Quiet places to work remotely (2023)

When you can work from anywhere and know where to find the best places to work remotely, you have almost anything at your fingertips - sun and surf, awe-inspiring views, an afternoon of wine or beer (I'm not here to judge).

But if you don't have your own office - or if you're traveling far from your home office - there's one thing you can't count on anywhere:A quiet spot with WiFi to get some real work done.

The term "quiet" is relative. You may need absolute silence, a little space, or something else.white noise.Everyone is different, and your own remote working style will determine what works best for you and what types of quiet spaces work for you.

You'll be less productive in your remote work if you're stuck in a booth, working for a boss and talking to most passers-by and co-workers. As digital nomads and remote workers, you need to figure out how to be productive when working for yourself. You need to find the best places to work remotely and focus - no matter where you are in the world. A daunting but doable task.

How to set up a silent space for remote work

Before we talk about the good things about quiet rooms for working with reliable Wi-Fi, let's first talk about setup when working remotely (which is often not an easy task (which is why you're reading this article).

So let's configure:

1. Use noise canceling headphones

Imagine you're sitting in an airport (I bet you are) and people keep walking past you. Or you're in coworking spaces and everyone wants to come talk to you.

The only time noise canceling headphones didn't work for me was when I was working in Buenos Aires. I was in my own apartment on a conference call when suddenly the utility company picked upstone crusherunannounced on the side of the building. Video calls dropped when the power went out... but that's another subject and story.

Noise canceling headphones won't block out a jackhammer below you, but they can block out most background noise. An added bonus is that it allows you to fully focus on your remote work.

Pro tip: When people, especially other digital nomads and remote workers, see you with those giant earmuffs that wrap around your ears and your laser focus, they tend to give you your space and leave you alone.

I've tested dozens of in-ear headphones and over-the-ear headphones, and my favorite — based on feedback from people who can actually hear me and based on the amount of background noise reduced — is the Logitech USB Headset.

Another pro tip: The $30 USB headphones are actually better for noise cancellation to keep you on track with your remote work than the pricier wireless version.

2. Set up a mobile hotspot

Don't you like sitting down to work and ordering your latte and cookies at your favorite coffee shop in New York, San Diego or San Francisco? Imagine what a long day it would seem like when you find out you can't get online to work remotely after making all those plans to sit down and work in a great place. Try to imagine his disappointment when he approached the barista, who told him that the wi-fi was down and the technician would not arrive until the next day. bad luck for you.

As a backup for digital nomads and remote workers, amobile wifi hotspot, also calledI am, should be at the top of yourpacking list.Unless you want an all-day or weekend getaway working remotely from a coffee shop, coworking space, or other space with Wi-Fi access, as we'll see shortly, you need backup.

I use oneT-Mobile-Hotspotthis is paid monthly upfront and I also have a T-Mobile iPhone which allows me to upgrade and downgrade my plan to extra gigabytes very quickly when I no longer need the WiFi boost.

Whether you only use them for weekend trips, do some outdoor activities like exploring a national park, attending sporting events, or staying and living in another warm-weather city or country for a month or more to withstand the harsh winter months, avoid, with a mobile Wi-Fi you can easily spend time in the best places to work remotely.

Phones as access points almost reach the performance of phoneless access point. However, for digital nomads working remotely, it makes more sense to have both. Using your phone as a hotspot is a great backup, but it also uses up more battery. I don't want to use Wi-Fi, so I recommend both.

3. Get comfortable, gain strength, block time

Quiet often means sitting down and working remotely for a while. So plan things like:

• comfortable sitting with back support
• near outlets or power adapters
• Check opening times for closing times

4. Consider using white noise

Get your favorite music playlist to focus on when background noise and headphones aren't enough to draw your attention to your remote work tasks.

5. Plan for interruptions

Some people love to talk - no matter where you are or what you're doing. Headphones and that laser focus staring at the screen while you're working remotely will distract a lot of potential switches. But sometimes it's unavoidable, even when you're in quiet spaces like an office or coworking space.

One of the best phrases I've come across in recent years when someone interrupts your quiet time for remote work is to simply say that you're getting ready for a meeting or that you have a lot of things to do and a deadline is due. . Politely setting boundaries is great when you're unintentionally interrupted, especially in quiet spaces dedicated to digital nomads working remotely.

Most importantly, get back to work immediately. Don't let your flow of ideas get interrupted and take a break to check out more "fun" things to do, like top attractions on the East Coast, Fort Lauderdale or the Grand Canyon, the Pacific Coast, San Francisco, New York or San Diego.

Okay… Now that you're comfortable, have your Wi-Fi hotspot or other internet connection, and noise canceling headphones, you're primed for anti-shatter focus and have a time and space when your energy just isn't working. runs out or the store doesn't close - you're ready to enter the zone.

Where are the best quiet places to work with Wi-Fi?

If you're a business traveler (or mobile worker), here are some of the best places to work remotely when you need to strive to come up with great ideas and deliver quality work.

airports

i love airports Really. You have everything you need: Wi-Fi (if not free then through partners likeboingo), coffee, food, restrooms, seats, electrical outlets.

I don't mind a long layover or even an overnight stay (as long as I'm prepared) because airports offer great places to work and rest.

With a little preparation, like features like noise-cancelling headphones and a Wi-Fi hotspot, you can create peaceful spaces in which to work remotely and brainstorm your next big ideas. There are so many strangers around you that you can easily be ignored. Find a great spot near a plug and get to work!

Coworking Spaces

There is probably no better place to work than the mix of traditional office interiors and the new world of flexible entrepreneurship than the concept of coworking spaces. Virtually every major city – and many smaller ones – have coworking spaces available and can offer the best places to work remotely when you see the world.

In case you didn't know, coworking spaces are shared office spaces where you can basically rent a desk alongside other startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

These are typically modern style open plan offices where individual homeowners as well as start-ups and growing companies can find affordable and dedicated spaces to work remotely within their budget.

Much of the coworking space industry caters to companies that don't need a lot of dedicated space and want to spend less and share other office expenses. They are also aimed at local solopreneurs who don't like working from home.

And most of them, usually in the big cities, have one or two desks available for short-term rental... for example, if you're passing through or visiting for a few days and just need a quiet, professional office to take care of yourself. even configured.

Of course, there's a cost component to consider when collaborating, but you're pretty much guaranteed a place to focus on your work without being completely isolated.

You also have a solid Wi-Fi connection (I can't think of a coworking space that doesn't), which you know is a must when working on the go.

Many coworking spaces are divided into separate levels. The traditional coworking space might also be called a “hot desk” — an open floor plan surrounded by a bunch of other busy bees just like you.

Of course, the only potential downside to this type of setup is a distraction. Community sharing is great and valuable, but it doesn't get the real work done without interruption. Coworking spaces often also have the option of having your own office or renting a conference room.

If you need a quiet place to work without distractions, opt for the private space or conference room.

Pro Tip: If the conference room or office has windows, close the door and stand with your back to the windows for as little of a view as possible (no interruptions allowed). If all sides are windows, be sure to wear those headphones and make little eye contact.

cafés

Wi-Fi is practically ubiquitous even in coffee shops these days. Most of them are fine if you're camping in an outlet for hours, but only if you ask for it and leave a nice tip every few hours!

This may not be the best solution if you need absolute silence to get work done, but many people find background noise to be white noise, and the ability to people-watch provides enough of a distraction to divert attention, to completely wander off. .

Some cafes have conference rooms or private rooms that you can rent or get there early to get a good seat.

Turn it on and find a quiet cafe nearby or in a new neighborhood - this is a great way to find a seat or table, unfamiliar faces for less conversation and a little caffeine on hand to soothe those productive hours.

Find some great collaborative cafesHere.

Rent an AirBnB studio

Rent a private room, or better yet, a studioAirBnbit can really help you find some quiet time for yourself. A studio does not allow roommates or distractions.

Tip: Before you book, make sure this is one of the best places to work remotely. That means they must have good wifi. To test Wi-Fi, you can ask your potential host to accessspeedtest.net.

The minimum connection I recommend is 8GB, but that depends on what you're doing.

If you're just checking email or making a simple Skype call, 4 MB is enough.

If you are videoconferencing and sending files, I recommend 20MB. Learn more about itWi-Fi speeds required for remote workHere.

The right precautions can mean the difference between productivity and scarcity.

The cost difference between private and shared will likely be the difference between less stress and business progress versus delays and lower productivity.

Your car/boat/van/RV

deadly serious This is one of the best places to work remotely. Of course, it only works if your trips involve a personal vehicle, whether it's your own car, a rental car, or borrowed from a friend - it's probably not worth the Uber fares 🙂

Some may object to the cramped space and lack of amenities offered by a typical car or boat, but there are actually many advantages to using a floating or four-wheel office.

First, you have complete privacy. You don't have to worry about someone making rules or causing a distraction. Your space is all yours, like having your own office (small, no bathroom).

Second, you can get a corner view of the office if you want. A scenic vantage point, the top of a downtown parking lot, perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean - whichever vista you want to visit, your car will get you there and provide a peaceful place to work on the arrival.

Last but not least, your car (or boat or van/RV) provides an easy way to get connected almost anywhere. Many stores, including large department stores, chain supermarkets and, of course, coffee shops, now offer free Wi-Fi to anyone within range. Find a parking spot nearby and off you go.

I spent months working on my houseboat in Seattle, and this morning I was working in my Mitsubishi Delica overlooking the Pacific Ocean... until the beautiful sunset. A T-Mobile hotspot and a 12 hour battery life (ok... 8 hours). on my Macbook Air, with a laptop desk, good 4G signal and a latte and it's the best quiet spot - with the best view.

libraries

Libraries used to be the best place to get work done. Quiet, technologically connected in an age when many companies weren't (though not dial-up!), and the best repositories for research material you're likely to find anywhere.

Things have changed a little – okay, a lot – for libraries in the internet age, with virtually all of the world's information now at your fingertips and digital communication anywhere on the globe available in your pocket.

But…

Libraries are still great places to get some work done when you need some quiet time and don't have an office to go to. Librarians are great about enforcing the "silence" rule, and most offer free Wi-Fi.

Some even offer private or even soundproofed study rooms to really keep distractions out, and if for whatever reason you want or need a book - in the age of Google, there's plenty to hand.

Public parks and campsites

While not always reliable WiFi (hence theMobile hotspot backup), you can still find free networks in many city centers and even parks. Several campsites have Wi-Fi and you can work from your moving truck or picnic table again!

If you don't have a hotspot or your phone doesn't have hotspot capabilities to help you find the best places to work remotely, change that. For the traveling entrepreneur/freelancer, it pays for itself many times over!

Get started without being tied to an office

Freedom. That's what our lifestyle is all about and that's what we build our professional life around. This doesn't mean we work less or are less productive, it just means we are getting more creative in the way we do things.

Finding the best places to work remotely in every city in the world — and every city not in-between — is just one of the perks of the job.

These are some solutions to the situation of loneliness at work. Is your favorite on the list? Do you have any other tips to share? Let me know in the comments and tell everyone in the world where you're posting from!