r/digitalnomadFIRE

We work in remote access, so naturally we think a lot about lightweight work setups while traveling.

One use case we find really interesting is the idea of traveling without carrying a full laptop setup.

Instead:

• tablet
• phone
• compact keyboard
• remote access back to a home workstation

For a surprising amount of work, it’s actually been pretty workable:

• docs/admin work
• file access
• lightweight workflows

That said, internet quality and latency still make or break the experience, and there are definitely tasks that still feel much better on a physical machine.

Feels like we’re reaching a point where people might not need to carry all their computing power with them all the time anymore.

Curious how others think about this:
What still absolutely requires a laptop for you when traveling?

Lately I feel like I’m constantly “online,” even when I’m technically off work.

The AI boom has made work feel nonstop and I’ve been struggling to mentally disconnect. I’ll finish meetings and realize I barely processed parts of them because my brain is overloaded. Then I try to spend time with my kids and I’m so mentally drained that I’m only half present.

That part honestly bothers me the most.

I’ve talked a little with friends/family, but sometimes I don’t want to keep repeating the same stress or sound like I’m not handling things well.

Curious if other remote/digital workers have been feeling this lately too.

I’m 30 years old and I’ve been working since I was 14. I started in hospitality and later worked in manual labor and mechanical jobs. I also completed a mechanical apprenticeship and studied mechatronics engineering, but I never really worked in that engineeringfield.

I’ve realized over the years that a traditional 9–5 environment really doesn’t suit me. I’ve always preferred working independently and I’ve been able to push through physically and mentally demanding jobs, but I don’t want to continue that path long-term.

Right now I’ve saved around 20'000€ and I’m trying to make a change towards a remote lifestyle where I can work from different countries. I’m open to learning new skills from scratch – I currently don’t have strong programming experience (only some basic C from university).

I’m motivated, disciplined, and I can learn consistently if I have a clear direction.

I’ve traveled a bit (Vietnam for two weeks, which I really liked). I could also imagine living in places like Thailand, Portugal, or Brazil, but I’m open to other suggestions.

My main questions are:

• What skill would you start learning in my situation to become remote?
• Is 20'000€ enough to start this transition safely?
• What path would realistically give the highest chance of success for someone starting from scratch at 30?

Appreciate any honest advice.