Flexible working has given many people freedom from working in the office every day, enabling them to work flexibly from home, or a coworking space, or anywhere they choose, as long as there’s WiFi! But along with a laptop and good internet connection, there are a few other items that are essential for a healthy, productive workspace set-up on the go. Here we go through the best tools to pick up to maximise your work environment, no matter where you are.
Workstation set-up
If you’re travelling between different work locations everyday - home office, cafe, coworking space - you want to make sure you can still have an ergonomic set-up for your workstation.
Photo: Pexels
Laptop stand
First you’ll need to prop your laptop up to make sure it’s at eye level, so you’re not spending the day leaning over peering down at it. Otherwise that’s a fast track to a sore neck. Propping it up on a stack of books might work at home but it’s not so useful when you’re on-the-go. Luckily you can pick up portable, eco-friendly laptop stands for a steal. From bamboo to wood to even cardboard options, these easy to pack down, lightweight stands do the trick of elevating your remote working setup without weighing down your day bag in the process.
Keyboard
Now that your laptop is up at the right height, unfortunately the keyboard and trackpad are no longer useful to you. Doh! This iswhere you’ll need to pick up a portable keyboard and mouse to complete your travel-friendly ergonomic setup. There are many slimline keyboard options available depending on your preference for size, depth, wired vs wireless and colour (because why not have a little fun with it?). Same for your choice of mouse, either wired or wireless and adaptable to your preferred size, shape and button configuration.
Another useful item to have on hand is an HDMI cord and/or adaptor for your computer. Of course you won’t need this in a cafe but often coworking spaces have extra monitors available either for free use or to hire, so if you choose the right desk you want to be ready to plug in and make use of the large screen option.
Tech tools for an easy life
So those are the essentials. Now let’s look at the add-ons and upgrades that are worth making to improve your day-to-day meetings and digital working experience.
Headphones with quality in-built microphone
Photo: Madeleine Gummer v. Mohl - Angel Investor & Sales Specialist by Sarah Herrlander
Whilst you might have a great pair of noise cancelling headphones, have you considered the quality of the microphone you’re working with? If you are in a cafe or there are no phone booths available in the coworking space, you might be at the mercy of the surrounding noise as you try to contribute to your video meeting. Investing in a good quality pair of headphones with an in-built microphone can make all the difference. Even better if you can find a pair that have noise cancellation on the microphone, so no matter what you’re dealing with your colleagues on the other end will barely hear a peep.
Portable WiFi
If you’re on the go and dialling into video calls from all sorts of unexpected locations - train stations, hotel lobbies, airports - you might want to pick up a portable WiFi dongle, or stock up on data on your phone, to ensure you won’t have to worry about being properly connected when you need to be. Even in places where free WiFi is offered the connection strength can vary in quality, so having your own reliable WiFi to hand can save you the stress of taking this gamble.
Portable Power Pack
The same goes for power points! Often available but sometimes impossible to locate just when you really need one. A portable power pack for your laptop and phone can be a lifesaver. It allows you to charge your devices on the go, so you never have to worry about running out of battery when you need it the most.
VPN
Finally, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) might be necessary if you need to access company files and data from outside the office. It encrypts your internet connection, which is something to keep in mind if you’re often switching between free WiFi at various cafes, and protects your privacy, making it much harder for hackers to access your sensitive information.
How to find the best places to work
You’ve got your set-up sorted, but now you need somewhere to work from that isn’t just at home each day. Checkout these suggestions to find the right spot for you.
Coworking Space Membership
Photo: betahaus | Kreuzberg - Berlin, Germany
If you’re a remote worker who stays in one spot but needs a break from working from home, you should seek out your local coworking space. With a range of comfortable desks, phone booths and meeting rooms to work from, fast WiFi, people to connect with and a range of other amenities, coworking spaces can be a great alternative between working from the office and home. Plus if you sign up for membership, you’ll get access to additional events, discounts and other benefits, plus it will work out cheaper than regularly using day passes.
Laptop Cafe listing platforms
You might also want to know the best cafes around where you can while away a few hours working on your laptop without any worry. There are apps for that too! Both Swurk and Maika are completely free for users and can locate nearby places where you can work for free, comfortably.
Coworking Space Booking Platforms
If you’re a digital nomad, you’re often on the go or just want a little more variety, you should check out Coworking Space Booking Platforms like One Coworking (obviously!). Giving you access to a network of coworking spaces across the world, it means with just one membership you can access lots of different spaces and find what fits best, always ensuring you’ve got somewhere to work from wherever you are.
In conclusion, having the right equipment and tools can help remote workers and digital nomads be more productive and comfortable while working from anywhere. By investing in what you need for your basic workspace set-up, ensuring your tech is reliable wherever you are, and knowing how to find the best work spots - you’ll be all set to work from anywhere with ease and efficiency. Want to get access for you or your team to hundreds of coworking spaces worldwide? Send us an email to contact@onecoworking.com
