Boost Productivity in Paradise: Tenerife, Spain, An Ideal Workation Destination

Noise from the harbor woke me up. The cars were just being loaded onto the transport ship. I rolled out of bed and went to the balcony to see the sun rising over the ocean while eating oatmeal with fresh mango. Just another perfect day waking up in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

If someone had told me I would be going to the Canarian island to experience the most productive time of my life, I would have laughed it off. I wasn’t the kind of person who liked tropical islands (nordic freak here!) or who liked to change work settings. However, my company PhotoAiD offered me a workation in Tenerife, so I couldn’t help but give it a chance. 

And guess what: I fell in love! Both with a workation and Tenerife. 

My Tenerife workation was a time when deep relaxation met deep focus. But upon my return, I realized that it doesn’t always work out that way. My friend returned from Egypt and told me about his workation disasters: annoying insects, difficulties interacting with locals, and how those problems harmed his work concentration.

It made me think: was my productivity somehow linked to my destination?

I started to wonder whether spending time in Tenerife could enhance my work. Reflecting on many positive sides of this Canarian island, I realized that the answer was indeed yes. I found five reasons why Tenerife is an exceptional location for effective work.

What Is a Workation and How Does It Work?

You may be wondering: What is all this workation hype about?

A workation is simply working and traveling at the same time. It’s about exploring a destination while working there. But the buzz around “workation” is more than this.

According to the latest Passport Photo Online research, a workation has a profound positive impact on employees. Its study of 1,000+ Americans revealed that:

• After taking a workation, 81% of Americans experienced increased creativity at work.
• 86% of employees agree or strongly agree that a workation increased productivity.
• Going on a workation decreased the likelihood of quitting for nearly 69% of individuals.
• A workation helped 83% of respondents cope with burnout.
• Approximately 84% report increased job satisfaction after taking a workation.

Hitting workation may revolutionize your remote working experience. At the same time, the right location can maximize the result.

5 Secret Ingredients For a Perfect Workation Destination

A workation in Tenerife has many advantages, from tasting Canarian cuisine (yummy!) to hitting the black beach daily. Here I’ll focus on the benefits that can seriously up your workation game!

1. Great Weather

The Tenerife is called the “Island of Eternal Spring,” not without reason. 

The weather is sunny almost all year round: 320 days a year! Besides, the weather is incredible thanks to a Mediterranean-subtropical climate, which means temperatures are mild and stable throughout the year.

Ok, but what does this have to do with productivity?

The sunny weather may tempt you to leave the office earlier, but its advantages outweigh any drawbacks.

• Direct sunlight exposure throughout your day boosts mood, cognitive capabilities, and well-being, especially in winter. 
• Ultraviolet rays (UVR) increase the body’s production of endorphins, relieving stress and producing the feeling of euphoria.
• A significant positive correlation exists between ambient sunlight exposure and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) concentration, a key molecule involved in learning, memory, and alertness.

After all, the sunny weather outside motivates people to go out and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Doing outdoor activities in such a fantastic environment can give you a sense of accomplishment and relaxation, motivating you to finish work faster and with greater focus.

2. Natural Beauty and Outdoor Activities

Lush laurisilva forests and silent lava-sculpted moonscapes in one place? Welcome to Tenerife!

Its natural beauty dazzles. With its volcanic origins, the island has shaped an endlessly captivating natural landscape (49% protected!). You can enjoy its charm by visiting one of 43 designated natural areas, including the top and glorious Parque Nacional del Teide, Parque Rural de Anaga, Malpaís de Güímar, Parque Rural de Teno and Montaña Roja. This excellent natural setting encourages spending time outside enjoying outdoor activities like hiking and water sports. 

But why does it matter to your work efficiency? Because nature heals our bodies and minds.

According to Marc Bergman, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Chicago who coauthored a study on nature’s impact on psychological health, being outside for a little under an hour can raise happiness levels. At least a 50-minute walk in nature can improve concentration, attention, and working memory by about 20%!

So, with its abundance of flora and natural areas calling to go outdoors, Tenerife seems an ideal workation island.

3. High-speed Internet 

The Tenerife internet connection is top-notch.

Its speed in Santa Cruz is 177 Mbps, while the median speed test result is 92 Mbps. Typical internet speeds vary from 65 to 306 Mbps, and the highest broadband speed is 911 Mbps from Digi Spain Telecom. 

On top of this, Tenerife offers excellent free Wi-Fi options.

You can enjoy your work while drinking the famous café leche y leche in one of Tenerife’s cafes; most are remote work friendly. Also, you can try to work on a beach or with a scenic view of the cliffs! The Government of Tenerife installed free wireless internet spots in major tourist locations, such as the Los Gigantes cliffs area or the beaches of Troya and Fanabe.

Easy access to a reliable Internet connection is one of the main factors in reducing work-related stress. You can do your job without additional worries with proper equipment and conditions. You can discover this smooth workflow during your workation on the Canarian island.

4. Coworking Spaces

The next great digital nomad hub? Tenerife!

The digital nomad community in Tenerife, Spain, has grown exponentially since 2020. Apparently, this Canarian island works like a magnet for remote employees – both digital nomads and workationers. As a result, you can find many coworking spaces and coliving places. To name a few:

• Cactus Coliving
• Taoro Coliving 
• Oasis Coliving
• Palma Coliving 
• Igikai Coliving
• Treehouse hostel 
• Coco Coworking
• Coworking Nomad

This richness of coworking opportunities allows you to improve your work results. 

According to Harvard Business Review research, people frequently using coworking spaces experience increased productivity and overall work satisfaction. In another study, nearly half of the respondents reported that regularly going to coworking spaces improved their mental health, work quality, and productivity.

Tenerife possesses a strong remote employees community and plenty of coworking options, so it’s an excellent place to try working it out.

5. A Relaxed Lifestyle and Work Approach

Working from a Canarian island, you can immerse yourself in the Spanish lifestyle and work approach. So there are some things you should know about it.

Firstly, it’s all about slowing down. In Spain, coworkers tend to be late, deadlines change, and meetings are prolonged. Their work culture emphasizes flow, not control, so you won’t experience rushing.

Another thing is the 2-hour sacred lunchtime. It’s typically used for business meetings or “la sobremesa” – a long chat and socializing with colleagues after a meal. Spaniards value relationships over everything else, with no exception for work culture.

The Canarian lifestyle is characterized by low-stress levels and a small distance between people, even strangers. Maybe it’s influenced by great contact with nature, but people are not so watchful of the clock. You can be amazed by how calm and peaceful is the pace of life here. You may also be surprised by how close the contact is. The Tenerife people are very caring towards everyone, even foreigners and tourists. It’s the norm to treat everyone as friends. 

Working from Tenerife, you naturally soak up the Spanish and Canarian cultures. It can totally change your workflow. A peaceful mindset will help you relax in your leisure time and be calm and concentrated at work. As a result, you will gain a more significant focus instead of stressing yourself out. 

This approach may be your work-approach-changer, lasting well beyond the time of workation.

Tips for Productive Tenerife, Spain Workation

Before you book your flight, let me give you a few last tips on being productive on your Tenerife workation.

• Consider north and south. North and south are two faces of the same island. The south is a more touristic, sunny, and partying part. The north is a paradise for nature lovers and all those who want to feel like locals.
• Buy earplugs. You will thank me later. Whether you will live north or south, harbor noises, and vivid nightlife may trouble your sleep at night.
• Find places to see ahead. Make your wish list before going to Tenerife, so you won’t lose your workation time scrolling and researching the best tourist attractions. Also, you’ll avoid disappointment since some most popular places require booking. For example, to hike on Teide volcano, you had to buy a ticket at least a month ago!

A Tenerife workation has many advantages, including the island’s perfect weather, natural beauty, outdoor activities, peaceful atmosphere, and vibrant culture. It’s a unique blend of relaxation and focus that can make your work more productive and enjoyable. So if you’re looking for a workation destination that can enhance your performance and enrich your life, give Tenerife a try!

Experience it for yourself.

This article Boost Productivity in Paradise: Tenerife, Spain originally appeared on Wander With Alex. Photo Credit: [@xmagic/DepositPhotos]