How One Month In Panama Opened My Eyes To A New Way Of Living And Working
💻 I never planned to work remotely. But one unexpected month in Panama turned my work life upside down—and into something I never imagined.
🌍 My Unexpected Start in Remote Work
Since I started working in September 2011 until 2015, I had never once worked from home. It wasn’t even an option. There was a clear boundary between work and home, and honestly, I never questioned it.
Between 2015 and 2017, I started doing a few hours from home here and there—usually on top of office hours. I was very invested in my job and loved it, so spending an evening catching up wasn’t a big deal.
In 2017, I worked from home for a few days during a traumatic personal event. To be honest, I was in such a bad mental state that I barely remember how I felt about it.
Things really took a turn in 2018. In December 2017, I moved to Miami for work. By February, we were dealing with some visa-related administrative work that required me to leave the U.S. temporarily. To stay within the same time zone and keep working, my wife Rosie and I went to Panama for a little over a month.
Suddenly, we were living the digital nomad life with zero preparation! 🌟
💼 The Benefits and Challenges of Remote Work (In a Foreign Country)
This new adventure came with its challenges:
Where do we go and stay?
How do we explore Panama while sticking to office hours?
Is the internet reliable enough to work effectively?
And… will my rusty Spanish be enough to get by? 😅
When you’ve never worked remotely, these questions can feel overwhelming. Back then, I wasn’t in touch with remote work or digital nomad culture, so I didn’t know where to find resources or advice. It was intimidating, but we had no choice but to figure it out. And we did!
Rosie organized the itinerary like a pro. We stayed in three different places in Panama City, took a few days off to visit the stunning San Blas Islands, and even explored Bocas del Toro. While I worked during the day, Rosie found meaningful ways to spend her time, like volunteering at an orphanage and taking Spanish classes.
The result?
We had a great time! It wasn’t perfect, but for a first experience, nothing major went wrong, and we discovered an amazing country. 🌴✨
🛠 Practical Tips for Working Remotely While Traveling
If you’re planning to work remotely in a new place, here’s what I’ve learned:
1. 🗓 Plan, plan, plan.
This isn’t a vacation—you need dedicated work hours. Research coworking spaces, cafés with free Wi-Fi, and accommodations with reliable internet. Ideally, have multiple options.
pp2. 🔍 Read reviews.
Before booking anything, dive into Airbnb, Google, and Reddit reviews. Hosts might not always be honest, so rely on other travelers’ feedback. This takes time but saves headaches later.
3. 🤝 Make a plan with your travel partner.
If you’re traveling with someone, agree on how you’ll spend your time. One person working full-time while the other wants to explore can create tension. For example, while I worked, Rosie kept herself busy with volunteering and classes, so we both had fulfilling days.
4. ⏱ Be disciplined with your work schedule.
Whether you set your own hours or follow a fixed schedule, staying focused is key. Distractions will be everywhere—especially in a new place. Self-discipline is your best friend.
5. ⛔ Accept you won’t see everything.
You’re not a tourist—you’re working remotely. It’s unrealistic to expect you’ll experience every sight or activity while maintaining a full workload. And that’s okay.
🧐 Reflection
As much as I love planning, this first remote work experience was something I stumbled into. I didn’t realize at the time that it would be the start of a lifestyle I’d embrace full-time for years.
But most importantly, this experience showed me that it’s possible to work remotely, deliver what’s expected, and still have a good time. It was a confidence boost I didn’t know I needed—and proof that the remote work lifestyle could work for me. 🌟
💬 What About You?
Have you ever thought about working remotely? What excites you about it—or what scares you? If you’re already doing it, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your perspective!