Digital nomad starter kit

Jan 5, 2026 5 min reading time

TL;DR - Building our business has not been glamorous. It's been tough. We're often faced with self-doubt, productivity ruts, inspiration lulls, and shrinking savings accounts. Here's how we try to be remotely productive.

Remote work from café in Santiago, Chile with coffee and laptop

Laptop setup at hotel in San José, Costa Rica for digital nomad work

Remote work setup in Nazaré, Portugal Airbnb with laptop and view

Digital nomad work setup with laptop in sunny Barbados accommodation

Remote work essentials in Monteverde, Costa Rica Airbnb with jungle view

Remote work basics

Reliable laptop

You don’t need the fanciest model, but it needs to be quick, lightweight, and reliable. We both use a MacBook Air for the balance of power and portability.

Noise-canceling headphones

If you're working in a cafe or public space and need to drown out a baby crying, conspiracy theorist, or complaining Karen, these are for you.

Universal adapter

Simplify your chords and plugs. We have 1 adapter and a 6-in-1 chord that handles all our devices. These have easily improved our life expectancy by a few years.

VPN subscription

Sure, security matters. But watching and streaming TV around the world with no limits is pretty cool too. We're Surfshark fans but there are a lot of great options.

eSIM Data Plan

Freedom Mobile has us connected in 100+ countries for $40/month. Insane. Airalo works too if you're in a pinch or not Canadian 🇨🇦

Get $25 off

Remote work tips

Digital nomad morning run in Barbados showing importance of routine

(try to) follow a routine

Waking up at the same time, getting in some exercise, and working at similar times has helped us adapt quickly to new places.

I have fallen victim to terrible routines, or even routine-less routines, countless times. Whether it's waking up and going straight to work for 12+ hours straight, or abandoning all hope of being a healthy individual during a trip, I notice my mind, body, work, and relationships take a hit.

Being productive requires us to not work 100% of the time... who would have thought.

Choose your workspace intentionally

Just as your bed or couch are not great spots to work, the beach or park aren't phenomenal either. Whether you find a great co-working space, a decent cafe, or setup in a separate room, seek to find a spot that actually works for you.

Full disclosure, we've probably spent more days working from a bed or couch than a proper desk or table. It's an unfortunate reality of having to take what we can get most places.

Ask your Airbnb or host for a WiFi speed test to confirm working conditions before you arrive (check out Fast.com).

Flatlay of remote work essentials including laptop, camera, drone, and chargers

Don't overpack

Bear with me: the less you have = the less you depend on = the less things need to be perfect = the less that can go wrong. Think; laptop, headphones, phone. That's it.

Critically reflect on whether a bluetooth keyboard, mouse, external display, or anything else you bring actually makes a significant difference to your workflow.

If your headphones are dead, will you still be able to work? If you're on a train, what will you actually be able to work on in a tight space? Try to set yourself up for success in any scenario that will be far from perfect 11 times out of 10.

Free packing list

Adjust your mindset for the realities of remote work

We didn’t leave 9-5 jobs to recreate burnout on the road. Remote work isn’t about being "on" but about going from "off" to "on" frequently and randomly.

Embrace Productivity Swings ⛔️
Set boundaries for when you're working and not working. Triage your tasks and focus on high-impact tasks. That’s how you perform better and avoid burnout.

Stay Curious 🧠
Remote work is not the typical rat race. It's much slower and far more challenging. You will be solving problems regularly requiring a high level of resilience. Prioritize the work and not the outcome.

Our remote work tools

Tools that have kept our business afloat across time zones

Notion

for organizing

Canva

for design

Shopify

for ecommerce

ChatGPT

for efficiency

Notion Calendar

Working remotely as a couple

Best colleague out there. 10/10 would keep.

Communication is everything

Don’t assume your partner is in your head. Tell them what you're going through and what you need. Similarly, be prepared to listen.

Find space

Define times or zones for "shop talk". It's important you remain life partners' first, business partners' second.

Prioritize health at all costs

Movement improves your mood, attention span, energy levels, and immune system. Makes perfect sense for working.

Move

Even 20 minutes of yoga or walking makes a difference. Apps like Down Dog or YouTube yoga are free and effective. We're big fans of Apple Fitness+.

Eat

We scout out vegan spots in advance using HappyCow or Google Maps. We also cook a lot at our stays to remain healthy and save money. Don't use travel as an excuse to eat unhealthy.