I've lived out of my suitcase for 3 years as a digital nomad. Here's what I always pack — from my carry-on essentials to electronics.

Digital nomad Meagan Drillinger swears by five must-have essentials after living out of her suitcase for three years. See her packing list.

• Meagan Drillinger has traveled from continent to continent and brings only the essentials with her. 
• As she has gotten older, her packing list of "must haves" has  grown to fit her needs.
• She said one pro tip is to always wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane.

In January 2021, I traded in my NYC apartment for a carry-on and kissed much of my material possessions goodbye. What I thought was going to be an immensely difficult adjustment turned out to be one of the most freeing decisions I've ever made. 

Realizing that you can live with less has not only saved money over the years (bye-bye, Amazon addiction) but has helped to shift my priorities. I now believe if you can't carry it, you may not need it.

Now that I'm older, I can't just roll out of bed and maintain an air of effortlessness — at 22, I used to travel 10 to 12 times a year with little more than a few pairs of leggings, face wash, and a toothbrush. Now that I'm 36 and on the road full-time, skincare and fitness matter more and my packing list of "must haves" has grown to fit my style and needs. 

As pared down as this list is, some of it could still be left behind if necessary, but I believe I've found a great balance between routine, comfort, and traveling light.

1. The essentials

It may go without saying, but I always have my passport with me. I'm also sure to check what countries need travel visas in advance. The other essential item I never travel without is insurance. I purchased Allianz AllTrips Basic, which offers year-long protection for one rate of $125 per year and covers any kind of trip up to 45 days in one destination. 

2. The carry-on and checked bag

I use a combination of a carry-on-sized bag, which I check, and a travel duffel. I love this travel duffel because it has a zipper compartment underneath that can hold three to four pairs of shoes. I'm not exactly a suitcase expert but I'm partial to the hardcase spinner wheel suitcases. I bought a dupe of a bag from the popular but pricey brand Away — which I hear are worth the splurge — and it's just not the same, so I plan to buy a real Away bag next year.

Recently I've come to cave to the cross-body bag obsession, so much so that I've done away with a purse altogether. Cross-body bags are incredibly useful: Mine holds my credit cards, small sunscreen, sunglasses, headphones, lip gloss, and, if we're at the airport, the passports and boarding passes, saving me valuable minutes instead of rummaging through a large purse.

3. A capsule wardrobe 

If you're on the road full-time, you will usually have the opportunity to do laundry, so never pack as much as you think you need. My capsule wardrobe includes two pairs of long pants, two pairs of shorts, five neutral-colored tank tops or t-shirts, joggers or leggings, dresses, a cardigan, two bathing suits, underwear, socks, bras, and sports bras. 

I also pack a pair of sandals and running sneakers and, if there's room, dress shoes and hiking shoes. That shoe compartment holds a lot. Pro tip: Always wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane.

I try to tailor nicer pieces based on wherever I'm going, like resort-style flowing dresses for tropical destinations or more business-casual items for cities. A real challenge has been this most recent trip I'm currently on, which is a six-month adventure across Africa, the US, Canada, and Mexico — three climate zones. But with a capsule wardrobe, I'm covered — as long as my hat, gloves, and down jacket are on standby at my in-laws' house in Canada.

4. My health and beauty must-haves

Maintaining any sort of fitness or beauty routine on the road can be difficult, but the right toolkit has given me consistency. I always bring a travel blender (I recently discovered this USB-c chargeable blender) and supplements, like protein powder and vitamins. Taking 1000mg of vitamin C daily has kept me cold-free for more than a year. I pack protein bars for when it's a long time between meals; no one is fun to travel with when they have hunger rage.

I also never travel without Advil, Benadryl, cold medication, and fiber supplements. If you can stock up on an antibiotic like Ciprofloxacin, I recommend you do — it will come in handy for a wide range of bacterial infections like traveler's diarrhea or UTIs. (Of course, check with your doctor before you start taking any kind of medication.) My husband always packs mini scissors for grooming. Our water bottles are always within easy reach.

My skincare bag has gotten out of control in the past, but I've found the essentials to be a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, and eye cream. The other toiletry musts are fairly obvious: shampoo, conditioner, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Face wipes have come in handy numerous times, especially on long-haul flights or the unexpected overnight in an airport or car. 

When I check my luggage, I always pack a change of clothes and essential toiletries in my carry-on in case the luggage gets lost, which happened to my husband's bag, along with his wedding suit, while en route from Croatia to our wedding in New York. (They found it in time, but it's never a fun scenario to be in.) 

5. My on-the-go office 

Since I live on the road, I also work on the road, so my mobile office is ready to go at all times. In addition to my iPhone (which is also my camera), laptop, and power cables, I have a universal adapter for international plugs along with extra charging blocks and USB-C cables. My husband has insisted we travel with a small dashcam whenever we rent a car for added liability protection in case we get into an accident. He's also in charge of pre-loading his iPad with movies and TV shows for those times when we're stuck somewhere without power. 

Living out of a suitcase has changed my life for the better in so many ways, even though it comes with certain sacrifices, uncertainties, and discomforts. If you've ever had the urge to see how far and for how long you can go, it will teach you everything you've ever wanted to know about the world and yourself — and learn to live with only what you need.

 Meagan Drillinger is a travel writer and digital nomad originally from New York. She now lives on the road full-time.