Office Setup Guide for Digital Nomads Who Prioritize Health

March 21, 2021

Lori Konkler

Watching breath-taking sunsets in New Zealand, exploring the beaches in St. Croix - this was the life my husband and I imagined for ourselves back in 2016. So after a long career as a director in the areas of sales, marketing and operations, we took a leap of faith, gave notice to our jobs, and headed out to the Caribbean to begin our lives as digital nomads. However, the road to making this a reality was much longer than we thought it would be. It took over a year of on-and-off jobs and re-drafted business plans before we finally stumbled on a model that truly worked to scale a profitable business from anywhere in the world! And now, four successful businesses later, I am using the knowledge I gained to help hundreds of entrepreneurs and aspiring nomads on how to successfully build and scale businesses that will give them the freedom to work from wherever they want.

Office Setup Guide for Digital Nomads Who Prioritize Health

Going remote is the new modern way to work. Having the freedom to switch workspaces, cities, and countries on a whim gives you the flexibility to attain your dream lifestyle. You might wake up in Paris one day and then in Venice the next. The opportunities are endless, however, to make this lifestyle sustainable, you need to take the ergonomics of your office workspace seriously.

So what are ergonomics and why should I care about them?

Ergonomics definition:

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of ergonomics is “An applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely.”

Do you want back pains and aches cutting your remote work life short?

We certainly don’t! Creating a workspace which facilitates a comfortable environment is your key to sustaining this exciting, modern lifestyle.

No more awkward laptop hunching for you!

The Essentials

Laptop stand

Most of us get into the bad habit of hunching over whilst using their laptop. A laptop stand can be a great solution to this. You can adjust the angle of it to reduce screen glare, which in effect reduces headaches, neck pain, and strained eyes. They are lightweight and portable so you don’t have to worry about carrying something big and bulky to your new destination.

We like to keep our essential electronics working well, especially when working remote. If your laptop tends to get warm, a laptop stand will keep the air circulating so you don’t have to worry about your expensive laptop getting ruined!

Xennial Traveler Suggests:

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Do I really need noise-cancelling headphones?

Yes.

Especially if you are a frequent traveler, work in public spaces or even if you find it difficult and stressful to filter out annoying background noise.

Noise cancelling technology was originally made to increase hearing protection of pilots. They work by removing low frequency background noises such as annoying machinery noises. By removing low frequencies from the outside, the wearer is no longer forced to increase the volume of their headphones excessively and experience damage to the ear.

Did you know that noise induced hearing loss is 100% preventable?

Xennial Traveler Suggests:

Cord organizer bag

Don’t you hate it when you’re in a Zoom meeting, you realize you’re on five percent battery and you have a mad rush trying to find your charging cable? Stressful right?

Well worry no more because a cord organizer bag is a satisfying solution to clutter. Specifically designed for travel, these organizers conveniently store and protect your cables, memory cards, power cords and USB drives. They are designed to be lightweight, comfortable to use and of course, shockproof. Now you can put your clutter induced stress aside!

Xennial Traveler Suggests:

Laptop bag

Laptops bags are a must for keeping your laptop safe and secure on your remote journey. Their main con is that they can cause you a myriad of back issues. The wrong backpack can cause disc compression, alignment issues and lumbar symmetry. The ideal laptop bag will take into account ergonomics, durability, security and comfort.

Xennial Traveler Suggests:

Posture Brace

Concerned about that declining posture? Nomads who spend a lot of time at the computer may report forward shoulders and curvature of the spine. Slouching causes a lack of oxygen which affects your energy levels and prolonged slouching can even cause loss of muscle tone in the torso. A posture brace acts as an aid to encourage your body into the correct form of alignment. They can be used to give pain relief and you can wear it under or over clothing so it’s super discreet!

Keep in mind, that the brace isn’t a permanent fix to all back issues, it is simply a tool you can use for support. As a backup plan to back pain, make sure you scout out your nearest Chiropractor in your location. Visiting the Chiropractor can do wonders and it’s one of the best investments in my health I have ever made!

Xennial Traveler Suggests

Office extras you shouldn’t overlook:

A reliable travel adapter:

Memory hard drive:

Mobile Wifi Device:

Portable Phone Charger:

Every working nomad will benefit from keeping their health at the forefront when it comes to office setups. What are your main health concerns in the digital nomad space? Comment below!