Gen Z, Millennial Australians embracing ‘bleisure’ WFH craze in Bali
Young Aussies are jumping on to a new working trend that doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice their time for wanderlust. See how they’re doing it.
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Young Aussies are taking “working from home” to a whole new level, trading their lounge-office set up for the beaches of Bali.
Few employers would have expected that allowing workers to do their job remotely would mean bikini-clad zoom meetings in the tropics. But the 2023 Changing Traveller report from Siteminder shows Gen Z and Millennial Aussies are leading the charge to embrace the global “bleisure” craze.
Bleisure combines business and leisure to work remotely from holiday-worthy destinations, and under 42’s make-up 68 per cent of the travel trends’ Aussie enthusiasts.
And the lifestyle takes little from the backpacking experiences of their parents’ generation. Still earning their salaries in Australian dollars, young bleisure enthusiasts have the means to splurge on bells and whistles.
Wellness coach Phoebe Greenacre said she hasn’t looked back since quitting her nine-to-five office day in Sydney.
“I spent my 30th birthday in Bali dreaming that I could make my life there one day,” the 39-year-old said.
She’s now living out that dream, working remotely and leading an enviable tropical lifestyle in Bali with her young family.
“Warm weather, cheap cost of living, riding on motorbikes … I could go on!”
The Siteminder report released late last month analysed surveys of more than 10,000 travellers, and found the bleisure trend takes little from the backpacking experiences of the baby boomer generation who took time off work to backpack.
Siteminder’s Chief Growth Officer Trent Innes said young working travellers were steering away from budget youth hostels and opting for boutique or luxury hotels.
But for those who prefer to take their cocktail hour and meetings on separate premises, wellness-focused work spaces are popping up to cater to the new generation of workers.
Alongside typical office fixtures such as internet and meeting rooms, ‘B-work’, a Bali co-working space, provides wellness-loving clients with an in-office pool and a yoga rooftop space.
“Our founders had the vision to create a space that offers workspace, wellness, programs/events, and community in order to serve the ideal work-life balance,” a B-work spokesperson said.
“Our members are mainly 25-35 years old, so it serves between Gen Z and Millennials.”
Aussies are flocking to join the Bleisure trend. In 2023, the number planning to work remotely abroad doubled to 2.7 million.
‘IT’S FAR FROM A BREEZE’
For Phoebe Greenacre, remote working during the lockdowns opened up a world of new possibilities. She says many Aussies realised they could work effectively without going to a physical office, so why not have a postcard worthy lifestyle at the same time?
“Younger Australians prioritise work-life balance, travel, and technology more than their parents‘ generation, which aligns with their growing interest in remote working abroad.”
She says leaving behind the traditional setup isn’t without its sacrifices, but working from the tropics is doable for most Aussies.
“Don‘t even get me started on how social media can make it look like a breeze – it’s far from it! But hey, with the right mindset and determination, it’s absolutely achievable.“
‘I CRAVED A VILLA WITH A POOL’
Ash Jarra, a social media marketer, was enjoying an escape from Melbourne winter when she realised she could make her retreat to the tropics permanent. “As soon as the sun hit me I knew I’d found my place,” the 29 year old says. “I craved a private villa with a pool. The warmer weather motivates me so I see this as a smart business move.”
All Ash needed to work remotely from Bali was her laptop, so full time work-from-paradise was a no-brainer.
“I wake up with the sun, no alarms … letting the natural light wake up my body. From there I’ll do a yoga class and have breakfast at a local cafe.”
Ash says places like Cangu in Bali have become ‘like a coworking hub in the street’.
Ash believes the trend shows young Aussies have different priorities to their parents. Rather than climb the corporate ladder, they want a lifestyle they don’t need to take a holiday from.
“Work life balance is a big thing in the younger generation,” she says.
“I could never hold a ‘real job’ for longer than a year because I’d always quit when I couldn’t get annual leave. I always believed that there was something else out there for me … I needed the freedom to travel when I wanted.”
‘GETTING WORK DONE AND CLOCKING OFF’
Cassie Crowser, a virtual assistant from the Sunshine Coast worked remotely from Bali for two months last year. She loved it so much, she‘s already planning her next bleisure trip.
“We‘re getting our work done and then clocking off to go enjoy the rest of our day – heading to the beach, hiking to a waterfall, going snorkelling,” she says of the dreamy lifestyle.
“I do a workout, head to the beach for a swim … I then head to a cafe or coworking space to smash out my work. Then knock off in the afternoon to enjoy the rest of my day.”
Cassie is not surprised that the number of young Aussies planning to work remotely from an overseas location has doubled to 2.7 million.
She says the flexible, cruisy lifestyle of working in Bali is unmatched.
“You head to a cafe and there are so many others working from their laptops, it‘s the norm!”
Cassie says the bleisure trend shows young Aussies have different priorities to their parents. Rather than climb the corporate ladder, they want a lifestyle they don’t need to take a holiday from.
“We‘ve watched our parents work so hard for so many years, only to start living once they retire, which is never guaranteed.”
“We‘ve learned that it doesn’t have to be that way … it’s about creating a life that aligns with our passions and values, and remote work offers us that opportunity.”
BLEISURE RULES IN BALI
1. Don’t show off
Minimise the distraction of your drool-worthy vistas and set up a professional background for zoom meetings. This will also help you avoid long explainers of where you are and why, which can drag out meetings.
2. Hit that camera
Communicating face-to-face is crucial to staying connected with your team when working remotely, so make sure you don’t get tempted to switch off your camera.
3. No pool wear
Business casual attire gives off the best impression in virtual meetings, so at least throw a shirt over the top of your bikini.
4. Check the time
When different time zones are thrown into the mix, it’s important to check time differences and schedule meetings and deadlines with consideration for your clients or colleagues who aren’t so lucky to working from a resort.
5. It’s not a holiday (really)
Don’t let holiday mode slip into your work routine. Answer emails promptly. be on time for meetings and set up a workplace that’s not poolside.
Originally published as Gen Z, Millennial Australians embracing ‘bleisure’ WFH craze in Bali
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