Work in Style from Anywhere
“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. ”
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The pandemic created a surge of remote workers – many of whom are still working remotely. I have been working remotely since before it was cool. In fact, I have never not had flexibility with regards to the time and place that I complete my work. I’ve worked from my car, a coffee shop, a library, an airplane, a park, a hot tub – you name it, I’ve probably worked there at some point. Over several years of trial-and-error, I have perfected the contents of my to-go desk (also known as a backpack) and I want to share them with you!
There’s nothing worse than looking forward to a nice morning spent sipping coffee from your favorite coffee shop only to find that you forgot an essential tool to complete your work. It usually means that you’re either 1) not going to be as productive as you’d like to be or 2) you have to get your coffee to-go and head home so that you can complete your work. I don’t want either of those to happen to you!
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1. Stylish, but functional bag
First things first, you need to have a beautiful bag to carry all the essentials in. I’m a college professor and I tried so hard to embrace a briefcase-style bag so that I didn’t look just like my students walking around campus. However, I’ve come to realize that having my hands free and distributing the weight of my bag on my back (and not one shoulder or the crease of my arm) is a non-negotiable. Instead, I opted for a backpack with a classic, polished look. I can’t find the exact bag I have, but here’s one that’s similar to the one I have currently and here’s one that I have my eye on… maybe a birthday gift to myself?
Some other things to consider when choosing a bag… Make sure it’s big enough to hold the things that you need on a daily basis. I’m sharing my to-go office essentials here, but depending on your job you may need more space to accommodate more things. I’ve already mentioned it, but I believe style is important to consider too. Clothing and accessories have a bigger impact on what we think about ourselves and how we perform than you might think. In fact, I’ve done an entire episode on the power of clothing. Consider the type of woman you want to be when you’re working from that coffee shop, library, or park then choose a bag that embodies her!
2. Laptop with charger
This one is pretty obvious, but nevertheless an essential for remote work. Don’t forget to pack your laptop charger. Missing that key item is what can force you to take your coffee to-go and return home to work. I left my charger behind so many times that I ended up purchasing a second one. This way I have one that stays at my desk and one that stays in my backpack. Problem solved!
3. Wireless mouse
I don’t know about you, but I hate using the touchpad on my laptop. I’m so much slower using it than using a separate mouse. Instead, I keep a cute pink (of course) wireless mouse in my backpack so that I can use it at all times. This is key! A wireless mouse is not expensive, but can have a big impact on your productivity and if you’re like me, your frustration while working.
4. Notebook
You never know when you’re going to need to jot something down – maybe you need to take notes during a meeting, or you need to draw out a research model, or you just like putting pen to paper (like me) to work through your ideas. Choose a beautiful notebook that you enjoy looking at and writing in. I know it’s tough to actually write in those pretty notebooks on your shelf, but it can be fun too – I promise!
5. Planner
This one might not be for everyone, but I like to keep a paper planner in my bag. I essentially use it to keep track of my daily tasks. I like to plan out my to-do list on a weekly basis which helps me identify which days would be best to work from home and which days would be best at a more interesting location.
6. Pens, pencils, and highlighter
A desk wouldn’t be complete without some writing utensils. Personally, I don’t use a lot of pencils, so I stick to pens and highlighters. And since we’re trying to work in style, don’t just grab any old pen from the junk drawer. Instead, put some thought into it. My favorite pen is the uni-ball signo. Specifically, the pink ones that write in black. Those are the only pens I carry in my bag and I enjoy writing with them each time I get them out. As you pack your bag, treat yourself to a new, beautiful pen or at least choose your favorite pen from home. Same thing goes for highlighters. My rule is that I don’t highlight in any color other than pink (unless I need multiple colors).
7. Post-it notes
Depending on the work you do, post-its can be a great addition to your to-go desk. Similar to my last point, don’t just grab any old pack. Instead, choose your favorite. I bet you can’t guess what color my post-it notes are?!? Yes, they’re pink. They match my pens, highlighters, planner, notebook, and mouse. It all coordinates, which makes me happy and is more aesthetically pleasing when you open your bag.
8. Headphones
If you’re working outside of the house, headphones are a must! You never know if you’ll need to hop on a quick zoom meeting or if you’ll want to listen to a podcast while you work. I have a pair of noise cancelling headphones that I love for the days I want to be at the coffee shop but also have focused work I need to do. I don’t always carry those, because they take up a lot of space in my bag. However, I do have a pair of earpods that live permanently in my bag.
9. Phone charger
Much like the laptop charger, getting to your destination only to realize that your phone is almost dead, and you need it to sign into your various accounts can be a bummer. You can avoid this by grabbing a phone charger and permanently assigning it to your bag.
10. Reading glasses
Maybe I’m just getting old, but I always carry a pair on the off chance that I need them. Of course, they are glasses that I believe look great on me and help me embody that perfect combination of “beauty and brains.”
11. Travel ring light
If zoom calls are a norm for you, you might want to consider a travel ring light. They’re small and simply clip on the top of your phone or computer. Coffee shops can be dark and moody (I’m looking at you Starbucks). You can’t always guarantee a seat next to a window, so in a pinch this will work wonders.
12. Lipstick
Because all that coffee drinking makes it come off and I want to look fabulous when I hop on a zoom call.
13. Back-up cash
I always keep a $20 bill in my backpack just in case I forget my wallet at home. Yes, it’s happened more than once. As I’m writing this, I’m realizing just how forgetful I can be. Having a little bit of back-up cash means that I can still enjoy that coffee or cookie that I left the house for.
14. Tampons
In case of emergency, I always carry a few of these in my bag. Again, I want to enjoy my time working outside of my house – not have it cut short.
And that’s my list of “work-in-style essentials”. Like I mentioned at the beginning, I have been tweaking the contents of my bag for a long time and I think I’ve finally arrived at the right balance between everything I need and nothing I don’t. It makes working outside of the house or office so much easier because it’s already packed. I just have to grab and go! It’s also made traveling a breeze. I know if I grab my backpack, I’ll have everything I will need to effectively do my job while away.
I’d love to hear what your essentials are. Did I miss one? Reach out over on Instagram – @kayleejhackney – and let me know!
Is a better work-life balance one of your goals this year?
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We spend a great deal of time at work. Like Annie Dillard once said, “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.” I encourage you to look around your office and see what steps you can take to add simple luxuries to your workday because in the grand scheme of things, they will add up and lead to a luxurious life!