Packing For Digital Nomads
Think you’re ready to hit the road working from anywhere? Don’t forget all the things you’ll need to bring with you to keep efficient. I quit my desk job in July of 2015 and have been working from home as well as on the road during travels ever since. Today, I wanted to share my ideas for travel necessities when you’re packing for digital nomads:
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I have a super-fab, dual-monitor setup in my home office. But for when I am on the road, I have to have a laptop to work. Tablets just don’t cut it for me. I’ve got to type a LOT with my blog as well as my freelance writing assignments, so I love the clicking of a legit keyboard, plus, sometimes I have a ton of tabs open, and I need the hard drive memory that most affordable laptops can provide.
As a digital nomad, it’s imperative that you don’t go on a trip without bringing your business cards with you. You never know who you might run into, and it’s a fantastic way to exchange contact information with other location independent workers you may meet along the way! I made my freelance writer business cards myself using Moo, and I LOVE them. I get compliments from everyone I hand them to.
a collapsible water bottle
Staying hydrated has always been a struggle for me. My inner international nasty girl straight up just wants an IV of Coke Zero. But when I’m not letting her win (which should be way more often), I’m slamming water because we all know, deep down, we are supposed to. Traveling AND staying hydrated is REALLY hard for a fool like me, so when I discovered that collapsible water bottles were even a thing, I was in heaven.
I love comedy, and I love women in comedy. If you’re looking for plane reading entertainment from other hard working women, check out these hysterical and witty books by comedy goddesses Mindy Kaling, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
I know being a digital nomad should mean you pack light, but I’m still a huge fan of notebooks, especially when it comes to Moleskin. I.LOVE.THEM. I have loved this company for years. They have personalized notebooks, specially themed, limited edition notebooks, and most importantly – they are the embodiment of our modern society’s creatives and were used by people like Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Ernest Hemingway! I know I’ve said this before, but I just get so warm and fuzzy inside when I think about Moleskin and I think everyone should have one, especially digital nomads on the road. They’ve got a great, tiny notebook that has a pen that fits right inside the notebook, then right inside your pocket!
Because airlines have started to transition into charging for carry-ons, I’ve been becoming a fan of just checking everything (and with many airlines, checking luggage has become more affordable or even free). If you’re a packing for digital nomads, I highly suggest hard-shell luggage. Knowing my laptop, other valuable electronics, liquids, plus any fragile items I may pick up on my travels are secure is a HUGE relief. And if I have a quick weekend trip where I’ll be packing lightly, I toss in a small pillow for an extra cushion additional protectiveness! This also comes in handy if you need a prop for your tush if you’re working somewhere with a hard surface. (Sometimes, you never know where you may end up desk-setup wise).
Guys, I’m a big proponent of good sleep. I desire a lot of it. Wanting more of it was part of why I left my desk job, so I refuse to sink back into bad habits of sleeping less than 7 hours a night (I used to go to work on 2-6 hours, every single day, and sleep all weekend). Unfortunately, I’ve got a fun case of acute insomnia that sneaks up on me about every 4-weeks or so. Especially when traveling, I use a white noise machine app on my phone and I always wear sleep eyewear. It makes a huge difference!
No, seriously! You can find cute ones, too! And before you judge- A few years ago after an ankle surgery, I had a terrifyingly huge DVT that turned into multiple, bilateral pulmonary emboli (super scary blood clots in my lungs)! So, these are a must for me when I fly. But, before you start doubting you need them yourself, just know that there are studies out there showing people who wear compression socks when they fly on long flights actually do decrease their chance of getting one of these bad boys. It’s a good idea to wear them, especially on flights, to be extra safe, at any age!
My earbuds were killing me, so for flights I got some vibrant and funky headphones instead. I especially love these because if I am working at a public space or a friends’ house while I am visiting from out of town, this tells them I’m in a do-not-disturb mode. It’s super important to set boundaries with friends and family when you work your own schedule.
Being a digital nomad doesn’t give you a pass for skipping out on paying attention to your health. In comes the Flex by fitbit. These little puppies can keep track of your sleep and your steps. That way, if you get caught up in the day-to-day while you’re out working on your location independent job, you can automatically be synced to your computer so you never forget about your health. Even if it means dancing around your office or hotel room to just one song to get your steps for the day up.
OK digital nomads, did I miss anything on this list of packing for digital nomads? what’s your essential need-to-have when traveling and working from anywhere?
Packing For Digital Nomads
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great . thanks for sharing