Quiet Vacationing: Working My U.S. Hybrid Job Remotely from Europe (yes, even at 1am) Gives Me More Work-Life Balance

oliviazolke
Aug 4
7 min read

Updated: Aug 4

by Olivia Zolke

“Quiet vacationing”: a growing trend where employees take extended trips while working remotely without officially taking time off, is often framed as sneaky or controversial. But for me, it’s not about slacking off or hiding from responsibilities. It’s about intentionally designing a lifestyle that brings me more balance. Even with late-night work hours to match my U.S. time zone, working remotely from Europe has given me full, unhurried days to explore, recharge, and reconnect with myself before logging on. It’s not a vacation, it’s a better rhythm. No, I don’t have a fully remote job. And yes, I’ve still made remote travel work for me.

My Job Setup (And How I Make It Work)

Like many people, I work in a hybrid role that usually expects some in-office presence. But with clear communication, intentional planning, and a little creativity, I’ve been able to build in stretches of remote work... from Europe. My job is based in U.S. Pacific Time, which means that when I’m in Europe, I start my workday around 4:00pm local time and log off around 1:00am. Sounds like a nightmare to some. But for me? It’s when I feel the most balanced.

My first time was Paris in 2022; I rented an Airbnb for a month (with an Eiffel Tower view I'd get to enjoy while working). Despite the excitement, I was a bit apprehensive. Would I be exhausted? Would my team be okay and still feel supported by me? But within the first week, I realized something surprising: working late into the night didn’t feel draining, it actually gave me more balance than my typical office routine ever did.

Here’s what helped me make it work:

I was upfront with my manager and team about where I’d be and when I’d be online. They were extremely accommodating about avoiding afternoon (Pacific Time) meetings when possible, and super excited for me to get to experience stints of life abroad!
I planned my trip around lighter work periods and company holidays. This helped me feel confident that an in-person presence would not be necessary, and that less urgent issues would require me to be working late into the night.
I made sure I had solid WiFi, a quiet workspace, and backup options in case anything went wrong, like back up chargers and my phone set up for a hotspot if the WiFi failed.

No, it’s not a setup I could maintain all year round. But for a few weeks to a few months at a time? It’s not only doable, it’s been life-changing.

Why This Feels Like Balance

Working until 1am might sound like burnout territory, but the reality has been the opposite. In fact, this experience gave me something I rarely felt in my regular routine: breathing room.

The biggest shift is what happens before work. My mornings and early afternoons are fully mine, with no rushing, no back-to-back calls, no frantic errands or workouts squeezed in before 9am. I wake up naturally (no alarm buzzing at 6am), have a slow breakfast, and take my time exploring whatever city I’m in.

Some days I’ll wander through museums or visit historic neighborhoods. Other days I’ll post up at the beach with a book or take a long, slow walk through a new part of town. I’ve had mid-morning swims in the Mediterranean, 2-hour lunches in Paris, had quiet reading time in Spanish cafés, and snowboarded in Andorra—all before a single email gets opened.

Because I’m not cramming “life” into evenings or weekends, everything feels more spacious. Even my workdays feel more energized. By the time I log on, I’ve already filled my cup. I’m not dragging myself through the day just waiting for it to be over—I’m already satisfied before it starts.

That’s the irony: even though my work hours are technically longer and later, the pace of my days is gentler. I don’t have to sacrifice life for work, or vice versa. And that, to me, is real balance.

What My Days Actually Look Like

My daily routine while working remotely from Europe might seem unconventional, and yet, this rhythm feels more sustainable, fulfilling, and energizing than most of my “normal” routines at home. Wake up around 9am. Explore all day. Start work at 4pm. Log off near 1am. Rinse, repeat. Every destination changes the vibe a bit, but there’s a rhythm I naturally fall into when working abroad in Europe.

I usually wake up around 8 or 9am, without an alarm. I’ll read a book, find a local bakery or café, and start the day slowly. Some mornings I head straight out to explore with a guided tour, a museum visit, or even just wandering a new neighborhood. Other days, I stay close to home, catch up on journaling, get a work out in, or relax by the water. Lunch is never rushed. If I’m near the coast, I might swim or nap in the sun. If I’m in a city, I’ll try a new lunch spot or explore the local sites. Finally around 3pm, I'll start heading back and transitioning into “work mode”. From 4pm to around 1am, I’m online and fully engaged. Yes, it’s a long stretch, but I take breaks. I pause for dinner or a short evening walk. Sometimes I move locations if I need a refresh, grab a late-night snack, or just work with a different view.

The key is that I don’t wake up and work immediately. I don’t try to cram my life into a lunch break. My work doesn’t come at the cost of exploring or resting or enjoying where I am. The balance isn’t in the number of hours, it’s in how I use them. I’m not squeezing joy into the cracks of my schedule. I’m not frantically trying to “live” after a long 8-hour day. I’m living first. Sure, I’m working until midnight or later, but I’m doing it with a full heart and a full day behind me. My days start with me - not my inbox, not a calendar invite, not the mental fog of a rushed morning routine - I’m grounded before I even open my laptop.

It also means I don’t feel pressure to do everything all at once. During the week, I keep things light. I let myself enjoy the slow morning, reading by the water, walking to the market, or just taking my time for myself. I don’t pack in too many activities, and that’s intentional. The weekdays are for soaking in the place I’m in without rushing. Weekends, though, are when I take some bigger adventures. That’s when I’ll plan a full-day exploring nearby villages, book an excursion, or hop on a train to explore a new region. Because I’ve already been living in that “travel mode” all week, I don’t feel deprived or pressured to overdo it on weekends. Everything feels balanced, purposeful, and paced.

How You Can Try This Too

You don’t need a fully remote job to try working abroad, you just need to get creative and be intentional.

Stack Your Time Off

Add a few days of PTO to a long weekend or company holiday (taking four vacation days stacked on a three-day weekend gives you nine full days off!), and combine that with remote time to maximize your time away
Travel during slow work weeks or periods so you can hopefully avoid urgent issues arising or need to have an in-office presence

Use Time Zones to Your Advantage

U.S.-based workers can explore Europe all day and still work U.S. hours, or pick a closer time zone if you'd prefer to work early and have afternoons and evenings free
This means you don’t have to take as many days off to explore a destination

Prep Your Team & Tech

Give your manager a heads-up about where you’ll be
Set your Slack or email to reflect time differences
Make sure you have reliable WiFi and a backup hotspot
Bring a back up charger so you are not stuck in a foreign country trying to find a charger compatitble with your laptop

Pick Your Base Wisely

Look for cities that:

Have good public transport or walkability (bonus- pick a spot that has short and easy connections to other towns to explore multiple places even on a work day)
Offer activities that energize you during the day
Have late-night café or work-friendly spots, to really enjoy that working abroad vibe

Final Thought: Why I Keep Choosing This Lifestyle

Not everyone can (or wants to) be a full-time digital nomad. I’m not. I have a hybrid job and limits to when and how much I can work remotely. But even with those limits, I’ve found small windows to live more freely, and this Europe work-while-travel setup is one of the most impactful choices I’ve made for my own sense of balance.

Working into the late hours of the night can definitely be draining at times (that's what those extra slow weekdays are for). But the freedom it brings? The mental clarity of giving yourself real mornings? The joy of exploring a new city with no guilt and no PTO required? It’s worth it. Every time.

If you’re feeling stuck in your routine… if you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to travel more but my job won’t allow it”… I want you to know this: there’s a way to make it work. Even if it’s not full-time. Even if it’s just for a week or two. It’s doable, and deeply worth planning for.

Want Help Building Your Version of This?

Whether you’re working fully remote or juggling a hybrid schedule, I help travelers like you create remote-friendly travel plans that don’t disrupt your job—but do help you live more. Let’s plan your perfect work + wander experience together: PVR Planning Consultation Services

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