Description:
6 Answers
Two words: massage appointments. Build it into your budget as a business expense. When you're constantly adapting to new ergonomic situations, your body needs help resetting. I book a deep tissue massage every two weeks wherever I am. Cheaper in Southeast Asia, admittedly more expensive in Western Europe, but always worth it.
After trying EVERYTHING, I finally invested in an actual travel ergonomic kit: inflatable lumbar support, ultralight keyboard, and the key piece - a lightweight seat cushion that has saved my tailbone on countless wooden coffee shop chairs. Together they take up less space than a pair of shoes in my suitcase. Worth. Every. Penny.
Unpopular opinion but... standing setups. I use a packing cube filled with books/stuff to elevate my laptop on whatever surface is available, and I work standing for 25-min intervals. No extra equipment needed beyond what I already carry. Also, I do a 7-minute yoga routine every morning that's specifically for desk workers - search 'nomad morning stretches' on YouTube.
The trick is booking smart. I stopped using traditional Airbnbs and started using workation-specific platforms that guarantee proper desk setups. More expensive? Yes. But my productivity and physical health make it worth it. Also: resistance bands take up virtually no space but give you the ability to counteract all that typing/mousing with some antagonist muscle work.
Game-changer for me has been a collapsible laptop stand + foldable keyboard + travel mouse combo. The Roost stand weighs nothing and packs flat, so I can get proper eye level anywhere. I also roll up a travel jacket to make a lumbar support for whatever chair I end up with. Oh and a tennis ball for rolling out tight muscles - takes up no space!
I bought one of those tiny foldable laptop stands on Amazon for like $15, its AMAZING. Also get an external keyboard that folds in half. Literal gamechanger for my neck and shoulders. I used to get killer headaches after 3 hours of work, now I can go all day. Also - dont underestimate how much better you'll feel if you just get up and move every hour!
Join the conversation and help others by sharing your insights.
Log in to your account or create a new one — it only takes a minute and gives you the ability to post answers, vote, and build your expert profile.
