World explorer.
Peripatetic.
Remote worker.
Digital nomad.
Whatever you want to call yourself, and to whatever extent you abandon the traditional workplace, a full-time worker with no home base has unique opportunities and unique challenges — and finding a balance there is what nomadicy (sp?) is all about.
For those who have chosen this lifestyle, be it for a single week or for the rest of their lives, quickly discover that there are a number of hurdles that may not have been obvious beforehand.
When I started moving around, I saw some of this coming — or at least I thought I did. Unfortunately, it’s easy to oversimplify things in your head. You’re excited to get going, and the highest boundary seems insignificant.
Problem: You need a place to work every day.
What I Thought
Coffee shops have wifi! Many of them love having people sit around for a while, it draws in customers. And during the day it ought to be pretty quiet for work.
In Reality…
Coffee shops are everywhere. Good coffee shops are not. Good, quiet coffee shops with reliable wifi are even more rare, and you never know when your tranquil output will turn noisy and crowded and very difficult for working.
Solution
Many cities have private workspaces, where, for a monthly fee, you can gain access to a nice, quiet space to work. In smaller towns, seek out coffee shops with a lot of space — fewer people means less noise. If you’ll be in one location for a bit, try to acquaint yourself to the shop owner, and they’ll often be willing to help you out.
Another way to find the best working locations is through WorkFrom. They host information on coffeeshops, lounges, and other potential working locations, scouted by community members. If you’re in a new town and wondering where to go, it’s a great place to start.
Also look into tethering as a way to expand your work zone. Tethering allows you to use your phone’s data as a wifi network for your computer. It eats up data like nobody’s business, but for a day or two here and there, it’s a wonderful solution to fill in the gaps when you’re missing real wifi. It’s saved my day more than once.
Problem: Traveling / parking
What I Thought
What city doesn’t have parking garages? And if I use airbnb, I can probably get a parking lot, too. If I don’t want to drive, I can metro around, too.
In Reality…
Parking can get expensive, and is not necessarily anywhere near where you need to be. Even well-traveled cities have gaps in their transportation infrastructure, so whether your parking your car and busing, or coming into the city by train, you might find yourself a little more stranded than you expected.
Solution
Get ready to walk. There’s no replacement for human locomotion — and fewer barriers to where you can go than with a bus, subway, or car. If you leave plenty of time, you’ll find that you can get almost anywhere you need; it’s also great for your health.
If walking isn’t an option, think strongly about Uber and the like. Ever-ready transportation is very convenient, and can work out cheaper than repeatedly riding the rails, if you’re only in town for a few days and aren’t buying a commuter’s pass.
As for parking, look for garages that off ercheap multi-day rates. Most cities have at least one of these near a city center, and from there, you can use a combination of public transportation and walking to get around without worrying about parking moment to moment. If you have a friend nearby, offer to toss them a few bucks in exchange for storing your car in their driveway or parking lot for the duration. Even if they live a bit out of the way, you end up with a much better deal and less of a headache than if you would try to move your car around constantly in a city driven by public transportation.
Keep your head about you, pre-plan when possible, and try to remain unencumbered. Packing a traveling bag is a great trick — take just the stuff you’ll need for the day with you as you travel, then store it back in your car (or hotel, hostel, etc) at night.
Problem: Calls & conferences
What I Thought
Most public spaces should be quiet during the day. It won’t be hard to take a few calls.
In Reality…
Cities are active places. Obvious, maybe, but I’m a country boy, so that bit of common wisdom was foreign to me. Turns out that even at random weekday hours, coffee shops, lounges, and other spaces get too loud to be on the phone.
Solution
Try to work where you’re staying. If you’re in a hotel, work in your room when you expect to be taking calls. If you rent an airbnb, try to find one with a private room. If you’re space is shared, find a corner of the building with less traffic. If you’re sharing a house, etc, with just a few other people, talk to them and see if they’re willing to treat some section of a room as your “office” during working hours. Most people will be amenable, especially if you’re renting a room from them!
If you regret not being able to see the city the way you would working from a coffee shop, split up your day. Organize your tasks so you have a few hours in your business day to work from a coffeeshop or wherever you’d like.
As mentioned earlier, another alternative is to use private workspaces found in most major cities. It will cost you a bit, but the peace of mind is huge.
Problem: Finding the time to explore.
What I Thought
This is the easiest part! When I’m done with work, head out and hit the nightlife.
In Reality…
You have to know where you’re going. Attractions, nightlife, and social events can be hard to find if you’re not a native, and the scene that suits you might be half a block down from a scene that you wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. If you don’t know people in the area, and came alone, you have an additional layer of difficulty to handle.
Solution
Find out about the city in advance. Use Yelp, city tourism websites, and your friends to help you get an idea of where to look for entertainment. Once you’re on site, use location-based apps like AroundMe to find the best places to go. If you’re a user of Tinder, etc, meeting up with people is a great way to socialize and get to know the city. And, if you’re brave enough, you can even ask random passers-by for suggestions!
If you’re staying with others, consider talking to them. They may be able to point you in the right directions, and you get along, why not ask them to join you? The worst that can happen is they say no, but people like to socialize, and those who lend out their place via airbnb, couchsurfing, etc, tend to enjoy meeting new people — so go for it! You may end up with a new friend.
Traveling and exploring a city when you work full-time or more can be daunting, but it’s exhilarating, too. Do your research, use every resource to your advantage, and don’t be hesitant about asking people for their insight. Balancing everything might get a little stressful on occasion, but it’s so very much worth the trouble — you end up with all kinds of new experiences that you’d never have sitting around your house.
Make every day count, and don’t regret the minor bumps in the road. Focus on the amazing memories, the new friends, and the opportunities you run across every time you step out into the broader world.
Carpe diem!