4 Tools to Make Writing Easier While Traveling—Wherever You Go
The transition to Working remotely makes it easy to stay productive while traveling. We have Sagging And Launchand have a time zone calculator on our shared calendar. But more than ever, working remotely is especially easy if your job involves a lot of writing. Whether that means sending hundreds of emails, writing reports and articles, or compiling a newsletter for your subscribers, a laptop and an internet connection are all you need to feel properly set up.
But if you think about it, it’s not always like that. that thing easy. If you work while traveling, the time spent writing on your computer doesn’t come after a neat, tidy desk where you feel focused and comfortable. It happens while you wait at the noisy airportsit in the back of a rocking car, or relax in a soulless hotel lobby with bad music.
But there are ways to make writing on the go more comfortable for your body and brain. Here are four must-have items to help you keep your writing flowing, no matter where you are.
A Mobile Power Bank
Every writer’s worst nightmare is having your device turn off while you’re typing. keyboard. Will it save you? Will it cost you your job? Most airports, hotels, and other public places have charging ports, but these outlets are often scarce, crowded, broken, or difficult to access. I’ve had to swallow my pride and sit on dirty airport floors more than once just to reach an outlet.
It’s best to plan for the worst by always carrying a fully charged power bank. The power bank I travel with is a heavy red brick with two USB ports that takes hours to fully charge, so I make sure to charge it several days before my trip. I’m willing to put up with the weight and size of the battery in exchange for the power to fully charge my devices multiple times. The best power bank for you will vary depending on your needs, but we There is a list of options here to help you choose..
A USB Hub with Multiple Ports
I have yet to come across a laptop with enough built-in USB ports. Until someone builds that unicorn, bring a hub to make sure you can plug in everything you need no matter where you are. USB hubs are usually small and portable, so you can comfortably carry one hub with the rest of your peripherals.
I like a hub with four additional ports to accommodate backup drivemicrophones, headphone chargers, and other essentials, but you can find hubs with more or fewer ports, SD card readers, and even headphone jacks. When you count how many ports you need, add an extra one or two to the total in case one breaks later; it’s better to be overprepared than to be short on USB ports at a critical moment. Check out some USB hubs and docks here if you’re not sure which one is best for you..
Noise Cancelling Headphones Make the World Disappear
When writing on the road, silence is extremely important. Some people can write poetry even with a screaming child three feet away, but I’m not one of those people.
Having noise cancelling headphones can mean the difference between able to concentrate about writing and being stuck listening to everything but my own thoughts. When I’m on a deadline and need quiet, I rely on noise-canceling technology. Sometimes I pop in my headphones and just listen to silence, no music or Newsletter required. I like over-ear headphones because they completely enclose my ears in absolute peace—and I don’t like things inside my ears. If you’re not sure what type of noise-canceling technology is right for you, See our list of options here..
A way to capture thoughts on the go
The best ideas rarely come when you’re sitting comfortably at home. laptophands on keyboard. They often come up when you’re running through a train station or waiting in line for a bagel. You might tell yourself “don’t forget this,” but chances are the idea will slip out of your mind before you have a chance to write it down. To prevent this tragedy, equip yourself with a way to capture your thoughts immediately.
I use a voice-to-text app on my smartphone, which is always within reach. In seconds, I can be the person at the coffee shop urgently muttering “blue jellyfish, medicinal properties” into her hand, and then the idea is safely stored as text on my phone and backed up to the cloud. If you don’t feel comfortable voicing your ideas in public, a notes app or even a pocket notebook can be helpful, but hands-free is often a more flexible option when you’re out and about.
If you have to write anything for your job, you are a writer. If you are a writer, you write, no matter where you are. Make sure you are prepared for every train station, grocery store, and long-haul flight with tools that help you gather your disorganized thoughts into effective messages.