I’m what is known as a Digital Nomad: a person who works remotely from a computer, enabling me to travel the world freely, independent of a set address. All us nomads are not the same in our approach to travel. Some like to bounce frequently between tourist hot spots, spending just a few weeks in a location before moving on to a new place. Others enjoy a slower pace, savoring a temporary home for at least a couple of months. I think this type of slow travel is more enriching for the nomadic lifestyle. It gives you time to deeply experience a country and its culture while balancing of your work schedule with rest and self care. My Digital Nomad Packing List is therefore a collection of both practical travel accessories as well as self-care comforts to create a sense of home wherever you are in the world.

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Universal Power Adapter

Let’s start with some practical travel accessories for electronics and hardware. One of the most important things to consider for working from a laptop in various countries is that everything needs to plug in properly! Don’t forget to pack a universal power adapter with surge protection so that all your electronics will fit into different foreign outlets and work with different voltage if necessary.

External Hard Drive

Something else important to consider with safely working remotely is backing up your important files. This external hard drive is lightweight, available in different storage capacities, and conveniently has both USB and Type C connectivity.

Luggage for Electronics

As someone who’s going to be frequently traveling with electronics, do yourself a favor and invest in a high quality personal sized travel bag that can handle your laptop as well as other essential items you don’t feel comfortable putting in checked luggage.

Portable Cooking Pot

Let’s move on to some items that are just great for frequent longterm travel. It’s certainly easier to feel at home with some home-cooked meals (and kinder to my wallet than eating out constantly!) This portable electric cooking pot is lightweight, easy to pack, and surprisingly versatile. With a non-stick surface, lid, and even a little spatula, I’ve whipped up so many dishes in this thing! Scrambled eggs, pancakes, burgers, stir fry, and the higher heat setting is hot enough to boil water for things like pasta.

Travel Laundry Detergent Packs

Now, being that I typically stay in accommodation that’s an apartment or guesthouse rather than a hotel, sometimes I’ll have the luck of scoring a pad with a washer and laundry detergent available… but sometimes I don’t. In some countries it’s just not common to have a washer in your residence. These handy, compact, packets of concentrated laundry detergent are so easy to travel with. I love that they work fine in both a machine and for hand washing. Update: This brand has recently replaced the dissolving powder with dissolving sheets which are even more compact and convenient!

Favorite Toiletries

Make sure you bring your favorite skin care and hair care items as some countries may not have your preferred products! For example, as a black woman, I make sure to bring my favorite hair products. If you also have thick curly hair, you might like Cantu’s shampoo and conditioner and everyone could benefit from a great set of TSA friendly carry on toiletry containers!

Journal

Let’s end with some items for self care and creating a sense of home. Moving around a lot is an exciting adventure but can also be disorienting and overstimulating. I love to care for my mental health and reduce anxiety through journaling. My writing is not only a crucial tool for calming and organizing my thoughts but it also becomes a wonderful chronicle of my adventures.

Pour Over Coffee Dripper

You may not always find an Airbnb or other lodgings with a coffee maker. I don’t know about you… but I can’t start my day without my morning coffee! A pour over coffee dripper is a great way to make a single cup and they’re small and sturdy enough to easily carry in your luggage. Just bring some paper cone filters and your favorite mug to have your delightful morning routine wherever you are in the world!

Wireless Speaker (Because Music is Life)

My daily life is imbued with music. Sometimes I’m just filling my ears with tunes through my headphones as I go out to explore. But there is something extra special about filling the air of your living space with your favorite songs that makes it feel like home. I do so with my favorite speaker: the Wonderboom. It’s compact, sturdy, has great sound quality and it’s even waterproof. Just be considerate to your neighbors with the volume level.

Picture Frames for Friends and Family Photos

It can be difficult being far away from familiar faces as you travel around the world. Something that makes my accommodations feel super homey and comforting is putting up pictures of my friends and family! Whether it’s these foldout multi-picture frames or these hanging lines for clipped on photos, these styles of frames make it easy to prop up multiple pictures of your loved ones around your accommodations without damaging any surfaces.

A Life in Many Places

Being a Nomad is a different travel experience from simply passing through a city for a few days on vacation. Moving around a lot while keeping up with work responsibilities presents a new kind of challenge in balancing productivity and your basic self-care and happiness. You can take time to nurture your needs with your perfect digital nomad packing list; not just the practical essentials to function but the little personal touches that can give you a sense of home no matter where you are.

Thank you for reading! Is the nomadic life right for you? Read my reasons why I became a Digital Nomad to learn about the pros and cons of this unique lifestyle. If you found this list helpful, I’d love it if you shared it via the social media icons below. Happy traveling!