Mastering Remote Work & Travel: Essential Gadgets and Tips for the Modern Nomad
We can travel so often because Heidi and I are lucky enough to work from home. I know its not a possibility for everyone, but working from home provides us the flexibility to travel and work from anywhere. We both started working from home during the pandemic and have remained that way since. In the 3+ years we have been working remotely and traveling we have picked up a few tips, tricks, and gadgets that make working from the balcony of the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas a breeze.
1. Portable Second Screen
Working in the office I always had two screens. My work was nice enough to give me a workstation at home even before I was full time remote. Working on two screens then suddenly down to one was doable but annoying. It wasn’t long before I was searching the internet for a solution. I searched on Amazon for a portable monitor and came across the one in the link below. Its slim, light, and easy to pack in the same bag as my laptop. At its current listed price its much cheaper than when I purchased. I paid around $120, so looking at it now its deal. The second screen was a game changer. We could now work from a hotel in Vegas, or a pool deck in Miami overlooking the beach, with the same ease as working from home. If there is a power outlet and a cell connection, we can basically work from anywhere.
2. Laptop Backpack
The second screen is nice, but without a way to transport the screen and laptop securely, it doesn’t do much good. Again, I was back to the internet. I came across this backpack on Amazon and have been thoroughly impressed with it. It has ample pockets for storage and is light weight and sleek. It has a pocket that is designed for a laptop which has plenty of padding to protect the laptop from normal use of the backpack. I haven’t tested how far I could drop the backpack with a computer in it, but there seems to be ample padding for shoving it under a seat on a plane. My only real complaint is that I should not have got white, it shows all the dirt.
3. Power Strips
Most hotels now days have been updated to include USB charging points, but usually they are only by the nightstands and there are maybe 2-4 ports. What I have found extremely helpful is packing a power strip with regular outlets and the USB ports. I bring along 2 each time we go somewhere. That adds an additional 6 USB ports to what may be in the room. It also provides the flexibility of extending the outlet to basically work from anywhere in the room.
I’ll loop this one into the same category. Most electronics are now coming with the USB C charging port; however, most hotel rooms only have the standard USB ports. I found these adapters on amazon and have been working flawlessly since their first use.
4. Earbuds/Headset
There is nothing worse than getting a work call when you are not at your desk and working remotely from either an airport lounge or a coffee shop. The last thing I want to do is have everyone listen to the call or bother other people around me by speaking loudly at my computer mic to combat the noise around me. I recommend getting some sort of ear buds or headset with a mic. Air pods will work if you have them, but I use basically a gaming headset I got from Amazon. The downsides of what I use is its big and bulky but during a call it has a decent noise cancellation so all I am hearing is what is going on in the call. The mic works just fine, and I’ve never had someone accuse me of not being at my desk while using them.
5. Mousepad
The last thing that I have found to be a huge help and probably would be the most overlooked, is a mouse pad. As trivial as a mouse pad may sound, it comes in handy for often than not. A lot of desks in hotel rooms have a piece of glass on them to protect the top of the desks. Today’s computer mice use an LED light on the bottom and on a highly reflective or glossy surface, they wont work. Before, I finally purchased the mouse pad I would use the in-room magazine as a mouse pad. By the end of a day of work my wrist would be covered with ink from the magazine. For my Vegas people, the desks at the Venetian/Palazzo are the biggest offenders here. The best part of the mouse pad is it basically takes up no room in backpack.
As we continue to explore new destinations and embrace the remote work lifestyle, we’re grateful for these small yet impactful tools that have enabled us to seamlessly blend work and travel, making every adventure a productive and enjoyable experience. Whether we’re working from the balcony of a Las Vegas hotel or a beachside cafe in Miami, we’re equipped to tackle any challenge that comes our way.
