One of the biggest benefits of working from home is the ability to work from anywhere. As long as you're getting the job done, who really cares where it's from? I'm a huge advocate that any work-from-home creative-type not only can work from around the world, but should.
Working from around the world can inspire and influence your work in such a different way than working from the familiarity of your own home ever could. Immersing yourself in a new culture, feeling like you're on vacation (and thus less pressure to get a certain amount of work done in a set amount of time), and being exposed to different sites and scenery can give you a whole new perspective on life and in whatever it is that you do in your career. And in the end, isn't the goal to expand our perspectives and better ourselves?
You Get to Immerse Yourself in a New Culture
I don't know if it's because Toronto isn't exactly known for its rich history, or if it's some kind of placebo effect, but being in a different culture altogether gave me newfound motivation. The Icelandic lifestyle, for example, is so unbelievably slow, which stressed me out at first, having become accustomed to the fast-pace city life. But once I got comfortable with the slow pace, I was able to approach my work with a fresher, more laid-back perspective. Your environment has a much larger effect on your work style than you might think, and just like switching it up from working at your desk to working in a coffee shop benefits your work ethic and increases productivity, so does switching your location on a much larger scale.
Less Stress Because You're "on Vacation"
I like working on weekends more so than during the week. There's really no difference between working on a Wednesday and working on a Saturday, and it's not as if time freezes on the weekend, thus allowing us to get more work done. The difference is that on weekends, I don't put pressure on myself to sit at a desk for eight hours and get twenty different tasks done. It's the same case when I'm travelling. I feel like I'm on vacation and therefore don't feel pressured to get work done. Instead, I choose to work because I'm inspired and because I love what I do. It makes a great deal of difference in my productivity when I'm not pushing myself to think creatively within a structured schedule, but instead work as I become inspired.
Get Inspired by Different Scenery
Working abroad requires a conscious work-sightseeing balance. Obviously you'll want to explore as many landmarks as possible while you're in a new country, but you still need to find the time to work. Personally, I don't care for sightseeing; I'm happy sitting in a cafe just knowing I'm in a new country. If you're a sightseeing fiend, try fitting your work in during breakfast, or get a couple hours in before going to sleep at night. Travelling shouldn't be stressful, and the whole purpose is to be inspired by the city you're in. If an 8 hour tour is what's going to inspire you to write a great article or paint a beautiful picture, do it. You can always get your work done later.
During my 10-hour tours in Iceland, two women on my bus made notes every time we stopped at a new site, and jotted down extra notes as we headed to the next site. All it takes are a few brief notes to refresh your memory at the end of the day, when you can finally sit down to get your work done.
And finally, the last and best reason to work from around the world: It's an excuse to travel!