Despite our best efforts to avoid it, working while travelling is sometimes a necessity. Whether it’s because of a looming deadline or because we’re travelling specifically for work, we may sometimes need to log on while sitting in an airport, flying in the air, or just stopping for a quick break on the road.
Although not ideal, working while travelling can be comfortable with the right gear and a few handy strategies. Let’s explore the perfect accompaniments for working on the road, along with tips for staying effective and reducing stress.
Get a High-Watt Power Bank
Easily the most important thing for comfortable work while travelling is a high-watt power bank that can keep your laptop and phone going—after all, nothing is more uncomfortable than explaining that you missed a deadline due to a low battery.
Find a power bank that will both quickly charge your devices and can be quickly charged (with a high-watt wall charger) so that you can top it up before or during a trip. Finding one with multiple ports is also essential, especially if you’re planning on charging all your devices with it.
Purchase a Compact Wireless Mouse
While trackpads certainly have their use, working for extended timeframes using one is not only bad for ergonomics but can make navigating files and applications more cumbersome. To mitigate this, look for a compact wireless mouse that can be easily slipped into your laptop bag or backpack.
Ideally, this mouse should connect via Bluetooth (to avoid dongles), have a long battery span, be rechargeable and fit your hand comfortably. Unlike online casinos, where you can simply click to find the most suitable one for you, you may need to try a few options to find the mouse that is the best fit.
Carefully Select Your Accommodation
When travelling for work, you may have to spend a night or two somewhere, which can allow you to experience weird and wonderful hotels, homely Airbnbs, or whimsical guest houses. Not all of these, however, are conducive to work.
When selecting your accommodation on a work trip, make sure that you search for places with strong, uncapped, and free Wi-Fi connectivity. These places should also include dedicated workspaces and (hopefully) other amenities that will make your work easier. Balancing these things with other amenities (like a day spa) is a great way to help you experience efficiency and some R and R.
Invest in a Portable Monitor
Screen real estate is valuable, particularly when working with spreadsheets and documents, and working away from your regular desk and additional screens may be challenging. Investing in a reliable, lightweight, portable monitor is essential to combat this.
There are many of these on the market today, including some that clip neatly to the side of your laptop’s main screen. These offer extended displays, better efficiency, and less time switching windows, all for a relatively low price. Therefore, having one when travelling is a must.
Cut Out the Noise
One of the most challenging things about working while travelling is finding a quiet place to focus and get meaningful work done. Doing this in a setting like a busy airport or on a train could be almost impossible, severely damaging your productivity and possibly causing delays.
A possible solution is to purchase high-quality noise-cancelling headphones that can help block out your surroundings. Whether you wear them to stop the noise or to pump music that enables you to focus into your ears, they can help you escape—even in the middle of chaos.
Connect to the Cloud
Cloud computing has become increasingly popular since Dropbox helped make it a household concept in 2008. Since then, competitors like Microsoft (OneDrive) and Google (Google Drive) have entered the market, making cloud storage more reliable and affordable.
If your company doesn’t provide a work storage option, using the cloud to store your work files is a great way to stay connected to your information across multiple devices. This means you can continue working on your phone, tablet, or PC wherever you are and without any delay.
Be Prepared With a Mobile Kit
Although most work trips are planned well in advance, situations may arise where you need to leave at the last minute. When this occurs, wasting time searching for everything you need and making sure it is packed could result in unnecessary delays.
Having a prepacked mobile kit bag, which can be a regular laptop bag or backpack filled with the tech and gear you need to work while travelling, can mitigate these delays. Having this ready means you can slip your main laptop from your day-to-day bag into your mobile kit and hit the road at the drop of a hat.
Elevate Your Laptop on a Stand
Working on a laptop while travelling makes it easy to sit for extended periods without realizing it. In the absence of a proper desk, doing this at a table or in a seat while waiting leads to bad ergonomics and can cause unnecessary strain on your neck, shoulder, back, and even your device.
While designed to be portable, using a laptop on your lap often causes you to look down more than you should and can block intake vents for your device’s cooling. Investing in a durable, adjustable, lightweight laptop stand can help negate these instances and lead to more comfortable, efficient work.
Don’t Overpack
Despite this list providing several items you may not have packed previously, one of the best tips for working on the road is avoiding overpacking. Therefore, take inventory of all the things you need to bring and leave behind anything you are unlikely to use, such as unnecessary clothing, toiletries, and tech gear.
Only bring items that you know you will use and that will aid you in the job you will do. Everything else can be left behind so they do not burden you on your journey.
Get a Travel Router and Local Sim
Although setting up your phone as a hotspot makes life significantly easier, investing in a decent travel router can help you connect when all else fails. When shopping for one, look for one with the longest battery life and fastest speed possible.
Investing in one of these can also help if you need to travel abroad. When doing so, quickly purchase a local SIM card and some data. Putting this into your travel router should allow you to easily connect while avoiding excessive roaming fees and spotty connections.
