One of the most tantalizing things about all the technology we have is the ability to work from anywhere. In many fields, it’s no longer necessary to go into an office for eight hours five days a week. The interconnectedness of the web takes care of that necessity. Instead, working from a laptop is becoming more common.
Anywhere
This particular blog post came into being on a counter. It’s not even my counter. Instead, it’s the counter in a kitchen in another state. How cool is that?
Since I write for a living, all I need to do is make sure my laptop survives the flight. Working from a laptop means that one piece of equipment holds my entire business. When it comes with me, I have access to everything I’ve written in the past couple of years, all the pieces of my websites, social media (so much social media), and more. Since all these things are on the web, I just need a connection.
Should I reach the decision to travel for periods of time on end, nothing is stopping me from just packing up my laptop. As the world has become more interconnected, working from a laptop only requires Wi-Fi. In many large airports, Wi-Fi hotspots can be rented for a trip. There are also a great many VPN options available if the work needs to be secure. It just depends on how you need to work.
Anytime
There are a lot of entrepreneurs who swear by strict, repetitive scheduling. I’m not one of them, though I do still believe in schedules. Instead, I plan out my weeks on Sundays. I block my agenda, but I also leave myself open blocks at the end of the week in case I need to move something around. That flexibility is essential for how I run my business.
With that in mind, sometimes I find myself working at odd times. Since I’m running Silver Magpie rather than reporting to a boss, it works out for me. When inspiration strikes at 9pm on a weekday, I can run with it rather than worrying about getting up at 7am to report for work. Working on a flexible schedule creates the same effect.
Writing
I put words on a page for a living. Depending on the project of the day, I may not even have to put pen to paper. Instead, it’s all kept in one space on my laptop. All the brainstorming tends to be digital too. Plus, many of the work assignments I take come from the digital space.
For the most part, I create my own writing area. I like to work from chairs rather than on tables or in bed. Then I put on something for white noise. Currently, that’s Indie Folk music from YouTube. After that, all that’s left is to put my phone on silent and get going. The thing is, I can create the same environment anywhere.
Parting Thoughts
Unfortunately, not every company will adopt flexible work conditions. For those that do or for people who work for themselves though, the freedom of working from a laptop is the best kind of intoxicating.