Can you do Van Life with a Full Time Job?
Yes, you can do van life with a full time job! I did it for 2.5 years, and in this guide I am sharing how. While your experience will not be identical to the “freedom” of van life that you see on social media – I promise it will be just as rewarding.
In this guide, I will share:
Our Experience
Why should I be giving you tips to doing van life with a full time job? Well, I, Colby, had a full time job the entire 3 years that we did “full time” van life! I am remote software engineer. Throughout our full time van life stint, I worked for two different engineering teams that operated differently. Needless to say, I have a lot of experience navigating the various challenges of remote work from a camper van.
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Is van life with a full time job right for you?
Pursuing Van Life with a full time job is going to come with challenges. These challenges will include:
- Often working a full day and then spending the rest of your “free time” driving
- Van Life logistic stressors on top of your work stress (where will you sleep, do you need water/power?)
- Lack of a stable environment and reliable services like internet, bathroom, QUIET, etc
- Potential FOMO of van lifers you meet who don’t have full time jobs
- Awkward work spaces (parking lots, rest stops, etc)
- Epic lunch break hikes, runs, adventures, etc
- Extremely close proximity to adventures for your non work time
- Emphasis and appreciation of what you truly need in to thrive
- Work environments that often beat out your city desk
How do you get reliable internet / WiFi as a van lifer?
This is absolutely the most common question that I get about working from the road. It is also probably the question that puzzled me the most when beginning my van life journey. Luckily for you, I have spent countless time researching and testing options for you.
The best option for reliable internet on the road? A Peplink Dual Modem Router along with a strong roof-mounted MIMO antenna. I do have Starlink which I use in the desert, but it is not quite reliable elsewhere. Working full time on the road requires reliable connection, which is different from fast connection. Right now, cellular signal provides reliable connection, while Starlink delivers fast connection but not consistently.
Do you tell your boss that you are doing van life with your full time job?
Did I tell my boss(es) that I do van life? Yes.
Do I know people who have never told their bosses? Also, yes.
This one is a tough one to answer because it depends on a couple of things. First and foremost, it depends on the actual HR policy for remote work that your specific position has. I highly recommend this as a starting point for not only if you need to tell your boss, but for where you can work from. For example, I am limited to my home country (USA) excluding 3 states. If the policy for your position does not require you to share where you are working from, then it is a personal decision.
I, of course, have to add a disclaimer, that I am not qualified to tell you if you need to tell your boss that you are doing van life. The above has just been my experience personally, and based on my conversations with others in the space.
What is the best work setup for a campervan?
Being comfortable is of utmost importance for anything that you do 8+ hours a day. The best work setup in a van build begins with an ergonomic work station(s). I personally suggest multiple ergonomic options, as you will most likely move around during the day. Below are some ergonomic van life work space considerations:
- Counter heights should be built so that your elbows bend at 90 degrees when used as a “standing desk”
- Seat heights should be built so that your feet firmly touch the ground and your knees bend at 90 degrees
- Seat backs should have a slight obtuse angle (this one is huge, trust me), ours are at about 15 degrees
In addition to the proper ergonomics, you should be sure to include everything that makes you feel productive when working from an office. For me, this is a secondary monitor, external mouse, external keyboard, and laptop stand. Again, this is something you are doing 8+ hours a day, there is no reason to skimp!
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My 'Work From Van' Setup
Below is my personal “work from van” setup, that I absolutely LOVE after much trial and error. The biggest setup hack I want to point out here is the portable monitor / portable monitor stand. I originally started with a mounted external monitor, but I quickly learned a few things. First, I work from multiple different spots in the van and only having a second monitor in one spot is a no go. Second, most external monitors, if not portable, need AC power. It’s not usually too much of a power draw, but having to keep the inverter on is a ghost drain on power. And lastly, the monitor mounted on the wall was just bulky and in the way.
Tips for Balancing Van Life with a Full Time Job
I would be lying if I said I didn’t get jealous of other van lifers that we meet who don’t work a 9-5 job. Their freedom seems like a dream. However, the grass isn’t always greener. A lot of times, van lifers that don’t work a 9-5 are busting their butts to make a livable income 24/7 x 365 working for themselves. So, my first tip is to try and not spend time being envious of other living/working situations you see on the road. If you can make this (hard) mindset shift, it will make a worlds difference.
Now, on to some practical tips.
How to make time for driving
There will absolutely be days where all that you do is work and drive. Personally, I have found it better to have 1-2 days a week where we dedicate to driving long distances, and then sit in one place for the remainder of the week. The other option is to do a little bit of driving each day but I find this taxing on my mental health as the process of getting the van ready to drive takes time out of the day in itself.
Additionally, I want to add the importance of protecting one of either your morning, or your night. Driving both before, and after work, will quickly drain you. So, either get up early and get 5 hours of driving out of the way before work, or send it through the night.
How to live / work / have fun in the same 70 sq ft
Living in a space as small as a campervan is already a tough endeavor! So adding the need for your bedroom, kitchen, and living space to also be your office makes it even more difficult- especially when work is stressful. Here are some tricks I learned to make it a bit easier:
- Put all of your work stuff completely away when your work day is over
- Create mental separation, for example if you have a partner, have them ask you “how was your day at work today”
- Treat yourself to a coffee shop, or a library occasionally for a change of scenery
- Establish a routine as best as possible that works to bookend your day (ie get outside!)
- Put your phone as far away (as possible)
- Actually take a lunch break, ideally outside
How to focus with a constantly changing environment
Learning to focus with the constantly changing environment that van life brings about will have a learning curve. My biggest tips here are to invest in really good noise cancelling headphones, be patient with yourself, and put in the work to create a space you enjoy.
For noise cancelling headphones, I love my Jabra Evolve 75 ($$) headphones, and I have heard great things about the Bose Quiet Comfort ($$$).
Remote Work Options for Van Lifers
You do not need a fully remote job to live van life. In fact, you can absolutely work a job in an office and be a van lifer. We did this for about 6 months in Portland, Oregon. However, we frequently get asked how to acquire a remote job to begin living life on the road, so we wanted to provide a few suggestions:
- Find a job in the tech industry
- Filter jobs in your search engine of choice by “Remote”
- Ask your current employer (you’d be surprised how they might react, especially if you are valuable)
- Utilize Remote Job Boards
- HalfHalf
- LinkedIn (with Remote checked)
- WorkingNomads
- Basecamp Free Newsetter
We hope this helps you begin your van life with a full time job!
Thanks for being here! Happy building!
Eric + Colby
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Comments 3
My husband is a software engineer and already works remote but he’s scared to travel because he doesn’t think he would be able to work effectively and comfortably. This website was actually super helpful.
This is great, I was desperately looking for such content!
Great article on how engineers are embracing van life while juggling full-time jobs!