One Step Closer: Build Your Work-from-Anywhere Toolkit Before You Pack a Bag

Dreaming of a remote lifestyle? Here’s one smart step to take before you book a flight: build your work-from-anywhere tech toolkit so you’re ready for anything.

Welcome to One Step Closer, a no-fluff series to help you take small, intentional steps toward a location-independent life—without burning out or starting over.

Nothing sucks the fun out of these beautiful views like tech problems.

When I found myself staring down a deadline from a rural house rental in Nicaragua with no wifi or cell signal, I realized something: I hadn’t actually built a work-from-anywhere setup.

I’d just attempted to relocate my home office and hoped for the best.

I had the wrong local SIM for that region. No vehicle to get to the nearest town. No idea if there were cafes anywhere nearby (there were not). Just a sinking feeling and a half-written document sitting there in the cloud.

Today’s step is not glamorous, but it’s powerful.

Set Up Your Work-from-Anywhere Toolkit (Before You Leave Home)

One of the best ways to prepare for location independence is to build and test your tech systems now, while you're still in a stable environment. That way, when you do leave, whether it’s for a one-month trial run or a full-time shift, you’re not troubleshooting in a hotel lobby.

Here’s what to start with: