It’s been just under three months since I moved out of my studio apartment in beachside Encinitas, California. I’ve been on the road traveling ever since. I’ve been to California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Texas, Colorado, and British Columbia. But what I get asked about more than the cool places I’ve visited is work. Specifically, where I work.
The answer is: it varies. I can work just about anywhere I can open up a laptop, and when needed, connect to WiFi. Of course, some places are more conducive to work than others. The beach, for example, sounds dreamy, but the reality is it’s hard to see your computer screen, the wind blows paper around, in summer, you sweat, and watching other people play makes you want to do the same.
These days, where I decide to post-up to work is a function of the type of work I need to get done and what is available in the area. If I need to get a lot of tough, focused work done, libraries and co-working spaces are my go-to spots. If I have easier work like e-mails or organization, I like coffee shops and bars because I feel like I get to see some of the city I’m in and I can be a little social if I’m in the mood.
The following is a list of places that I’ve worked while traveling and what I think are the pros and cons of each. (Although, I’m only a few months into this digital nomad stint, I’ve worked remotely for over half a decade so I’m no newbie to working while traveling).
Co-Working Spaces
Pro: Work focused vibe
Con: Price
Affordable Mountain CoLab in Revelstoke, BC, Canada Co-working in Buena Vista, CO, USA (Sadly, closed now)
A good co-working space is worth the money to have a place to be productive as long as you want. Prices generally range from $10 – $30 USD for a day pass depending on what country you are in. I generally won’t pay more than $20. Amenities range from none to free coffee and even free beer!
Public Libraries
Pro: Free
Con: Vary greatly between cities
Trying to look smart at the Salida, CO library Impressed by the Lone Tree, CO library Small library in San Clemente, CA but had the WiFi I need
Public libraries are one of the most overlooked great places to work. Almost every town has one. Like a co-working space you can stay all day, but it’s FREE. Quality of libraries and conduciveness to work vary greatly but at this point, free WiFi and a place to sit with your laptop are standard at every library I’ve been to.
Coffee Shops
Pro: Get to see some of the city
Con: Can’t stay all day
Cute coffee shop in San Clemente, CA for a few emails Pure yum at Monk & Mongoose in Lone Tree, CO, USA
When you’re in an area you don’t know, coffee shops can be a risk. You don’t know if you’ll get the one that welcomes all the remote workers (score!) or the one where people just go to relax and chat (need those, but not on a work day!). Then if it’s not the right vibe, you have to look for somewhere else to work.
It’s not as fun as a local shop, but if you know you need to get a lot done and don’t have time to read a bunch of reviews or check out local shops, Starbucks is a reliable go-to.
Hostels
Pro: Don’t have to go anywhere
Con: Distracting
When staying at a hostel, working at the hostel saves you the admin time of having to go out and find somewhere to work. But, hostel common rooms can be very social…which can be very distracting. If you’re already struggling to be productive, it’s hard to resist the temptation of talking to someone about their travels instead of working.
A few ways to maximize your productiveness when working at a hostel are: (1) if available and affordable, book a private room then you have your own, quiet space no matter what; (2) work in the middle of the day when most people are out exploring; (3) headphones to block out noise and deter people from talking to you; and (4) choose the right hostel – some have quieter vibes and more quiet spaces than others (Use HostelWorld to research and book).
Hotels/Motels
Pro: An actual desk (usually)
Con: The pull of the nearby bed
Bars
Pro: Fun
Con: Too much fun
Winding Down the Work Day in a Quiet Section of the Commons in Bangkok, Thailand At Moniker Commons in San Diego, CA, you can choose coffee or booze.
Working at a bar can be a nice reward or way to push through the end of a project, however, bars are only suited for certain types of work. Bars usually result in frequent interruptions and that beer buzz impacts your thinking.
Easy, mundane tasks like checking email, keying in information, or adding formatting and citations to a document work well. Projects that involve deep thought, require talking on the phone, and large uninterrupted blocks of time do not.
Cars
Pro: Can work anywhere
Con: Small space
The back of my car has become a surprisingly productive spot for me. It’s like my little home office.
Outdoors
Pro: Views
Con: Screen glare & weather induced discomfort
There is such an allure to working outdoors that I keep trying it even though it is never as sexy as it seems. Screen glare, wind, uncomfortable temperatures, bugs, and dirt are just a few of the hinderances to really being productive.
I’ve found that working in my car in a pretty place is the best alternative – I can still enjoy the calm I get from being near nature but actually get work done. Alternatively, somewhere with a shaded seating area such as a patio or under an umbrella works pretty well since it cuts glare and is usually a bit cooler if you’re in a hot environment.
Friends & Family’s Houses
Pro: Homey, relaxed feel
Con: Temptation to just hand out with loved ones
Other Stupid Places*
Pro: Works in a pinch
Con: Lack of productivity
Other stupid places refers to those places articles, likely written by people who do not actually work remotely, sometimes suggest like the food court in a mall or the bench in front of your local grocery store.
