I’ve been working remotely and travelling for a little over two years, not counting the quick stint I had in corporate last year. Since I move around a lot and bring my work with me, it’s essential to have your office with you everywhere you go.
Being a digital nomad is fun yet not without its challenges. You have the freedom to do your job, anytime and anywhere in the world. The problems that might prove overwhelming at times, such as finding cheap airfare, reliable WiFi connection and the cost of living in your next destination.
Sometimes, it’s even finding a suitable location to focus on your work. As a surfer, I’ve come to realise that working in front of a surf spot isn’t the most conducive environment for me; I usually end up surfing instead.
If you’re considering bringing work while travelling or curious how digital nomads actually work, here’s a list of my essentials for work!
Laptop
The most precious machine of them all. My livelihood is dependent on this equipment so I cannot travel without it. It’s always a good idea to invest in a quality laptop, one that has a great battery life, lightweight and gets your work done fast.
If you’re not into heavy-duty applications, a tablet will suffice, especially if you’re mostly into writing like I am. I haven’t made the switch to just owning a tablet yet because I still need my laptop for various media applications.
Recommendations? All based on my experience for the past seven years, I’ve been using Apple, I’m going with a MacBook Pro. The newer models are lightweight and have seriously long battery life. Again, it’s not about the brand but the quality and if this piece of equipment gets your work done.
Smartphone
The ease of having everything you need in all your devices is why I needed to pair my MacBook with an iPhone. I used to be a Samsung user for three years. I realised that I’ve been stressing myself too much trying to find ways to have everything I need on my laptop on my smartphone.
The newer iPhone models have drastically improved battery life and cameras. Since then, I’ve made the switch back to having everything Apple again. Synching is so easy, I wondered why I even tried making my life difficult.
As a writer, I found it essential to have a device on-the-go that you can compose from. Paper notebooks aren’t the best. They’re still added weight, and if it gets wet, you’re doomed because you probably haven’t backed it up in your laptop yet.
Backpack
As a digital nomad, your office has got to fit on your back. Having a durable, weatherproof, and theft-proof backpack protects your livelihood, aka money-making tools.
The size of your pack depends on how long you’re on the road for. I’ve been using a 20L backpack that can hold my whole nomad office and the few essentials (clothes for the road and toiletries).
I usually place the rest of my clothes in my surfboard bag, which still has space and also serves as an additional layer of protection for my surfboard.
Watch out for the continuation of this article next week as we dive into the rest of a digital nomad’s essentials.
