Whether you’re a seasoned digital nomad with a favorite internet café in every corner of the globe or you’re planning your first trip, working while roaming the world is awesome — and tricky. While your next flight, train, or bus will be late more often than not, your work always has to arrive in your boss’s inbox on time.
Being a successful digital nomad is hard work, and if you want to make enough money to keep traveling, you’ll need to buckle down and, well…work. Let’s get to it with these insider tips on how to get your digital workload done while living the lifestyle you’ve always wanted. Who knows? You might even get paid to travel the world as Shift’s Chief Nomad Officer.
Navigate your WiFi connections
International mobile data plans can be costly. That said, when traveling, your best bet for staying connected with your work team via phone or laptop is almost always a public WiFi connection.
Before you leave, contact your hotel or coffee shop where you’ll be traveling to confirm they have solid WiFi. Asking about the download speed (100 Mbps should be enough for video calls, FYI) is also smart.
Keep your devices juiced up
Outlets can be hard to find while exploring faraway beaches and jungles, so you’ll want to charge your devices between 80 and 100 percent as much as possible. Packing a lightweight, portable power bank as a backup will also save you a few headaches if you’re venturing off-grid. One with 20,000mAH capability should charge your phone up to three or so times and your laptop at least once, in a pinch.
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Use tools that boost productivity
Utilizing digital work tools like Shift, a browser designed to streamline your digital to-do list, allows you to spend more time exploring while on the road. According to The Harvard Review, you can lose up to four hours a week just from toggling between different apps, tabs, and email accounts.
But when you download and use Shift as your browser, your productivity kicks into high gear.
The productivity browser allows you to seamlessly access over 1,500 apps, connect all your emails and accounts, and manage everything you need for work, life, or travel from one centralized window. Shift also syncs all your calendars into one streamlined view, so you’ll always know when your next meeting or call from home is across time zones.
Protect your devices from the elements
Safeguarding your phone and laptop with impact-proof covers is a no-brainer, but if you’ll be spending a good chunk of time in a tropical climate, it’s also a good idea to bring silica gel packets, the same ones that get packed into many boxed items. Place the bead packets and your devices into an airtight container at night to absorb moisture and keep your electronics from swelling up.
Get paid to travel as Shift’s Chief Nomad Officer
The best way to dial in the remote work lifestyle from abroad is to get out there and be a digital nomad. Shift is currently looking for one adventurous person to travel the world for a month as the brand’s Chief Nomad Officer, using Shift as their power browser. Shift will pay the Chief Nomad Officer up to $10,000 for travel expenses, and in exchange, the Chief Nomad Officer will create and post content that shows the world how Shift streamlines and empowers their on-the-go lifestyle. Get your passport ready and apply here.
Just remember, working while traveling requires thoughtful preparation — but with the right digital tools, like Shift, you can turn any location into a productive workspace. Whether you’re managing multiple accounts or balancing work across time zones, Shift streamlines your workflow so you can focus on what matters most: exploring the world while staying on top of your game.
And if you’re lucky enough to be Shift’s Chief Nomad Officer, you’ll be living proof that with the right setup, the world truly can be your office.
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