Photo by Nubelson Fernandes, Unsplash.

One of the greatest privileges of working in technology today is that many of us, developers, engineers, and designers, don’t need to be tied to a single physical location. But in order to really take advantage of this freedom, we need to make a few intentional changes in how we work.

The first step is learning to work light. Many people feel locked to their setup: a large external monitor, a mechanical keyboard, an ergonomic mouse, or even a desktop PC. These tools can be great, but they can also create invisible chains. If you feel like you can only be productive with your “perfect setup,” it becomes much harder to move, travel, or work from anywhere new. The key is to get comfortable working directly with your laptop. To train this, try stepping away from your desk for a while, spend a day working in a library, a co-working space, or even a coffee shop. Little by little, you’ll reduce that dependency and discover that your productivity doesn’t have to live in one spot.

Why does this matter so much? Because if we think about it, from the age of 20 onward, we’ll likely spend 40 to 60 years of our lives working. That also means we only get 40 to 60 springs, summers, autumns, and winters to experience. And for those lucky enough to live in countries with all four seasons, it’s even more important not to miss them. Each season carries its own beauty, and it would be a shame to spend them all staring at the same wall.

On top of this, technology-related jobs are growing fast, and with them, our daily screen time keeps increasing. That’s exactly why it’s so valuable to change your environment, move around, and let your surroundings refresh you. A static setup might be comfortable, but a flexible lifestyle is what keeps you energized and balanced.

In the end, working light isn’t just about productivity. It’s about creating the freedom to explore, to experience, and to enjoy life while we work.