Two Minutes Du Jour

The concept of nomad-ing—moving from place to place and working from anywhere—is a practice I’ve honed since my school days when I would leave early and return late following classes, studying, hanging out and participating in campus activities.

My trusty backpack (or my ‘80s Ciao tote bag with its fantastic compartments) held everything I might need: textbooks, spiral notebooks, snacks (HoHos and a Diet Coke, back in the day), a printed calendar, keys, colored pens, and more. My dad called it “everything but the kitchen sink,” and he wasn’t wrong.

This habit of organizing by bag carried over into adulthood. Each phase of life brought its own bag: for teaching, parenting, work, and specific projects. It’s a mise en place approach to being on the move, ensuring everything is ready at my fingertips.

When I started my business, we deliberately eschewed a traditional office. Instead, we embraced the nomad lifestyle, gathering when and where needed—coffee shops, libraries, and client sites.

Eventually, the team wanted a central hub. We rehabbed space in my husband’s office building, dedicating Mondays to in-office work while continuing to nomad throughout the week. Later, we moved to LifeTime Work, a coworking space in the that perfectly blended private and communal workspaces. This gave us the flexibility to huddle or spread out, as needed.

The pandemic further evolved our work style. A trial run of remote work before shelter-in-place orders proved we could adapt. Zoom huddles replaced in-person meetings, and my trusty bags continued to organize and compartmentalize responsibilities. Five years later, we’re still fully remote, blending nomad work into our routines.

With a home remodel underway, I’ve returned to full-on nomad-ing.

My bag for today includes a laptop, iPad, chargers, clipboard, library book, and—of course—essentials for Duke: his leash, treats, and snow pants for me because it’s five below zero.

Today’s office is my son’s apartment. I even brought along a laundry basket (no washer/dryer at the moment), spaghetti noodles for Noodle Night, and frozen chocolate-chip cookie dough – Nana Rose is not going to neglect her duties!

Nomad-ing teaches us to be adaptable, resourceful, and ready for anything. It’s not just about the items in your bag; it’s about the mindset to make anywhere your office and to turn any day into an adventure. Have bag(s), will work!

Hallmarks of Nomad-ing:

• Flexibility: The ability to adapt to various work environments and schedules.
• Organization: A well-prepared bag with all essentials, ensuring productivity on the go.
• Resourcefulness: Making use of public spaces like coffee shops, libraries, and coworking hubs – or your grown kids’ homes!
• Independence: Working without reliance on a single, fixed location.
• Collaboration: Leveraging tools like Zoom and shared workspaces to stay connected.

Two Links Du Jour:

• Work On The Go – Stackfield Data Protection
• Best Coworking Places Around the World – Digital Nomad World