When the world is facing real challenges, most of us became uncertain about the future. Many young people who previously were depending on a location started to look for alternatives like working online. Digital nomads always sounded intriguing and exotic. Imagining a girl with a bikini in Bali sipping cocktail and typing on her computer? Yeah, me too. So how to become that super mystical digital nomad?
What is a digital nomad?
You probably saw all those people always traveling, every day changing locations, being in the best new hot spots. Have you ever caught yourself wondering what they are doing for a living? Yeah. They are probably digital nomads, working remotely, which means they are not dependent on a location. Some companies do not require you to be in the office all the time, letting you work from anywhere in the world. Or you can always work for yourself as a freelancer. All you need is a computer, passport, credit card, and you are ready to go!
Pros and cons of being a digital nomad
Before making your decision, you should go through the pros and cons. Becoming a digital nomad means living an independent life. That should not be a problem for your family or friends. On the other hand, if you and your partner have the same freedom to work remotely, you can definitely have a blast together. Traveling opens possibilities of meeting new and exciting people. You are not dependable on one salary, and this opens opportunities to way better income. For some cons, consider loneliness, feeling of not having a home, experiencing short term friendships, and not knowing what will come next.
Where should I go to work remotely?
Unless you enjoy Christmas all year long, I’d say choose a warm place. Being happy and getting enough vitamin D is crucial to our brains! That’s why most digital nomads love places like Bali (Indonesia), Thailand, or Mexico. Sometimes, it’s very individual, and you can go to a place like Rovaniemi instead. Think of what you love to do when not working. If you enjoy the beach, sun, tan, and yoga, you know where to go. Just remember, it may be different from what you saw in the “Eat, Pray, Love” movie. Here’s a list of the latest hot spots for you and your laptop.
How to find a digital job then?
Think of your strengths. What is it that you do best? It’s quite easy for web designers, writers, developers, or even accountants to work from anywhere. But what to do for those who do not have a particular skill? Think outside the box (haha) and search for a job like a success manager, translator, or photographer. After that, search for job offers. Visit sites like WWR, Remote OK, or UpWork to find a perfect task for your next destination.
Engage with like-minded community
As you know, always traveling, especially alone, can sometimes feel lonely. Not talking about lonely souls, but it’s nice from time to time to get your heart open to a true friend. Try to engage with like-minded communities like Nomad List and keep in touch with people with similar lifestyles. No one except people in the same situation will know how it feels to work remotely, travel, and be a little uncertain sometimes. Maybe you can try to find some inner peace and strength while being a nomad.
Become an entrepreneur
When you do a little freelancing, most likely, you will think of something you can do as an entrepreneur. Maybe you’ll find a perfect product to dropship online or will start running a creative agency. Incorporate these useful resources into your daily routine:
- Reading entrepreneur.com
- Checking on forbes.com/entrepreneurs
- Exploring medium.com/topic/startups
- Watching ted.com/topics/entrepreneur
- Read squareup.com/us/en/townsquare/how-to-start-a-business
And please do remember that success is not going to come overnight. You’ll need to work twice as hard as you used before.
Planning is the key to living nomad
It may seem that this kind of lifestyle can be all joy and benefits, but it also requires all the will power you have. Without someone looking through your shoulder might be easier, but it’s your responsibility to get things done and on time. Nomad living routine can be stressful too. For making it easier, use tools like Asana, Slack, Google Sheets to track your progress. If you’re going to work as a freelancer, make sure to track your budget too. Most of the banks will offer a custom feature of the savings plan.
Instead of conclusion
Big plans require preparation. And for this adventure, we advise you to start small and test out your options. If you have a stable job and income, try saving a little bit first, so you can be sure you can keep up with life if something doesn’t work out as planned. Then, set up a calendar of your tasks. It helps if you visually see your one year plan. Plans will change, but at least you will see how much money you will need for a living and decide on your rates. If you read one of those stories, “I quit my job and flew to Bali the next day”, don’t worry. It probably didn’t happen overnight. There’s a bigger picture behind it, and be sure to see it!
