"Workations" and Writing

I had a dream of going abroad to write, and in 2018, I spent nearly 3 months in Los Angeles, California, USA.

“I love to combine writing with traveling and yoga.”

Can you really combine work and vacation? If you are organized, focused, ready to flex and stretch your limits, it is possible. For a creative job, such as writing, a change of scenery can even boost your creativity.

In May 2018, I traded my office cubicle/home office for two writing retreats in L.A. The first one in Venice came right after a 2-week vacation in the area and the second in Santa Monica was coordinated with a conference at Cali State North. When I got tired of working from my Airbnb homes, the local coffee shops were perfect for writing. When off from work, I loved exploring the restaurants, beaches, yoga studios, art galleries and shops in the neighborhood.

With that said, I actually spend most of my time reading and writing, and I nearly completed the second chapter of my dissertation in Venice. During my last days, I confessed to one of my room mates, Sean, that being a workaholic, I actually had not seen much of Venice except the beaches, the bike trails, Erewhon, the yoga studios and done one short visit to San Francisco. Before I left, I made sure to visit the famous canals, which is a must see in Venice Beach, the art galleries and 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

Lucky for me, I was fortunate to return for a second writing retreat in chic Santa Monica already in October and November. During this stay, I worked on the third chapter "The Wolf Girl" of my dissertation and taught an online course for master students. My next writing retreat is still in the making, as I am not sure when or where I would like to go yet, but of course, I am dreaming.