I like to consider myself as the “Girl on the Go,” because I don’t really have an office space. For work, I’m constantly on the field to different schools and organizations, so I have to create my own office space everywhere I go. After experimenting a bit, I finally found a way to make my “Girl on the Go” lifestyle work. Here are my five tips for a manageable “Walking Office:”
MY WALKING OFFICE
1. Sturdy Bag
- A tote bag, briefcase, or backpack is the heart of a “Walking Office.” When I was on the hunt for a bag, I knew that this piece would be an investment. Three years ago, I worked part-time at the 5th Market in Eugene, Oregon. At that time, Will Leather Goods opened their red “Box Car” store there. It was love at first sight when I saw the Lennon Backpack. Everything about it was perfect: The multiple compartments for bits and bobs, the rugged vintage adventurer look, and most of all, the craftsmanship. I just knew that its high quality materials would offer me a long-lasting friend. Lucky for me, employees of 5th Market received a bit of a discount! I saved all the tips that I earned in order to finally purchase one. Since I knew I would probably keep it forever, I also got it monogramed. Three years later, this backpack became one of the best investments that I’ve made. I still carry it around on my “Girl on the Go” work days, and it still feels brand new.
2. Go Electronic
- Saving trees (and the load on your back) is always a good idea. Whenever possible, I try to keep schedules, notes, etc. on my phone or laptop. On that note, I chose the Macbook Air for this reason. I wanted something lightweight and easy to carry around, so the Air fits the bill!
3. The Binder/Planner
- I feel a bit contradictory now. Sometimes, it’s not always so easy to save trees. There are just some things that work better with paper. To keep all my paper documents in place, I use a binder to house them all. I wrote an “Inside My Binder/Planner” post about this matter on The Inkformant. Take a look at the following link for more details: Inside My Binder/Planner.
4. Plan Ahead
- This is probably the best lesson that I’ve learned about time management, and how I make the “Girl on the Go” lifestyle less chaotic. Take 10-15 minutes the night before to plan out what you need to carry in your “Walking Office” for the following day – maybe you don’t necessarily to bring the laptop, or perhaps you need to include a book in your bag to teach the students that day. Whatever the circumstances, planning ahead the night before forces you to be more organized. Furthermore, your mornings become more relaxed and streamlined. All you need to do is grab your “Walking Office” and go!
5. Pack Light
- Keeping everything light and compact is key. I look for items that are lightweight (i.e. Macbook Air) and only carry what I need for the day (i.e. one or two pens instead of my whole pen collection). Overall, a minimally-packed “Walking Office” is the secret weapon for the “Girl on the Go!”
