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The before and after of my 'office' in Medellin was wild | Digital Nomad Life - Librear

The before and after of my 'office' in Medellin was wild

Got to my Airbnb in Laureles last month, set up in the 'dedicated workspace' they advertised. It was a tiny plastic table in the corner of the bedroom, wobbly as heck, with a single power outlet two feet away. My back was killing me after two days. I finally caved and spent about $80 at a local market on a proper desk, a real office chair, and a 10-foot extension cord. The difference after just one weekend of setup was insane. I'm not hunched over my laptop anymore, my gear is all plugged in without a mess of cables, and I can actually focus for a full work block. It's crazy how a small investment in your actual work spot can change your whole mood and output. Anyone else had to do a major workspace rescue after arriving somewhere new?

3 comments

3 Comments

anderson.sandra6mo ago

Wait, Medellin's in Colombia, not Brazil.

emeryw166mo ago

Was it one of those tiny white plastic tables that feels like it'll snap if you rest your elbows on it? I read a blog post from a digital nomad who said the same thing, that the biggest upgrade for his work in Latin America wasn't faster internet, it was just buying a solid table and a lamp. That small stuff totally makes or breaks your day. Your point about the mood change is so true, it goes from a constant annoyance to actually feeling like you can get stuff done. Spending that $80 sounds like it saved your sanity.

hunt.shane6mo ago

Okay but come on, is a wobbly table really a sanity issue? People work on park benches and in coffee shops all the time. It's just a table. The real problem is probably needing a reason to not work, and a bad table is a handy excuse. If a lamp and a flat surface are all it takes to fix your whole mood, maybe the work itself is the bigger drag.