stopped fighting it.

Mornings became my time to explore, hike and be outside. Afternoons became my work time.

It made a surprisingly big difference.

Rather than sitting inside on a beautiful morning feeling as though I should be working, I could enjoy it properly. And when the rain arrived, I didn't feel as though I was missing out by sitting at my laptop.

The same principle can apply anywhere.

Pay attention to the rhythm of the place you're in, and build your working hours around it where you can.

07 — FIND PLACES THAT MAKE WORK FEEL GOOD

Sometimes you simply don't want to work from the same desk every day.

One of my favourite ways to experience a new city while still getting work done is to find a good café.

There's something about sitting somewhere with people coming and going around you that makes working in a new place feel less like you're hiding away from it.

And, of course, there's the added benefit of discovering good coffee and seeing a little more of everyday life around you.

Just don't forget that a café isn't necessarily an office — be mindful of how long you're staying, order something, and choose places where working is welcome.

08 — KNOW WHEN YOU NEED A PROPER WORKSPACE

The opposite can also be true.

Sometimes you need to stop romanticising the idea of working from a beachside café and actually get some work done.

On those days, a coworking space can be incredibly useful.

Having somewhere designed for working creates a natural boundary between work and everything else. It can also be a good way to meet other people who are working remotely and get a sense of the local creative or business community.

There are days for the laptop-on-a-café-table fantasy.

And there are days for headphones on, phone away and getting through the to-do list.

Both are useful.

09 — ACTUALLY TAKE TIME OFF

This might be the most important one.

Just because you're travelling with your laptop doesn't mean you have to work every day.

There will be places you visit where you want — or need — to completely disconnect. A multi-day hike. A long weekend somewhere. A day spent exploring without checking your emails every few hours.

Take it.

Plan for it in advance where you can, let your clients know if necessary, and give yourself permission to properly step away.

You started travelling for a reason.

You don't need to turn every beautiful place into a backdrop for your business.

FINDING THE BALANCE

I've found that working while travelling isn't really about finding the perfect routine.

It's about creating enough structure to give yourself permission to switch off.

Work when you need to work. Explore when you have the time to explore. Stay somewhere long enough to actually experience it. And leave some space for the unexpected.

There will always be compromises. Some days you'll work more than you'd planned. Other days you'll decide that the laptop can wait.

That's part of the freedom.

The point isn't to perfectly balance work and travel every single day.

It's to build a way of working that leaves enough room for both.