The world as we know it is changing. Many millennials and younger generations are starting to stray away from the old-fashioned 9-to-5 way of thinking. We don’t just want to pay the bills, we want to enjoy life, explore new things, and work according to our own schedules. That’s why it’s never been more popular to be a digital nomad.

A digital nomad is someone who relies on technology to help them continue working as they travel around the world. The idea is so popular that some experts predict approximately 1 billion people will be working this way by 2035.

It’s easy to see why the digital nomad lifestyle is so popular. After all, there are few things better than being able to decide exactly how and when you work each day. For instance – you could set up your computer and go to work somewhere – as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection. Of course, there’s more to being a digital nomad than just grabbing your laptop and taking your next flight. You’re going to need a few essential items on hand to make sure you’re ready to deal with anything.

Here are just 5 essentials we recommend you should keep in your travel kit.

1. A Hard Drive
Digital nomad’s life their lives on their computers. This means that they need to run complex software, store important information, and keep everything running smoothly – and that takes plenty of memory space. The last thing you need when you’re trying to enjoy the life of a digital nomad is to run out of space on your laptop or have your computer crash and you lose all your work.

Having an external hard-drive with you at all times is like having a safety net for your business – particularly if you’re the kind of nomad that takes a lot of pictures. High-quality images can be very large when it comes to storage. Take some time to figure out exactly how much memory you’re going to need, and then go above and beyond that amount to be extra-safe.

2. Noise-Canceling Headphones
As a digital nomad, the chances are you’re going to be spending a lot of time on busy buses, loud airplanes, and other public spaces. When you’re working, in the quest to find a good Wi-Fi connection, you might need to spend some time in local cafes too. While there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of background noise, sometimes all you want to do is get things done! This is where noise-canceling headphones will come in handy.

When you don’t want to struggle to concentrate, a set of noise-canceling headphones will let you sit back, relax and enjoy your healthy snacks in peace, without appearing too rude. Other people will simply assume that you’re listening to music or something else important, so they’re less likely to come along and bother you when you’re trying to work too – it’s pretty much a win-win situation.

3. The Right Nourishment
Digital nomads often exchange a lot of money working behind an office desk for a more freedom-based lifestyle. Unfortunately, this could mean that you don’t always have the cash to buy yourself countless cups of fresh coffee wherever you go. If you’re going to be working on-the-go and you want to make sure that you can still enjoy a delicious cup of reinvigorating java wherever you end up, a manual coffee grinder is the way to go.

With a fresh cup of coffee each day and the right snacks, you can reduce the amount you spend on unnecessary things when you’re on the move, which can help to bring your budget down when you’re living as a digital nomad. You’ll quickly discover this is an important consideration, as today’s modern remote workers can sometimes over-spend if they don’t plan carefully. Too much time sitting in cafes can be bad for your bank statement.

4. A Universal Power Converter
While a universal power converter might not be the most exciting thing to pack for your digital nomad adventure – it’s something that’s particularly important to consider if you’re not sure where you’re going to end up on your next trip. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination of choice, just to discover that you can’t charge your laptop or phone because you don’t have the right plug for the corresponding outlet.

cTo save yourself the time and money involved with buying a converter when you end up in your destination, make sure that you have something ready before you start traveling. You should be able to find converters on a range of online stores, as well as in electronic and department stores. Look for something that will work with both your phone and any other devices you carry with you.

5. Business Essentials
It goes without saying that if you’re planning on holding onto a career while you’re traveling around the world, you’re going to need the right equipment. Whether that means that you carry a selection of professional camera equipment with you wherever you go, or it means that you need to download a selection of important software before you start traveling, figure out what you need before your journey and make sure you have it.

A good way to check that you have all the right gear packed is to talk to your boss and ask them what they recommend you should have with you to give your best performance. If you don’t work for a company, and you’re self-employed instead, then you can always consider looking online for specific packing lists for people who have a similar career to your own.

Being a digital nomad can be an incredible experience, but you need to make sure you’re prepared for a complete shift in the way you used to think of work. If you’ve got the right tools and equipment to support you, you might discover that life as a digital nomad completely transforms your world.

About the Author: Caroline is a writer and blogger who likes to spend her work hours in boutique cafés and restaurants. When she’s not sipping on a fresh cup of coffee, or typing on her computer, she’s looking for new opportunities to explore the world with her trusty laptop by her side.