7 Essential Tech Tools Designed for Digital Nomads

June 25
2019

Written by Denise Reed in Self-Improvement for Entrepreneurs

Picture this: you are at a conference with a potential customer. The meeting goes great and you seem to be on the same page regarding the company's trajectory. Your client is almost sold but they want to see some reports. That's when you realize: the documents are on your desk, thousands of miles away. This minor slip-up can potentially turn into a deal breaker depending on time constraints.

If this scenario sounds or its variation is a bit too familiar, then welcome to the life of a digital nomad. I'm sorry to break it down for you, but working remotely isn't all about relaxing on a beach with a fruity cocktail in one hand while answering emails from your phone. The reality is a bit different and it involves a lot of planning.

You need to be ready to work wherever you are. Otherwise, you risk bottlenecks in your business.

I am here to make things a bit easier for you. Here are seven tech tools for digital nomads. These tools will help you stay on top of your business whether you are on a sandy beach in Mexico, a chic tapas place in Barcelona, or the coffee shop down the street.

Tech Tools for Digital Nomads: 7 Essentials

1. Laptop with Cloud Technology

Connecting to the cloud is no longer a lucid vision in sci-fi that you don’t really grasp. It has become part of our business lives. Connecting your devices to the cloud makes your work available to you in a very flexible manner. Maybe today you are working from home, but perhaps you will be on the go tomorrow and you will need access to important documents. You don't have to physically back up your data or transfer it from one device to another. As long as you are connected to cloud storage like Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud, your data is synced.

This flexibility is vital for digital nomads as it helps them stay on top of their work and manage it on the go. The best part is: if one piece of hardware fails, get on another one! Turn it on. Login to your cloud storage. Boom! You’re working. All you need is a good Internet connection to access your data and keep your work synced up wherever you are.

2. Wifi Booster

When you are a digital nomad, many parts of your job become unpredictable. Perhaps the most pressing problems are the internet speed and the quality of your online connection. And, since connectivity is one of the crucial factors for your productivity, you might want to maximize it however possible.

Getting a travel WiFi booster is a great way of ensuring your Internet speed stays in decent parameters, allowing you to keep your working pace and deliver your project on time. Get a wireless, travel-friendly Wifi booster model that you can slide in your backpack wherever you are.

3. Kindle Paperwhite

One of the things I've learned over the years is successful entrepreneurs never stop learning. It doesn't matter if they are at the top of their industry and their company is worth millions of dollars. There's always something new you can learn - maybe a different point of view or a fresh angle on an old story.

But, carrying heavy books with you isn't ideal. You could read from your phone or laptop, but it can be very strenuous for your eyes. Been there, done that.

That's why I got myself a Kindle Paperwhite. It's sleek, lightweight and you can easily slip it in your backpack or suitcase. Not to mention, it can hold thousands of books and its battery lasts for hours on end.

4. Kindle Unlimited Subscription

Sometimes, a simple Google search won't suffice to help you do your job. When researching is part of your daily tasks, carrying around heavy books and browsing through their pages can be quite inefficient. Just imagine spending hours sifting through the pages of a book, looking for information when you could have finished everything faster with a few clicks on your Kindle and spent the afternoon enjoying a cup of coffee or adult beverage.

A Kindle subscription is a great way of streamlining your work and allowing you to access industry material, research papers, or some light reading for a small monthly fee.

5. Slack

It may sound like a cliche, but being a digital nomad can get a bit lonely. Yes, you get to travel a lot or work from the comfort of your home if you choose to, but one of the things I miss the most is being around my work colleagues.

"Oh, Denise, you don't know how lucky you are!" I can hear you cringe as you try to block the voice of your colleague talking too loudly on the phone. You are partly right. But, there are also the inside jokes and fun conversations that make you feel like you are part of a tribe. Sometimes taking a break with someone who understands what you’re going through will help you connect the dots on a project.

That's why I am using Slack to keep in touch with everyone at the office. It is a great tool for any work team, but it's especially beneficial for digital nomads and anyone working remotely. You can use various channels and privacy levels to organize your teams, communicate instantly with specific co-workers and invite third-party actors to join the conversation whenever needed. It is a chat software that was designed to serve the work team.

6. Todoist

Organizing your time is crucial when you are a digital nomad. Sure, you can't foresee every possible scenario. You should always have a plan B and C in place. But, when it comes to the essentials, you should have your to-do list written down or organized in one place/platform. Make sure your working productivity process is clear and looping in a review to keep you moving forward!

Todoist is an easy, fun way to keep all your lists together and access them whenever you need them.

7. The Right Bag with Room for Cables

When you have everything digitally covered, you might be tempted to think you can travel light and not worry about the trivial logistics of storage. There is one last thing to take care of when you work remotely: a compact, easy and comfortable way of carrying your mobile devices wherever you go. Keeping the ever-growing bundle of cables, plugs and chargers organized and easy to see doesn’t have to be a pain. It’s amazing what a simple binder clip will do to lasso a cable and keep it untangled. You might even consider JOTO Travel Gear Management Organizer this cool little thing will keep your security check simple in the airport, too.

6. Todoist

Organizing your time is crucial when you are a digital nomad. Sure, you can't foresee every possible scenario. You should always have a plan B and C in place. But, when it comes to the essentials, you should have your to-do list written down or organized in one place/platform. Make sure your working productivity process is clear and looping in a review to keep you moving forward!

Todoist is an easy, fun way to keep all your lists together and access them whenever you need them.

Get a sturdy, padded case for your devices and auxiliary (cables, headphones, mouse, keyboard, speaker,  etc.). While not a tech tool for digital nomads per se, a good bag with a digital device organizer will make a big difference when you’re on the go. Consider getting a rolling overnight bag with a charger in it. There are several on the market.

Settle in at Our Office

f you ever need to be in a fully equipped office environment with a space of your own to organize confidential meetings or work uninterrupted, consider renting a private office space on month-to-month terms or book a meeting room by the hour. We are a full-service office space serving evolved entrepreneurs and executives. We provide the perfect conditions for traveling professionals, independent workers, and anyone who is working outside a traditional office environment. Are you over the D.I.Y. office experience and the noise of a coffee shop? Are you ready to be served?

The coffee is hot (we can even steam your milk), the water is cold (may we bring it to you), and the atmosphere is relaxingly productive. Contact us today to book a tour and let us know what you need.
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