What is a digital nomad? A digital nomad is an individual who frequently travels while working remotely. Thanks to technology and telecommuting, people are open to more than just a single office or place of business.
The idea that we can work from anywhere worldwide can seem daunting. People might enjoy working in a traditional office environment, which can provide consistency and stability. But on the other hand, remote work can also deliver that same level of strength while also giving something not usually found in an office, an adventure.
Now, adventure means different things to different people. To some, it means scaling a mountain; to others, it's a road trip. Regardless of how you define it, the digital nomadic lifestyle can benefit everyone by offering us more opportunities, expanding our networks and social circles, and giving us more control over our work-life balance.
Adopting a whole new lifestyle is a big decision, with pro sand cons depending on your situation. Asking yourself if remote work works for you is essential if you're considering switching from office life.
The main benefit of the digital nomad lifestyle is flexibility. You get to choose how you work. If you prefer the comfort of your home or plan to see the world, remote work lets you adapt your daily routine to better reflect your goals. Incorporate the lifestyle at your own pace, in your own way. If all of that still interests you, remote work may be the perfect fit.
If you’re interested in embracing the ways of the digital nomad, there are some essential things to ask yourself.
· What are your travel goals?
· What are your financial goals?
· What do I enjoy doing, and can I do it online?
For example, are you the outdoorsy type? Do you prefer a more secluded Air BNB or campground than a luxury hotel? Or are you the complete opposite and feel that luxury and relaxation are the only priorities when picking your next travel destination? Knowing the type of travel you want to experience will impact your decision when looking for remote work. It can make the transition to digital life much smoother.
Now, let’s get started.
The most important aspect of becoming a digital nomad is making your money as flexible and mobile as you. Luckily, there are many possibilities to find meaningful work that can be done digitally and find ways to cover expenses and travel costs.
Job Boards (Easy)
Remote Job Boards offer a streamlined method of finding remote-friendly work opportunities quickly. The jobs are often diverse and offer quality pay ranges. Earning a salary from your laptop while moving simplifies covering travel costs. Here are some helpful job boards to check out and get you started:
1. Indeed
2. Remote.co
4. Power to Fly
5. Go Overseas
6. Workaway
Freelancing (Medium)
Freelancing and the digital nomad lifestyle go together. Freelancing offers flexibility and gives you more control over your time, which is vital when traveling. Use a skill you have to offer as a freelance service or develop one as you go to create work for yourself that matches your schedule.
Some of the topfreelance services include:
· Content Marketing
· UserGenerated Content Development
· Copywriting and Editing
· Virtual Assistants
· Graphic Design
· Web Development
· Social Media Management
Entrepreneurship (Difficult)
Starting your own business may sound too big of a task if you only want to travel more, but there is no better way to set your own hours or take control of your own life than by being your own boss. You don’t need to have the next billion-dollar idea or be an established company with hundreds of employees to start your own business. All you need is an idea, a plan, and some drive to get started.
In my travels, what need have I seen not being met? Could you fill that need? Is there something someone else is doing that you could do better?
Answer those questions and see if it leads to a business solely run by you and your laptop.
This is the hardest part of becoming a digital nomad. The digital nomad lifestyle is all about flexibility, but with flexibility comes discipline. It can be easy for someone used to the micromanagement of the office to get swept up in the freedom of remote work. Their productivity can start to falter, and deadlines can be missed. When you don’t have a boss breathing down your neck, you must be the one to make sure that the work you need to do gets done.
Ironically, the opposite can also be said. On average, people who work from home are 7% to 13% more productive than in-office workers. By eliminating the daily commute and minimizing meeting times, remote workers have more time to do the job they get paid to do. If left unchecked, this can lead to burnout.
The answer to avoiding burnout… routine, organization, and balance.
As a digital nomad, throwing routine out the door can be easy. More reason we need to prioritize it. If we are on the go, waking up indifferent cities and sometimes different time zones, we need to guarantee to crave a work schedule and stick to it.
For example, suppose you are traveling through London but are working remotely for a company based in Los Angeles. In that case, your workday ends when your coworkers’ day begins. To protect your work, you’ll need to ensure that your coworkers are set up for success as they start their workday so you can also enjoy your evening in peace.
Routine is essential to maintain the work-life balance needed to embrace the digital nomad lifestyle.
Balance takes focus. If you are a remote worker, you understand that to stay focused, you must stay organized, manage your time, and minimize distractions. There are several ways to do this:
1. Lighten your load.
Lighten your load both physically and figuratively. Digitize everything and simplify every procedure so all you need to carry around with you is your laptop. That'll help you stay organized, so you're not moving around, setting up, and taking down an entire office with you everywhere you go. Next, have a structured, organized checklist for the tasks you need to accomplish.
Prioritize what needs to get done first and work down thelist. This helps you stay mentally organized, which is a vital skill to havewhen traveling. Instead of having 100 things to do, you have ten things to doeach day. You can break it down further, checking off the three most importantthings first so your coworkers don’t have to worry about whether the job willget done.
2. Manage your time.
This is a big one. Nothing is worse than thinking you haveall the time in the world to meet a deadline, only to remember that youtraveled to Australia. Still, you work in Seattle, and you've lost a full day,thanks to the time difference.
You can get the most out of the digital nomad lifestyle if you manage your time. For example, if you opt to work your regular hours abroad, you can enjoy your entire day before sitting down to work. Working at different hours of the day allows you more freedom and flexibility than if you stuck to the usual 9 to 5. Be wary of your time and your time zone, so you can be the true expert in your schedule.
3. Cut out the noise.
Focusing on boring stuff like work can be tricky in a new, exciting environment with so many things to try and experience. To help fight this and protect your job, it helps to cut out the noise. Find a quiet place that you can designate as your workspace. Finding shared coworking environments where people from around the world can hang out and work on their projects or ventures can be fun. Coworking spaces help you get that social feeling of being back in the office but in an exotic location with new and exciting people.
Do Not Disturb is your friend. There’s nothing better than getting the notifications that our travel pics are blowing up, but that can be a big distraction when trying to focus. Silence your non-essential notifications, work fast to get the job done right, and turn them back on.
Combining all these allows you to build a healthy, productive routine that does not rely on your location. That way, you can maintain your day-to-day, establish structure, and thrive wherever you are.
Staying organized in everyday life requires some administration on our part. We must keep track of spending habits, income, and stable finances. It’s even more important when on the road. This is why it's essential to ask about your travel goals early. Travel will cost money no matter what, but with some creative planning, we can minimize the cost and make money while we set out on our adventures.
Every digital nomad needs:
· Active budget, estimating expenses in real-timeso you can adjust spending habits quickly.
· Emergency fund, preferablya credit card with a moderate interest rate, a credit limit, and flexible ruleson travel
· Budget trackers, like Excel or Quicken, so youcan visualize your finances and take out the guesswork.
· Knowledge of cost-effective destinations and travel strategies to avoid tourist traps and blackout dates that drain our wallets faster than we may realize.
Utilizing these tools can help us save money on our travels and if we are working. At the same time, we explore and can lower our costs even more as we have income actively coming in. The goal for every remote worker and digital nomad should be to get the most out of travel without having to break the bank. Practice building a budget around a specific destination to get an estimate of your expenses and what you need to do to save.
In your calculation, make sure to include the price of the following:
· Transportation
· Lodging
· Activities
· Food and Drink
Add those costs together and then time them by the number of travelers in your party and the number of days you plan to travel to get a realistic estimate of what you need to save.
Now we’re getting into the fun stuff. Planning a trip can be stressful, but it can also be super exciting with the right tools. You have your remote income, a budget, and a location-resistant routine. The next partis picking where you go first.
Start small when traveling as a digital nomad or a remote worker for the first time. Test the waters by planning a getaway that’s not too far out of your comfort zone, so you can better understand the impact travel will have on your working life without putting your job or income at risk.
For example, if you live in the United States, plan a stay in another state. If you’re based in Los Angeles, head to other destinations in California, like the Bay Area, on a Wednesday evening, work regular hours, enjoy the new city in your free time, and be back home on Monday.
That kind of slow travel is budget-friendly, doesn’t put any extra stress on your routine, and lets you see a new place.
Of course, you can always plan a trip to another country or continent if you plan accordingly.
Everyone plans a little differently. Whether you map out your adventure down to the detail or like to leave things open-ended and flexible, every digital nomad can benefit from creating a travel plan. When traveling, do a little research about your destination's culture, attractions, and regulations.
This helps you get a better understanding of what to expect when you arrive and helps you fully embrace your destination while protecting your job and time.
List must-visit places and prioritize them based on your interests and availability.
Consider the weather, peak travel seasons, and any special events or holidays that may impact your trip too.
Depending on where you want to go, some countries are offering new Digital Nomad Visas. Digital nomads fuel tourism and strengthen economies; as a result, more countries are streamlining the visa application process and allowing remote workers to stay for extended amounts of time. In some cases, remote workers can apply to live up to two years abroad if they maintain a certain income level.
Suppose you are looking to jumpstart your travel career or just looking for a home base in a different part of the world. In that case, we must research the type of visa for which we can apply.
Every visa will have its own application process. To applyfor one, you must submit the proper forms and documentation to the consulate ofthe country you want to go to. In some cases, you’ll need to interview.
To make the application process easier for any visa, makesure to have these documents easily accessible:
· The Visa application form
· A valid, non-expired passport
· Driver’s License
· Proof of income
· Proof of employment
· Birth certificate
Typically, you’ll only need a visa if you plan to stay longer than 90 days. You can enjoy exploring your destination visa free any trip less than that.
Another essential thing to research is travel insurance. If you're traveling by yourself, travel insurance is optional, and depending on the trip you're going on, it might not even be necessary. However, having the right insurance can offer significant benefits, providing peace of mind and financial protection.
Here are some key benefits of travel insurance:
1. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage:
Suppose you cancel or cut short your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, injury, or a family emergency. You can be reimbursed for non-refundable expenses like flights, accommodations, and pre-paid activities.
2. Emergency medical expenses coverage:
Travel insurance typically includes coverage for emergencymedical expenses incurred during your trip, including hospital stays, doctorvisits, and medication costs. This can come in a pinch if you need morehealthcare resources.
3. Lost or delayed baggage coverage:
Suppose your luggage is lost, stolen, or delayed. In that case, travel insurance can reimburse essential items you must purchase, like clothing and toiletries, until your belongings are recovered or returned.
4. Travel delay coverage:
Travel insurance can compensate you for additional expenses incurred due to travel delays, such as accommodation, meals, and transportation, if your trip is delayed beyond a specified time.
5. Emergency evacuation and repatriation:
In a medical emergency or a natural disaster, you can coverthe costs associated with emergency evacuation to the nearest suitable medicalfacility or repatriation back to your home country.
6. Liability coverage:
Some travel insurance policies offer personal liability coverage, which can protect you financially if you accidentally cause property damage or injure someone while on your trip.
7. 24/7 emergency assistance services:
You never know when you’ll need help. Many travel insurance providers offer round-the-clock assistance services, providing access to a helpline where you can seek help or advice in emergencies, such as medical emergencies, lost travel documents, or legal assistance.
When looking for the right insurance for your trip, carefully review the terms, coverage limits, and policy exclusions to ensure it aligns with your specific needs and travel plans.
If you want to start traveling as a digital nomad but need more clarification on traveling solo, some tools can help. Traveling by yourself is empowering but can also be a little lonely. We're social creatures and like to travel together. Still, sometimes you need someone to accompany you on this trip. That’s where digital nomad communities come in.
Group travel is a fantastic way to get out of your comfort zone and have the support we need to thrive. Businesses like Contiki or TrovaTrip organize trips worldwide and connect you with like-minded individuals looking to travel.
Connecting with others on social media or in person can bean excellent way to make new friends, get insights into new cultures, and plan trips. It can also connect you with experienced travelers who can help answer your questions and offer new ways to make travel more accessible and exciting.
If your remote job has other remote workers, that is a wonderful way to get started. Make friends with your coworkers and offer to meet them in their time zone. You can work their hours and then see their sights and vice versa.
The decisive step is maintaining your own well-being while you’re on the move. This one is vital but can quickly go overlooked if we're not careful. Travel is amazing. We often push ourselves to go harder and farther than usual because we are having so much fun. It's important to make ourselves, but not to the point where we risk our health.
Check-in with yourself occasionally when you're on your trip. Do it even more regularly if you're on a more extended adventure. We can protect our physical health by being available for regular exercise. It can be easier to stay active when you're enjoying the sights of your new city. Walkaround new neighborhoods and embrace the community where you can.
The most important thing for protecting your physical and mental health while traveling is practicing good hygiene and sleeping habits. Create a sleep-friendly environment in your Airbnb, hotel, or hostel so that you can do it comfortably when you need to decompress.
You can further support your mental well-being by adding stress management techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or mindfulness practices into your daily routine. Keep a diary or journal to focus on positive experiences and personal growth.
Remember to pay attention to the importance of self-care while away from home.
Communicate with your friends and family. Just because they aren’t with you on this trip doesn’t mean they don’t want to hear how you’re doing or what you’re up to. Stay connected with the people who care about you with regular calls and texts or by staying in touch on social media.
You'll undoubtedly be making new friends and relationships as you travel, so this is an excellent habit to get into now. That way, you can check in on your friends from abroad even when you're home.
We want to do it all, and we can, not all at once. You can enjoy an incredibly satisfying career and personal life that includes travel. It takes balance and creating that balance will be an ongoing process.
One thing that can help you create that balance is to establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. Plan and prioritize activities that allow you to explore and experience each destination while meeting your work commitments.
Finding the right balance between work, travel, and personal life is an ongoing process. It's essential to listen to your own needs, adapt your routines accordingly, and be open to adjusting your plans to maintain your overall well-being and enjoy the journey.
The digital nomad lifestyle can be challenging, but the rewards often outweigh the challenges. Travel is often seen as something we will get to eventually when we have the time and money. The beauty of remote work is that it democratizes travel, flexibility, and work-life balance. More people are provided with more opportunities and achieve the ability to take more control over their career, their finances, and personal growth.
Use this guide to help you understand if the lifestyle is proper for you. Remember that you can embrace digital nomadism to the level you are comfortable with. If you have a family, use remote work to spend more time with them while maintaining your career. If you want to see the world, use remote work to strengthen your finances to help you get to that next destination.
There's more than one way to live your life; find the one that works best for you. Enjoy, and happy travels.
Hey everybody, my name is Nick and I am the Remote Traveler. I'm just a dude who wants to explore, meet new people and try new things. My passion is writing and creative storytelling and professionally, I'm a B2B content writer and marketer.