There’s no doubt about it – our working habits are changing. Forty-one per cent of people are now working at least one day from home, but flexible work arrangements present their own set of challenges. For creatives like freelance stylist Stuart Walford, there are plenty of long days and changing locations to contend with.
“As a freelancer, life is busy,” says Walford. “I meet clients in their offices, I do site visits all over town, I’m in different photographic studios every day.” For Walford, staying equipped with the right gear – from comfortable shoes to reusable coffee cups – is essential to thriving as a busy creative.
“I think it’s about equipping yourself with the tools you need to work quickly and to be able to move about. You don’t want to be let down by slow products.” If you’re working off a machine that allows you to work from anywhere (like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, which has a long battery life and is ultra-thin and lightweight, so easy to cart around) then you need to have the other equipment to match.
Here, Walford takes us through his must-haves for a flexible working environment.
Microsoft Surface Headphones 2
Reliable headphones are essential for the worker on the go and now, given our increased reliance on virtual meetings to keep teams connected, they feel more important than ever. “Before covid, wireless noise cancelling headphones were my essential travel gear for zoning out on long haul flights,” says Walford. “Now, I value them more than ever during a working week as [as I have to log on] to frequent virtual meetings and I prefer these to earbuds… the battery life is so good I honestly can't remember the last time I recharged.”
Frank Green one-litre ceramic reusable bottle
Staying hydrated is a basic commandment for whatever you’re doing, but when you’re constantly on the move, it helps to have a bottle that’s both reliable and stylish. “It’s spill proof – you can just throw it in your bag on the go and there’s no fear of leakage,” says Walford. “The bottle is ceramic lined, so there’s no metal taste when you’re drinking like some other insulated bottles have, which is great.” While keeping your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold, the Frank Green bottle also features a customisable design – with a straw or push-button lid – and custom colour combos.
Huskee Cup reusable eco coffee cup
“I drink maybe three or four strong almond lattes a day,” says Walford. “I’m privileged because there’s always catering, and I’ll never say no to a free coffee.” Caffeine is pretty much non-negotiable regardless of industry, and having a reliable and eco-minded cup is essential. “[This sustainable, reusable coffee cup [is] made from the waste husk leftover from coffee production,” says Walford. The cup has a striking ribbed design, with only two colours to choose from: a natural finish or a charcoal dye, so it can be easily recycled at the end of its life.
Aesop Immediate Moisture Facial Hydrosol
As the day wears on, sometimes a little refreshment is a life saver, particularly in those travel environments like hotels and planes. For Walford, Aesop has the answer. “The hydrosol is an absolute go-to and essential of mine. It’s rose-petal infused – it’s a mist so it refreshes the face, keeps you fresh and focused no matter where you are. I use it at my desk, or if I’m flying interstate for work I use it on the plane, in the hotel. It smells nice, it’s a beautiful product.”
Kiehl’s Butterstick lip treatment untinted
As with the hydrosol, Kiehl’s lip treatment is ideal for travel and offices. “I find that in those sorts of environments the air really dries out my lips,” says Walford. “So just like the hydrosol for my face, if I’m working 14 or 15 hours a day, I just throw a bit of the Kiehl’s butter stick on and it just helps keep me feel how I felt at the start of the day.” Kiehl’s Butterstick is made from coconut oil and lemon butter, with either untinted (as Walford prefers) or tinted for a splash of colour.
Orbitkey Nest portable desk organiser with wireless charger
Between dead phones and lost keys, the nomadic life of the flexible worker can sometimes be a
little hard to keep straight. Enter the Orbitkey. “If you’re prone to
losing all your small loose items - which I just throw in my bag and can never find - this
houses them all in this little nest. You can organise your keys, credit cards, USBs, y’know, whatever you might need for your type of work. Then once you close the nest it’s a wireless charger, so you can just pop your phone or your earbuds in and charge it all day while working on your laptop at your hot desk or wherever you might be.”
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Microsoft Surface to launch the new Laptop 4. It’s designed for the worker on the go: long battery life, an ultra-thin and lightweight design, touchscreen capabilities, immersive studio quality sound and HD video calls. It's stylish too - think of it as a very functional accessory. Find out more.
