The 6 Ultimate Tech Toolkit for Working Wonders While Wandering

Last Updated: July 18th, 2024

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While the outside world may think that digital nomads are on perpetual vacation, sipping cocktails on the beach, the truth is that this lifestyle can be stressful, chaotic, and, most of the time, not work-friendly. Having the right tools at your fingertips will help you stay on task no matter the circumstances. So, what is the essential toolkit of a working wanderer? Let’s find out.

6 Essential Tools for Every Working Wanderer

1. An eSIM app

eSIM app

Staying connected at all times should be a priority for any digital nomad. After all, you work and communicate over the internet. Losing your connection would make your life much more difficult or even lead to losing your remote job—and you wouldn’t want that, would you?

You can use your country’s mobile data plan in most parts of the world, but the roaming prices are horrendous. The only solution is to get a local SIM card that will allow you to access mobile internet at affordable local prices, but that’s a whole new problem. Getting a new card means looking for a kiosk or store, talking to vendors who speak different languages, fumbling with SIM trays in your device, and the list goes on.

But you don’t have to do all that. Let’s say you’re traveling to Japan and need a local data plan to use the internet and pay a reasonable price for it. With an eSIM Japan app, you can simply choose a country with your preferred data plan, and you’re good to go. Once you land in Japan, you’ll be able to use an affordable local data plan. No kiosks, no awkward communication attempts, and no roaming prices.

2. Power adapter(s)

Let’s be honest: How many of us have forgotten at least once that different countries have different standards for electrical outlets? Even many experienced travelers will shyly admit that they still forget this. And access to electricity, like the internet, is an absolute necessity for a digital nomad.

Of course, you can always buy an adapter when you land, but why do that when you can just bring your own? Buying an adapter every time you visit a region with a specific outlet standard means you’ll soon be left with dozens of the same kind of adapters. What a waste of money and plastic. Not to mention that your electronic devices may need to be charged before you have a chance to visit a store. Trust us, you don’t want to be left with a dead phone in a foreign country.

Instead of relying on buying essentials locally, remember to bring them with you. Power adapters are tiny and will easily fit in your carry-on luggage.

3. Power banks

Power banks

Speaking of electricity and dead phones, have a (charged) power bank with you for emergencies. It’s such a small device, but it can save your life, figuratively speaking. It’s not even about work, although if you want to complete some tasks in a remote location, a portable power source will be helpful. But it’s mainly about safety—a power bank will ensure that you’re never left with a dead phone and no way to communicate in a foreign place.

4. Communication and productivity apps

When you work while traveling, life can become very chaotic. You’re in an unfamiliar place, people try to talk to you in a language you don’t understand, the culture is different, and everything is overwhelming. Maintaining focus, organization, and professionalism in such an environment can be difficult but not impossible.

Find the right apps for your needs. The choices are countless, for example:

  • Slack for communicating with your team and organizing your work
  • Trello for managing and sharing tasks and deadlines in an organized way
  • Evernote for taking solid notes shared across devices
  • Google Services (mainly Drive, Docs, and Sheets) for cloud storage and cloud-based office programs,
  • Pomodoro Timer for blocking out time slots for work and rest and reminding you to focus

There are also several communication apps to choose from: MS Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and others. These are not essential for everyone, but if you work with clients, at least one of them will be useful.

5. VPN (Virtual Private Network)

VPN Virtual Private Network

A VPN is a tool that helps to ensure privacy, security, and access to geo-blocked content from anywhere in the world, making it ideal for any working wanderer.

Privacy

A VPN masks your IP address, making it much harder for others to track you. Online tracking is now commonplace because advertisers want to gather data about your online habits and personalize their ads. Using a VPN to surf the internet means that no company will know what you’re looking for and use it for their benefit.

Security

These days, an internet connection is as common as electricity, and in cities, you can easily find public Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, airports, and hotels. The problem is that these hotspots are not always secure. They are attractive to hackers due to the high number of daily users, making it easier to steal data.
By connecting to the internet through a VPN, you can stay safe, even if you have to use a public Wi-Fi hotspot. A VPN will encrypt your data, making it worthless to potential hackers.

Geo-blocked content

Some websites place their content behind a wall that only residents of certain areas can pass through. This can be problematic if you want to access local content from your country, but there’s a way around it. A VPN will change your IP address to one that is located anywhere you want, including your home country, helping you stay connected.

6. External storage devices

Finally, don’t forget to back up your data externally from time to time when you’re abroad. Devices can get lost, stolen, or damaged, so it’s important to have a backup. You can use a cloud storage service like Google Drive to store your data securely, or if you prefer to work offline, bring along a few external hard drives or USB sticks.

Backing up your work data can save you a lot of stress, but let’s not forget that the digital nomad lifestyle is not only about work—it’s mainly about travel and experiences. Create backups of your photos and videos so you don’t lose precious memories due to some random factor.

About The Author

WayToStay.com was founded in 2021 by Lewis Ogden. After being frustrated by the lack of a dedicated resource for epic travel guides and finding unique hotels with a difference, he decided to create one!

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WayToStay

WayToStay.com was founded in 2021 by Lewis Ogden. After being frustrated by the lack of a dedicated resource for epic travel guides and finding unique hotels with a difference, he decided to create one!

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