Workation by zflys
A workation is not a vacation with a laptop.
It’s a test: of focus, team dynamics — and sometimes even of heating systems.
What we learned on the Croatian coast — and what other teams can take away from it.
A blog post by Melanie Lindorfer and Andrea Aistleitner.
January wind. Salt in the air. A house right by the sea.
That’s how the kind of trip begins that looks like “remote work dreams” on Instagram.
In reality, it begins for us with a heater that has decided it unfortunately won’t be part of the team today.
And that’s where the first truth about workations already lies: they’re not just an extended home office with a prettier view.
They are a deliberate break from everyday life and the comfort zone. A change of location makes things visible. Routines don’t work automatically. Communication becomes more direct. Teams become more honest.
A workation isn’t just a change of scenery — it’s also a reality check.
The heater that became the main character
The house was beautiful. The sea right outside the door. The perfect setting for focus. Only: it was cold.
The pellet stove didn’t work. And not just a little — it really didn’t work.
What followed was a heating-system sitcom in five acts: someone came by four or five times. Technicians arrived, tinkered, made phone calls, sighed. On the final visit, the technician even brought his wife and daughter along — not as part of the repair crew, but as translation backup, since he barely spoke any English himself.
Suddenly, there we were: a Croatian family trio in the living room, our pets right in the middle of it all, everyone laughing at the absurdity of the situation — except the heater, which remained steadfastly unimpressed.
In the end, we had to move — further north, into a different house.
And honestly? It wasn’t bad at all. More space. More quiet. Less postcard perfection.
And that’s exactly what a workation is:
You plan for focus — and get improvisation instead.
And that’s when you see how a team really functions.
Enough reading.
A workation doesn’t mean a break — it means a different rhythm.
What many underestimate: a workation isn’t less work.
We really worked a lot. We only went out to dinner with clients once; otherwise, we almost always cooked for ourselves. Not out of asceticism, but because we didn’t want to lose the flow.
The work didn’t stop. It just didn’t always feel like work.
That’s one of the biggest differences:
A workation doesn’t change the amount of tasks. It changes the quality of attention.
Small rituals, big impact
For a change of location not to turn into a constant distraction, it takes structure.
For us, a few simple rituals proved effective:
- short morning check-in
- clear focus blocks without multitasking
- real breaks (yes, without “just quickly checking emails”)
- evening mini-reflection: What went well? What was challenging?
Not spectacular. But effective.
Sometimes the best ideas don’t emerge in a meeting room, but in an improvised living room — with a heated blanket and salt air in your head.
The stories in between: oysters and thieving seagulls
The strongest workation moments rarely happen in the planned workshop.
For example, on the pier — oysters were growing there.
And there’s a photo we’ll never forget: our Mellie holding Alessa by the legs so she could safely climb down to collect the oysters.
A little absurd. Very human. Completely unforgettable.
Scenes like these aren’t just side notes. They’re team culture in real time.
Shared improvisation builds trust faster than ten perfect one-on-one conversations.
One morning, we were in Zadar: shopping, grabbing coffee, and of course shooting content. Freshly stocked with snacks from the bakery, we strolled through the old town.
And then something happened that probably only happens in places with very self-confident seagulls: one flew straight at Alessa from behind.
And then: snap.
The wrap was gone. Snatched right out of her hand. In one swift motion.
There was a lot of squealing, screaming, complete disbelief.
Alessa instinctively hid behind Mellie as if she had just survived a small dinosaur attack. (Alessa’s note: IT BASICALLY WAS!)
And it’s exactly in moments like these that you realize:
You can plan as well as you like — life will still sometimes swoop in from behind.
The most important part happens after the workation
A workation doesn’t end with the drive home.
The biggest mistake would be to come back and immediately disappear into everyday life again, as if nothing had happened.
Because the real impact only begins afterward:
When you truly carry the energy, the clarity, and the small insights forward — not as a nice feeling, but as a concrete change.
At zflys, that’s why we consciously try to close the loop after a workation:
- What helped us as a team?
- Which rituals do we want to keep?
- What revealed itself in our collaboration?
- And what will we actually implement within the first week?
These can be small things:
A new meeting format.
A clearer communication rule.
A piece of content that gets published right away.
Or a process adjustment that’s tested immediately.
Otherwise, in the end, a workation remains just a nice photo in hindsight — instead of a real shift in everyday life.
A change of scenery is easy. Integration is the real work.
What other teams can take away from it
A workation doesn’t work because the location is beautiful.
It works because it triggers something:
- new perspectives
- more honest conversations
- less autopilot
- more genuine togetherness
And yes: sometimes heating drama or seagull attacks.
But those disruptions are exactly the gift.
They show how resilient a team truly is — and what remains when nothing goes perfectly.
FAQ
Is a workation simply remote work by the sea?
No. Remote work relocates work.
A workation deliberately changes dynamics, communication, and collaboration.
What does it take for a workation to become truly productive?
Clear goals, a gentle rhythm, and enough space for real breaks and conversations.
Without structure, it quickly becomes just a change of scenery.
What is the biggest mistake after a workation?
Letting everything fizzle out.
The most important learnings need to be translated into everyday practice within the first week — otherwise, it remains just a beautiful memory.
Takeaways
What makes a good workation
- A workation isn’t a vacation — it’s a change of context with impact.
- Structure is what makes freedom productive in the first place.
- The best team moments happen between the tasks.
- Friction isn’t a flaw — it’s learning material.
- Sustainability only begins after the return.
Sea view is beautiful.
But real clarity often emerges precisely when something doesn’t go according to plan.
