Remote working is still very popular for industries and individuals as it allows businesses to reduce the cost of a workplace and gives employees freedom. Many prefer working from home as it gives a stronger sense of work-life balance. This allows them to enjoy life more while still working. However, a huge difficulty many face when working remotely is productivity and having a comfortable place to work.
Working from home doesn’t mean you just have to work at home though. In fact, it can allow you to work from all sorts of locations around the world! If you love traveling and have the freedom to work remotely, you can make the dream of travel and work a reality! Overcome the productivity bump in the road and travel the world by creating a portable home office in your camper.
Pick the right mobile home
To have an effective portable office on the road, you need to choose the right vehicle to travel in. It’s best to view different types of vehicles to get a sense of which type will be best for your travels and your work. Thoroughly consider each vehicle you view and imagine yourself traveling in it and working. Think about the space you have in the vehicle and if there’s enough for dining, eating, relaxing, and working. Look at what’s in the space and if it can be converted into smart solutions to maximize space while giving it a dual purpose. For example, having a dining table that can convert into a desk. Consider a partner’s workspace requirements if you’re not traveling alone.
Make your workspace
Once you’ve chosen your vehicle, find the perfect area to transform into a workspace. This could be a window shelf area that can be converted into a fold-out desk or a dining table. When you have chosen the best space for your workspace needs, you can get to setting it up and transforming your mobile home into an on-the-go home office. You can start kitting the area out by focusing on building the desk and finding the right furniture, and useful accessories. These should all be practical and comfortable to use for a long period of time.
Create a folding desk or tabletop
Your desk space is one of the most important factors in creating a practical and motivating workspace. You need it to be the right height and size to fit all of your equipment and work seamlessly while traveling. A folding or swivel table is the best option, especially if you have limited space. You could even make a desk that can transform into something else for daily living, such as a dining table or shelf and breakfast bar space near a window. You could create any of these, if there isn’t an existing one already, by using mfc cut to size as it’s robust, flexible, and strong. If you have a countertop or booth table, you could use these if you find them comfortable.
Think about comfortable seating
Any mobile home or vehicle you choose has passenger seats to travel but these shouldn’t be used for working. This is because they don’t provide the proper support and level of comfort you need for the working day. You will need to source comfortable seating in a separate place for you to work. It’s extremely important to get this right as you need to reduce the risk of discomfort when sitting down for a long time.
If your vehicle has a bench or booth seating, you can use this for your office. Make this type of seating more comfortable by adding comfortable cushions and ergonomic pillows to give you lumbar support. However, if there’s space, try to get an ergonomic chair to use in your office area. These types of chairs give you unparalleled comfort and support for the working day. With this choice, make sure you don’t get an office chair with wheels as this isn’t safe or practical for working in a moving vehicle. So, if you want to work while on the move, you need an option without wheels.
Have good connectivity
Good connectivity is vital for working on the road as you need a stable connection to be able to carry out tasks and stay connected to colleagues. If possible, using a mobile hotspot could be a great option to stay connected while traveling. If you have a suitable data plan, connect your laptop to your hotspot for an internet connection. It’s perfect for unlimited data plans but it can also be a patchy signal when on the road as it can drop in various areas.
Portable Wi-Fi could be a better option for your mobile home as you can easily purchase portable routers from an internet provider. You can have monthly plans, and it works the same as it does at home. There’s also satellite internet which may be best if you’re planning on going off-the-grid. Have a satellite dish or panel attached to your van roof for a strong signal in the most remote places.
Consider lighting
Lighting is key when working on the road and anywhere. If you work in a duller space, your health and productivity can suffer. To boost motivation, productivity, and your health, your vehicle needs to be properly lit. Try to incorporate some natural light by using windows as much as you can. Natural light can help you to stop straining your eyes at the screen and reduce headaches.
If your vehicle has smaller windows, then choose lighting that best represents natural light or find warmer lighting. Using glaring and harsh lighting can actually lead to discomfort after a long time. You could use LED lights with a warm glow or a desk lamp.
Have clever storage space
Traveling in a mobile home is a wonderful way to explore the world, but it does have limited space. This is a huge reason why it feels difficult to work and travel in a mobile home as there isn’t space to fit everything. However, there are many clever storage spaces in a mobile home, and for a blank canvas, it’s super easy to make your own!
Use overhead cabinets or storage under seating to store work essentials to save space in your vehicle. Doing this ensures that everything is organized and easy to get out when you need it. You can also put some DIY wall-mounted storage solutions, like hooks, to keep any wires out of the way to maximize the space you have.
Get the right equipment
Make sure you have the right equipment you need to effectively carry out your job role. This will more than likely consist of a laptop, chargers, keyboard, mouse, and headset. This is all dependent on your work and job role. For example, if you own a business, you could just use your smartphone or tablet to do the work needed.
A computer may be needed for more technical job roles, but this needs to be done safely. Make sure that your monitor is mounted to the wall or desk to keep it in one place when on the move. Try to choose a PC with minimal casing as well so you can store it neatly and safely away.
Use this guide on how to have a portable home office in your camper to make the dream of traveling and working a reality. Have the freedom to do what you want while keeping your remote job and explore the world!
