2022 is looking to be a very positive year as far as traveling goes. Although the world has not seen the back of Covid – far from it in fact – travel restrictions are easing and some sense of freedom has re-emerged.
Working overseas has been a dream for many individuals for a long time, and during the last decade, more people than ever realized it. The number of Americans who considered themselves as digital nomads rose by nearly 50 percent between 2019 and 2020.
Clearly, this figure dropped during the pandemic as flights were canceled, borders closed, and visas were no longer issued in many countries.
Now though, things are starting to return to normal as countries such as Thailand reopen their borders to dozens of nations to try and kick-start tourism once again.
This also means millions of people will once again be able to resume their combination of travel and work and visit some of the most popular destinations in the world for digital nomads.
What defines a digital nomad?
Many people discovered what it meant to remote work during 2020 and found it a revelation. However, digital nomads are not quite the same thing.
Remote workers can work from anywhere in the world, but this frequently means they do so from home. Remote working usually involves one static location.
A digital nomad though, combines a love of travel with work. This creates an enviable work-life balance. And businesses are starting to wake up to it.
According to Harvard Business Review, companies should consider adopting a digital nomad policy to retain staff who wish to travel and work.
What gadgets should you have as a digital nomad?
If you are one of the millions who will soon be jetting off to far-off destinations, then you may want to take a few home comforts to make life easier for yourself.
A digital nomad will almost always have a laptop. Unless you are able to conduct your line of work via smartphone or tablet, you will need a decent laptop.
But, being a digital nomad means to travel. And travel means that you might not always be near a power outlet. A 24-hour bus ride from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui will offer little opportunity to plug your laptop in.
Therefore, the best gadget you can get yourself is a solar charger. The must-have gadgets for digital nomads are solar laptop chargers when you are on the go. No matter where you are, if your charger is powered up then you will always have some juice.
Reasons for owning a solar laptop charger
There are many problems digital nomads face once they head to foreign destinations. Not only are there visas to obtain but there is the inevitable culture shock too.
The language barrier might be an initial problem, and you might find ordering food difficult. Accommodation might not be quite up to your expectations either. Although the beach is great you will need to know how to keep the glare off your laptop screen, and the sand out of your keyboard.
However, the worst problem you could face is having no power. If you are traveling in many of the popular backpacking areas you should be prepared to experience power cuts. Lots of them.
If you have a class of children to teach online at 3 PM and the power goes out how will you manage to work? You may have deadlines to meet only for the power to get cut unexpectedly when you have work to finish.
Solar power laptop chargers will keep you going in the daytime, and they can be used as a power bank at night. Not only do they charge laptops, but they can also give a boost to other electronic devices including smartphones, although you should check the voltage first.
Are they eco-friendly?
If you are planning on traveling around for some time, you may also have concerns for the environment and want to reduce your carbon footprint.
Solar power is a completely renewable energy source so you will be helping the environment in a small way by using one of these chargers instead of electricity.
Coal-fired electricity is incredibly bad for the environment, and any way that you can reduce your use of it will help. Plus, if you are staying in a guesthouse you will be helping the owners lower their utility bills, which in many poor countries will be very welcome.
Summary
If you become a digital nomad and start traveling, then you will need to pick a computer system for your specific needs. This may mean a laptop that is a little rugged and has anti-glare on the screen.
You will also need a few gadgets. External hard drives, USB hubs, and a webcam are all useful. However, perhaps being able to charge your laptop with just the power of the sun and no need for electricity might make solar chargers the best gadget you can take with you.
