The Honest Truth About Working Remotely While Traveling with Young Kids

Traveling the world while working remotely sounds like a dream, especially when you see families on social media making it look so easy and exciting. The idea of being a digital nomad family, exploring new places while keeping up with work, seems like a perfect blend of adventure and productivity. I recently tested this lifestyle during a three-week trip to Thailand with my husband and our two young kids, aged 3 and 5. I wanted to see if we could make this way of life work for us. The honest truth is, it’s nearly impossible without sacrificing something important.

Enjoy the time together making memories

The Reality of Traveling with Young Kids

From the moment we landed in Thailand, our days were packed with family time. We woke up together, spent the day either relaxing on the beach or exploring local markets and temples, then went out for dinner as a family. By 9 or 10 pm, we were all exhausted and ready for bed. This routine left me with almost no opportunity to open my laptop and work.

I managed to use my laptop only about three times during the entire trip, and that was just to handle online banking and pay bills. The constant presence of my kids meant I couldn’t focus on work without feeling like I was missing out on precious moments with them. If I had tried to squeeze in a couple of hours of work, it would have meant sacrificing time that I wanted to spend making memories.

Why Working Remotely with Kids Is So Challenging

Being a digital nomad blogger or remote worker with young children is not just about finding Wi-Fi or a quiet spot. It’s about balancing the unpredictable needs of kids with the demands of work. Here are some specific challenges we faced:

• Constant supervision: Our kids needed attention all the time. Whether walking around or playing in the hotel room, someone was always holding my hand or running around, making it impossible to focus on a screen.

• No quiet workspace: Unlike solo travelers, we didn’t have the luxury of a quiet café or coworking space. Our “office” was wherever the family was, which meant distractions were constant.

• Content creation struggles: As a blogger, creating content is part of the job. But with kids running through rooms and scooters buzzing outside, I couldn’t just pause and film or take photos without interruptions. Safety was a priority, so I couldn’t risk being distracted.

• Emotional intensity: Spending 24/7 with family for three weeks was wonderful but intense. The lack of routine and constant togetherness made me realize how much we all needed a break and some normality.

  
  

Working while away with the family is not as straight forward as you might think

What We Learned About the Digital Nomad Family Life

Our trip was a valuable experiment. It showed me that while the digital nomad lifestyle is possible, it requires serious adjustments and sacrifices, especially with young kids. Here are some takeaways from our experience:

• Work-life balance shifts: When traveling with young children, work often takes a backseat. You have to accept that productivity will drop and that’s okay.

• Prioritize family memories: For short trips, making memories with your kids should come first. Work can wait or be minimal.

• Routine matters: Kids thrive on routine, and long trips without structure can be exhausting for everyone. Finding ways to keep some normality helps.

• Content creation needs planning: If you want to create content while traveling, plan for specific times or hire help. Trying to do it spontaneously with young kids is tough.

• Full-time travel might be different: If we were living this lifestyle full-time, we might find ways to justify working more. But for short trips, the trade-off isn’t worth it.

  
  
  
  

Moments like this make travel so worth it

Final Thoughts on Remote Work and Traveling with Kids

The dream of being a digital nomad family is appealing, but the reality is complex. Traveling with young kids means your work time shrinks, and your focus shifts to family experiences. For now, I don’t think this lifestyle suits us full-time, but that doesn’t mean never. Maybe in the future, when the kids are older or we have a different setup, we could try again.

If you’re considering working remotely while traveling with your family, be honest about what you can realistically manage. Set clear expectations, prioritize family time, and don’t feel pressured to keep up with the polished images you see online. The real journey is about finding what works for you and your loved ones.

Remember, making memories with your family is a rare and precious thing. Sometimes, the best work you do is simply being present.