One of the most freeing aspects of remote work is choosing when, where, and how you want to work. However, freedom also has its downsides, even if you're working from the beach.
Whether it is your job is to write, code, or design digital products, you still have to produce good output when working remotely. However, it's not always easy to do so, especially when your environment is not conducive for it.
If you're planning to work from the beach, here are some tips to make your job even easier.
1. Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot Device
When it comes to working remotely, one of the most critical things that you will need anywhere is an internet connection. This can pose a challenge for those working from beaches, especially because the internet may be intermittent or non-existent.
Knowing this, a device that allows you to have internet access everywhere, such as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, is extremely convenient.
2. Noise-Cancelling Headphones or Earbuds
To get rid of distractions caused by people making noise, you need to either use headphones that will isolate sounds completely or earbuds that are comfortable enough but still cancel some background noise.
While you can get the sound of the waves crashing around you, you might also get distracted by a group of partying tourists. Thankfully, there are plenty of headphones and earbuds with active noise cancellation.
3. Portable Folding Chair
While it's possible to camp down in a restaurant or hotel, not all beaches will have facilities like chairs or tables. To make sure you're always ready to work anywhere, you need a strong and sturdy chair that can easily be folded and put back in your bag as soon as you're done working.
4. Device Power Bank
To ensure your devices are always ready to go, you should always bring a power bank with you. With this, you can charge your devices at least once during the day. You want to avoid missing out on any important calls or messages because your laptop ran out of battery, and there weren't enough places near where you were sitting to recharge it.
Thankfully, these days, power banks aren't just for keeping your mobile phones charged. There are also options for power banks that are capable of charging your laptop as well. With this, you'll never be caught off-guard without battery on the road again.
5. Plug Adapter & Power Strip
If you like traveling to different countries while working remotely, they might not always match the default plugs for your devices. Even if you can plug in your laptop, chances are it will be very hard to find a free outlet for your laptop or even mobile phone. You can solve this issue with a plug adapter that comes with several plug options.
Additionally, one of the most common mistakes that digital nomads do when working on the road is not packing their power strip. Power strips are crucial if you want to be able to use more than one device with a different plug, and can help extend the proximity that you may need to be near a plug.
6. Waterproof Gadget Bags
When it comes to life on the road, unexpected things happen a lot. In some cases, this can be rain coming down hard while you're riding a bike from the beach to your apartment. To protect your gadgets from possible water damage, you should put them in waterproof bags.
Waterproof bags also prevent tiny particles like dust or sand from entering your device ports. While this doesn't sound like a big deal, this can affect your laptop or mobile phone battery and overall performance.
7. Laptop Locks
When you're a digital nomad, you're not always around people that you trust. Whether it's at the hostel you are bunking at or at the beach side café that you're working from, there's always a chance that someone grabs your laptop while you're taking a quick toilet break.
To secure your laptop, you should use a sturdy lock to prevent strangers from stealing it. Aside from this, it is also recommended to simply never leave your devices out in the open, even for a short time.
8. Anti-Glare Screen Protectors
For digital nomads at the beach, it's not uncommon to find yourself exposed to direct sunlight frequently. To make sure the sun doesn't cause any damage to your eyes, you should get yourself some anti-glare screen protectors.
With anti-glare screen protectors, you won't have any problems with the sunlight interfering with the quality of what you're working on and can instead enjoy a nice view while doing your work.
9. VPN
In some cases, remote workers need to access information that can only be viewed from their country of origin. For example, writers may need screenshots from their country of origin's version of a website, instead of where they are currently based. Some content can also be region-locked data, which means you cannot access it from where your beach is located.
To avoid issues related to geographic limitations, remote workers can invest in a VPN. VPNs are also useful when it comes to working on insecure Wi-Fi networks. For this reason, it is necessary to protect yourself, your company, or your clients when working remotely.
Work From Beach Safely and Productively
While remote work has opened up a world of possibilities, remote workers are still held to the same level of productivity, accountability, and quality of work as people from traditional offices (without the benefits of an office environment).
So, while it's fun to work from the beach, there are many factors that can make it really annoying if you're not prepared. With this, it's important to invest in things that make work possible, even when you have the sand between your feet.
By following these tips, you'll easily beat any distractions while making sure you enjoy every minute of work on the beautiful beach.