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:
- 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, 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 for only what you truly need
- Work environments that often beat out your city desk
** The following guide contains various affiliate links that provide a small kickback to us, at no additional cost to you **
Van Life with a Full Time Job Explained
I work as a software engineer at a large corporate company while living full time on the road. This guide is dedicated to sharing how I do that successfully. After much (internal) debating, I decided the best way to go about sharing my tips, resources, and learnings around having a full time job while living on the road was to answer the questions I get most on Instagram. Additionally, of course, I will share some of the basics.
If you have additional questions, please add them in the comments section and I will answer them- I am very passionate about making life on the road more accessible.g
How do you get internet 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. Lucky for you, I have written an entire guide to what I personally use as my van life internet solution. I use a 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.
Complete Guide to Van Life Internet
Learn More
Do you tell your boss that you are van life-ing 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!
Just Starting your Van Build?
Check out our Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Van Layout
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 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 drive 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 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. Let me have learned this one the hard way for you.
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
✉️ Join our mailing list for more content!
🙏🏽 If you are looking for more 1:1 van build help, we are here to help via Consulting or Travel Van Building.
[Start Here] Beginner Guides:
Comments 2
This is great, I was desperately looking for such content!
Great article on how engineers are embracing van life while juggling full-time jobs!