The Pro's Guide to Working Remotely

Does the four-hour work week really exist?

Even before the bestseller hit stores in 2007, entrepreneurs everywhere had been searching for author Tim Ferriss' elusive algorithm for the secret formula to a better, more productive life. Sadly, there's a reason it doesn't exist. For one, it's hard to get reliable Wi-Fi on the beach. And sand in your keyboard is another serious drawback.

Perhaps the biggest and most universal hurdle is that unless you've already amassed an IRA-worthy fortune, a week consisting of less than half of the work day of the average employee just isn't realistic. But what is credible is a method and strategy for working efficiently to maximize the time you do have and even stretch it out to enjoy leisure time and increased productivity.

On Tuesday I returned home from two weeks of travel in Europe. The trip was a mix of work and play, and even though I was gone 14 days, I still managed to write 14 stories, 12 of which were published. And I didn't work every day. Back in August, I was gone for almost a month and managed to bang out a little south of 20 stories, even one on traveling without a smartphone. And these aren't turn and burn pieces we're talking, either. A lot of these took days of prep and reporting. But even that can be maximized for efficiency. If you're in Europe, you're at least eight to nine hours ahead of the West Coast work flow, four to five hours ahead of the East. That means you can wake up late, enjoy a leisurely breakfast or lunch, sightsee and be back in front of the computer by the time the East Coast is signing onto Facebook. Working like this, you can get a serious jump on the news cycle — it's almost like being 15 minutes in the future. Just enough to have a slight advantage.

If you're a journalist, you can get a ton of work done before you even step foot out the door by doing your major reporting and interviewing before your trip. That way, once you're abroad, you can transcribe interviews, put together analysis and get a chance to look at the piece from 40,000 feet (no pun intended). Now you have more time to write feature pieces without feeling pressure and the time to report on breaking news as it happens.

Make sure you have a reliable Wi-Fi connection, all the plugs and converters to make your electronics work, and enough peace and quiet to focus. A good meal and a night of rest will set your head right and keep your focus up. And if you're tired, take a nap. Your body is adjusting as much as your brain is — let it.

Being "removed" also forces a degree of autonomy and a pressure that can be like a dangling carrot. Getting your work done will alleviate any guilt you may feel. With that out of the way, you can enjoy a nice, leisurely dinner. And maybe afterward, come back and check your emails. Then go to sleep.

I asked three other heavy travelers to share their work routine. Below is a taste.

SEE ALSO: 21 Travel Tumblrs for Jet-Setters

John E. DiScala is the editor-in-chief of JohnnyJet.com. The self-styled travel insider seems to spend as much time in airports, planes and hotel rooms as Anthony Bourdain. At least 20 countries a year by his estimation, yet he still manages to find time to tweet, post and blog about his adventures. His first tip: Don't fight jetlag.

"I know I'm usually going to wake up at 2 a.m. and instead of staring at the ceiling for hours, like I used to, I now work for two to three hours then go back to sleep for a couple of hours," he said in an email from Monaco. "I'm productive now."

Travel essentials for DiScala include a great laptop, organized email subfolders and the ability to message offline with Outlook. And he doesn't let a moment pass, even if he's stuck waiting for a flight. "I have a Gogo inflight email account, Boingo Wireless account for airports, 3M Privacy filter and a Verizon card for domestic trips like busses and trains."

Boston native and Los Angeles transplant Zach Servideo, principal at theMIX agency, a communications firm based in San Francisco, uses exercise to get his day off to a strong start.

"Wake up early and work out," Servideo says, pointing out the benefit of location and flexibility when traveling."Don't just work at one desk all day. Take advantage of working from home. Make a call from your porch, take a stroll down the corner."

For day-to-day chatting with his co-workers, Servideo uses Skype and video chat services to "keep our communication frequent and intimate. In a lot of ways, I work more closely with my team virtually than I did when I was in a larger office."

Sarah Evans, social media maven and chief evangelist at Tracky, has lived in Chicago and Las Vegas and traveled throughout North America in mobile office mode. Like DiScala and Servideo, she advocates listening to your body to maximize efficiency while also stressing the importance of communication between employees, no matter where they are physically. Here's her very detailed take:

1. Use a project management and collaboration system. This is especially important in helping to eliminate massive email trails, aggregate comments in the same place you discuss a task.

2. Give yourself several, quick breaks throughout the day. When you're working alone, you can forget to step away from your computer, phone or tablet. A quick break every one to two hours is actually an investment in your productivity. A refreshed mind is less likely to make mistakes and lose focus.

3. Bring backup batteries. Investing in products like Mophie for smartphones or for your laptop reduces the chances you'll run out of power if you're working remotely.

4. Create an instant messaging account that only your co-workers have access to. Keep a chat window pulled up during the day so they can message you for things that don't necessitate an email or phone call.

5. Communicate what you're getting done. Use that project management system to update your superiors and/or teammates about what you're accomplishing.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, RBFried