10 destinations to rethink burnout while working remotely

By Flatio 

Burnout is not caused by the number of hours you work, but by how you feel about those hours—as a wise man once said on LinkedIn.

This could not be more true. We’ve all experienced those moments when we’re so in the flow that hours pass without us realizing it or feeling the need to get up for a break.

And we’ve all been there when it feels like our chair has spikes that make us get up every few minutes, break our promise to work uninterrupted for 25 minutes, and wonder why the wait for the 5-minute break set on the Pomodoro timer feels like an eternity. 

This is not just an observation made by one individual on LinkedIn, but a topic that has been well researched by many industry experts, including Gallup, a leading global analytics and advisory firm. 

“It is often assumed that occupational burnout is caused solely by over-work. The common wisdom is to recover from burnout by working fewer hours. Take a vacation, take a day off, or even burn a sick day, just to survive,” Gallup writes in an article titled “Employee Burnout: The Biggest Myth.”

However, their statistics reveal a reality that many—employees and employers—may not even be aware of: If you work more than 50 hours a week, the risk of burnout increases, especially after 60 hours. But how people experience their work during those hours has a stronger influence on burnout than the hours they work. 

According to Gallup’s findings and many other studies, “flexibility” in the workplace is a crucial factor. Employees who benefit from it generally work more hours per week than the average employee and report greater well-being at the same time. 

“When people feel inspired, motivated, and supported in their work, they do more work—and that work is significantly less stressful on their overall health and wellbeing.” 

This sounds so commonsensical that one might wonder whether we need research to come to such a conclusion. But apparently we do, as the return-to-office requirements continue to cause disagreement between employees and employers.

While we respect the choices that companies make and understand that many factors are involved, we at Flatio—an online housing rental platform offering flexible stays to digital nomads, remote workers, and slow travelers—support the estimated 35 million digital nomads worldwide and the 98% of employees who desire some form of remote work opportunity.

Whether you are a seasoned or new digital nomad, a business owner, executive, a freelancer, an entrepreneur, or a travel enthusiast tired of your current routine and longing for a change of scenery and lifestyle tweaks that will enhance your wellbeing and productivity, remote work in a new destination could be just what you need. 

Fortunately, more and more countries around the world are facilitating the entry of international remote workers with new visa initiatives while improving their stay with better infrastructure, such as fast internet and modern co-working spaces.

And the great thing is that the cost of living in many popular remote work hubs is lower than in North America, including the United States. This difference contributes to the popularity of geoarbitrage—the strategy of taking advantage of the lower cost of living in other locations while earning in a stronger currency. 

If you’re considering a change, here are 10 recommended destinations for your next remote work getaway that can help you feel “inspired” and “motivated.” As Gallup found, this can lead to feeling better about the hours you work and, ultimately, about yourself, while accomplishing more. 

• Portugal
• Spain
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Italy
• UK
• Bulgaria
• France
• Poland
• Thailand

Let’s take a closer look at what makes these countries so attractive, including the visa options for digital nomads and the lower cost of living compared to the US, based on Numbeo estimates:

1. Portugal

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: Yes
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €667.8 without rent (34.7% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: Pleasant weather all year round, scenic coastline, a relaxed lifestyle, beautiful destinations (Lisbon, Porto, Madeira), a strong digital nomad and expat community, great co-working spaces, generally affordable apartments for rent in Portugal, and an ideal base for exploring the rest of Europe. 

2. Spain

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: Yes
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €712.8 excluding rent (30.5% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: Mediterranean climate, lively digital nomad scene, excellent co-working spaces, beautiful cities (Barcelona, Madrid), efficient public transport, and breathtaking beaches.

3. Croatia

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: Yes
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €723.9 excluding rent (32.9% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: A growing community of digital nomads, beautiful coastal cities (Dubrovnik, Split), modern co-working spaces, beautiful historic apartments in Croatia, unique beaches, and a great gateway to the Balkans.

4. Czech Republic

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: Yes (However, it’s known as a long-term business visa for freelancers.) 
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €759.3 excluding rent (31.5% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: An active digital nomad community, historic cities (Prague, Brno), well-developed co-working spaces, rich culture, and easy access to other Central European destinations.

5. Italy

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: Yes 
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €857.9 excluding rent (18.9% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: A thriving community of digital nomads, iconic cities (Rome, Florence, Milan), numerous co-working spaces, diverse cuisine, rich history, beautiful landscapes, and a great base to explore Europe.

6. UK

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: No (But other options are available.)
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €976.8 excluding rent (6.5% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: Dynamic digital nomad scene, major cities (London, Manchester, Edinburgh), a rich cultural heritage, a variety of co-working spaces, diverse culinary options, and easy access to other European destinations.

7. Bulgaria

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: No (But other options are available.)
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €600 excluding rent (43.6% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: An emerging community of digital nomads, stunning mountains and beaches, beautiful cities (Sofia, Plovdiv), great co-working spaces, and a convenient base for exploring the Balkans.

8. France

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: No (But other options are available.)
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €953.3 excluding rent (6.4% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: An established digital nomad community, world-famous cities (Paris, Lyon, Nice), excellent co-working spaces, varied cuisine, rich cultural experiences, beautiful countryside, and easy access to other European countries.

9. Poland

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: No (But other options are available.)
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €682 excluding rent (38.5% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: A growing digital nomad community, numerous co-working spaces, dynamic cities (Warsaw, Kraków), rich history, and a great starting point for exploring Central Europe. 

10. Thailand

• Digital nomad/remote work visa: Yes
• Cost of living compared to the US: Monthly costs for a single person: €562.6 excluding rent (46.2% lower than in the US). 
• Attractions for remote workers: A thriving digital nomad community, popular cities (Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket), a variety of co-working spaces, beautiful beaches, cheap apartments for rent in Thailand, and a gateway to exploring Southeast Asia.

Have any of these destinations piqued your interest? If so, do further research to make sure they suit your needs and preferences, and then plan your next trip. Such a change will certainly help you establish a new routine and incorporate work more harmoniously into your day, leading to an overall higher quality of life. 

About Flatio: Flatio is an online housing rental platform offering flexible stays. They help you find secure, deposit-free, and fully furnished living spaces in hundreds of cities, towns, and villages across popular and emerging digital nomad hubs worldwide. 

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