How I Work Remotely From a Campsite (and What I’d Do Differently)

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I just got back from a camping trip with my family.

And I want to be honest about how the week really went.

Because it was not the clean “work from anywhere” picture you always see online.

Here’s the truth.

The week before the trip was stressful. I was catching up on a big pile of work after coming back from Mallorca. I was launching campaigns for our clients. And I was trying to get it all done so I could actually leave for the weekend.

One simple thing kept me on track. I’ll show you what it is below.

But even at the campsite, I could not fully unplug. The wifi gave me trouble. And I still opened my laptop by the lake.

And you know what?

I would do it again. Every time.

So here’s the honest version of a real work from anywhere week. Plus the stuff that actually helped.

The 1-3-5 method (with my own twist)

When I have a lot on my plate, I get overwhelmed.

The thing that pulls me out of it is simple.

Pen and paper.

I don’t know what it is. But writing the list down by hand just feels right. It clears my head in a way that typing into an app never does.

The system I use is called the 1-3-5 method.

Here’s how the normal version works.

You pick 1 big task. Then 3 medium tasks. Then 5 small ones. The big task is the anchor. If that’s the only thing you get done, the day still counts as a win.

Now here’s my twist.

This is the part that made it work for me.

I use two big tasks, not one. One big task for work. And one big task for my health.

So my list really looks like this.

  • One big work task. The thing that makes the workday a win.
  • One big health task. A ride, the gym, a hike, a walk. Even just a walk around the block.
  • Three medium tasks. The next most important stuff.
  • Five small tasks. The little things. And honestly? These almost never get done. They’re more of a reminder. Whatever I miss just rolls to the next day.

Why do I split the big task in two?

Simple.

If I only write down work tasks, my health is the first thing that falls off. Giving health its own spot at the top means it actually happens.

I try to get both big tasks done before lunch. And I keep each one to about 90 minutes so it doesn’t eat the whole day.

Once those two are done, everything else is a bonus.

That’s it. No app. No system to learn. Just a piece of paper, two things that matter most, and the rest.

Working from a campsite. What really happened.

Here’s where the dream met reality.

I brought my laptop to the campground on purpose. We were launching campaigns that weekend. And I wanted to jump in if something came up.

I checked ahead of time. I figured the signal would be fine.

It was not.

I was leaning on my phone’s hotspot. And it was not strong enough. Things loaded slow. Some tasks took way longer than they should have. I had to refresh and try again more than once.

There was one morning where I got really stressed. I was sitting by the lake trying to get a page to load. And my family was starting their day without me.

I got it done in the end. But it was not smooth. And I won’t pretend it was.

So what would I do differently?

Next time I’d look into Starlink.

That way I’m not leaning only on my phone’s hotspot. I haven’t used it yet, so I can’t tell you it’s the fix. But one weak hotspot is the thing I’d want to solve before the next trip. If work is going to be part of the plan, the wifi can’t be a question mark.

But the real lesson was not about gear.

It was this.

Do your work early. Get it out of your head. Then actually be there.

The stress came from work hanging over the whole day. Once it was done, I could put the laptop away and get in the kayak.

The bike battery. A small gut punch.

I was looking forward to riding some trails near the camp.

That did not happen.

On a ride the week before, my e-bike battery drained in about an hour. Then it died on me on the last hill back to my truck.

Let me tell you.

Pushing a dead e-bike up a hill in the sun is humbling.

I still haven’t checked if it’s a real problem or just a glitch. I’m pretty sure it’s under warranty. And I’m hoping a full charge fixes it. I need to get on that soon, because I want to be back out riding.

Here’s the funny part.

Even with the battery dying, I had a great time on that ride. That’s exactly why I want it fixed.

And it’s the same lesson as the whole trip.

Things break. Plans fall apart. You go anyway..

The payoff made it worth it

Here’s the part that made all the stress worth it.

Waking up out there with family all around. Coffee together in the morning. Then down to the lake for the whole day.

I took my daughter out on the kayak. We had the best time. There was paddleboarding. There were rock slides with the nieces and nephews. All of us out in the sun.

That stuff fills me up in a way work never will.

And here’s the strange thing.

It makes me thankful for the work instead of mad at it. The work is what lets me do this. Set my own schedule. Take a Friday to go camping. Work from a lake if I have to.

When I remember that, the weak wifi and the dead battery feel like small stuff.

So if you’re like me?

Someone who works too much and keeps meaning to get out more?

Here’s what I’d tell you.

You don’t have to fully check out to go. Bring the laptop if you have to. Do what you can. Buy yourself some time. Then be there for the part that matters.

Don’t wait for the perfect window where nothing is on your plate.

That window never comes.

Just go.

The memories are worth way more than the stuff that stressed you out.

The coffee shop I worked from

Before the trip, I got a work session in at a new spot.

It’s called Raised By Lions Coffee Roasters.

Good coffee. Solid wifi. Worth a stop if you’re in the area and need a place to post up for a few hours.

Gear in this video

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Thanks for reading. I make vlogs about the life I’m actually living. Adventures small to big, coffee, real moments. Trying to build a life I don’t want a break from. Still figuring it out. Glad you’re here.

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