If you’re thinking about becoming a digital nomad and working online while travelling the world, there are some things you need to consider before you take the plunge. A digital nomad lifestyle is not for everyone, but those who choose it and make it work for them can have a wonderfully unique and rewarding life.
What is a Digital Nomad?
First off let’s start with the basics – what is a digital nomad?
A digital nomad is someone who works online and so is able to work from anywhere around the world.
Being a digital nomad is different to just working remotely as the nomad part suggests that you won’t have a fixed base or home address, but there are no hard and fast rules to the digital nomad lifestyle as you get to decide what works for you.
Digital nomads could be people who are remote workers with a full-time job and are based either sometimes at home and sometimes abroad, or working from around the world without a home base.
They could be freelancers who choose to work from different countries, they could be self-employed people who run their own business online or a combination of all of these.
Because one of the major benefits of digital nomad life is flexibility, there are lots of different ways to become a digital nomad.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
Decide How to Earn Money Online
The first step to becoming a digital nomad is to figure out how to make money online. The digital part of digital nomadism means you need to be able to earn money online, otherwise, you can find another job that will allow you to work and travel the world without being a digital nomad.
Digital nomad jobs cover a wide range of professions and topics, from web development or teaching English to travel blogging or life coaching. Even customer service roles can be done remotely, as long as the wifi connection is strong enough for you to work from anywhere.
If you’re not very confident with the internet or don’t have any specific training, don’t worry – you can also find work as a digital nomad with no skills which can be a great way to start your life on the road.
I won’t sugar coat it – earning money as a digital nomad isn’t as easy as social media would have you believe. It definitely helps to have some savings to get you started before you earn enough to make a living, but it is certainly possible.
You can also find other ways of earning money while travelling to help keep you afloat as you’re getting started.
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Get the Basics Covered
There are some basic digital nomad essentials that you need to sort out before you leave home. Obviously, having a strong wifi connection can make or break your online work, so that is a given.
You’ll also need to make sure your passport is up to date, and that you arrange any visas you need for travel. Digital nomad visas can be a good option if you want to spend long periods in a country, or tourist visas can also work well for short periods.
Having a decent laptop and accessories like noise-cancelling headphones and a separate wireless mouse and keyboard with a portable laptop stand will make your digital nomad life much more comfortable as you work.
Other things you might not have considered include digital nomad travel and health insurance and having an international bank account.
Digital Nomad Insurance
Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. No matter where I go, I ALWAYS get travel insurance for my trips, and was very glad I had insurance when my laptop and passport were stolen in Ecuador!
SafetyWing is a travel medical insurance that was created by nomads for nomads. I have used SafetyWing travel medical insurance for several of my trips abroad, and while (thankfully!) I’ve never had to make a claim, I love how they make it really easy for you to buy and claim when you need to.
SafetyWing’s new Nomad Insurance plans are designed for all types of travellers.
SafetyWing’s Essential Plan is ideal for short-term nomads who need emergency medical coverage while abroad. You can choose fixed dates for short trips, or pay on a 28-day cycle – so if you end your trip, you can end your coverage easily.
SafetyWing’s Complete Plan is designed for long-term nomads looking for both comprehensive health and travel coverage, wherever they are in the world. There is a minimum contract of 12 months, which can be paid monthly or yearly (for a 10% discount), and is renewable indefinitely.
You can sign up before your trip or while you are travelling, there is coverage across more than 180 countries (coverage in the US is extra), and SafetyWing provide 24/7 human support and a simple claims process so you can get your money back within a few days.
If you’re looking for digital nomad travel insurance or health coverage for your next adventure, SafetyWing could be a great option for you!
A Travel Bank Account
A travel bank account such as Wise means you can open an account in the local currency, and convert money without the high fees you would usually get abroad with most standard bank accounts.
With a Wise account, you can manage your money within the app, moving money into different currencies quickly and easily or Wise will do the transfer for you automatically at the best rate whenever you use your card to pay for something.
If your card is lost or stolen, you can freeze the card instantly in the app and Wise delivers worldwide so you can get a replacement easily. You can even add the replacement card to Google Pay before it arrives with you. >>>Learn more on their website.
Choose Where to Go
Once you’ve got everything ready, deciding on the best place for digital nomads like you is the next challenge.
While having the freedom to choose anywhere can be liberating, it can also be tough to decide where to go! If you’re a beginner digital nomad then starting with a cheap place to live is a good idea, so you have less pressure to earn thousands in your first few months.
Popular digital nomad destinations include:
- Thailand
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Estonia
- Georgia (the country)
- Indonesia
But the world really is your oyster – as long as you can get wifi!
Decide Where to Stay
You’ve chosen your destination, now what about digital nomad accommodation?
Hostels could be an option for beginner digital nomads who aren’t earning much money and are very sociable places to stay. However, finding a quiet place to work and getting a good night’s sleep in hostels aren’t always easy!
Hotels tend to be expensive, and without kitchen facilities, you’ll have to eat out all the time so they’re not ideal for digital nomads.
Apartments are often my preferred place to stay where I can have space and privacy while effectively having a home away from home. But, sleeping and living in an apartment by yourself can get lonely after a while. It’s good to find ways to meet other people if you do this.
Co-Living is a popular option for digital nomads where you have a private room in a shared apartment, so you can have your own space but are able to socialize with other like-minded people in the shared areas. Cooking meals together, arranging evenings out and co-working are ways to meet people and make friends as a digital nomad.
Before You Go!
Before you sell all your possessions and leave the country, make sure you have thought this through. It’s a good idea to have a backup plan in case you realize that actually, the digital nomad lifestyle isn’t what you thought it was.
For example, instead of selling your home, can you rent it out instead? Consider putting your possessions in storage instead of getting rid of them all, and try not to burn any bridges with your past employer.
I am a huge believer in the thought that I’d rather regret doing things than regret NOT doing them, but at the same time, it’s ok to change your mind!
When I first moved abroad I gave myself 3 months to see if I liked it and could find work. I loved it! Then when I decided to quit my job in Barcelona to go travelling, I decided to go for a year and then realized that I wanted to live my whole life travelling, not just a year.
Pros & Cons of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Before you get all excited and quit your regular job, slow down for a minute and think about whether this is all too good to be true. There are certainly some downsides to digital nomad life, for example:
Being Away from Family and Friends
As much as I love to travel, I always find it hard being a long way from home. You might miss Christmases, births, birthdays, weddings, and even funerals. And it’s not just about special occasions, but everyday interaction with the people you love.
It can be hard to maintain all of these long-distance relationships and learn to be independent.
Earning Money Can be Hard (Especially at First)
Some say that money is the root of all evil, and while might not bring you happiness we all need some money to buy food and shelter. Earning money online and building a business that will sustain your digital nomad lifestyle takes time and a lot of work – there is no quick fix that is sustainable!
And don’t believe the cliche that digital nomads work on their laptops at the beach – it just isn’t practical! You’ll need to find somewhere to work, even if it is a cafe with a view of the beach as the next best thing.
Choosing Between Work and Pleasure
While you do need to work hard to build your digital nomad life, don’t forget why you are doing this in the first place! Independence and freedom, the chance to choose when and where you work is a wonderful gift, but make sure you also enjoy your surroundings as well!
Creating a healthy work-life balance as a digital nomad is still one of the things I struggle with most, and there are times when I just want to enjoy travelling without worrying about earning enough money, then other times when I have to miss out on experiences because I really do have to work.
That said, the advantages definitely make up for it – for me at least!
Freedom to Choose Your Life
As someone who hates being told what to do, having the freedom to live, work and travel how I like is a huge gift. I get to choose where to go, how much work I do each day and how to earn money as I go. Not many people get to choose the life they lead, but becoming a digital nomad is one way you can do just that!
Life Never Gets Boring
I had regular jobs before I quit to go travelling, but the thought of working in an office for the rest of my life was something I just couldn’t face. A routine can be useful to help you settle into digital nomad life, but as soon as it gets a little samey, you can change it up.
You simply cannot get bored being a digital nomad, as you can try a different city, a different country or continent to travel and work from any time you like. Having new experiences every single day is an incredible way to live.
The Potential
One of the great things about being your own boss is that you can manage your business any way you like, and the earning potential of online work is limitless. How much work or what kind of work you choose to do might limit how much you actually earn, but unlike most regular jobs you get to control that.
If you’re a budding entrepreneur with lots of ideas on how to make money online, and you’re able to put that into practice you can earn way more than you ever could at a desk job!
Ways to Help Build Your Digital Nomad Lifestyle
If you’ve got this far and want to give it a go, but would like some support then you are not alone!
Some people are happy to go it alone, but I’ve found that life as a digital nomad can get lonely. Here are a few things you can do to meet people and learn from others:
Find Your People
No matter what you decide to do, there are bound to be other people doing it too – you are not alone! As a travel blogger, I have attended various travel blogging conferences and social events where I can meet fellow bloggers to socialize and network for opportunities.
Have a look for similar events in your job to see if there are places online or in person where you can meet other people doing the same kind of work as you.
Digital Nomad Communities Online
Digital nomadism is growing in popularity, and so are digital nomad communities. There are Facebook groups for digital nomads and forums and online communities that you can join to meet other digital nomads and share tips and advice for the digital nomad lifestyle.
Co-Living & Coworking Spaces
Coliving and coworking are great ways to meet people who have similar interests or similar work styles. Digital nomads know what it’s like to live alone, and many share the desire to meet people so choose to either work together or live together.
It’s time to get started!
If you’ve still got questions about how to begin a digital nomad lifestyle please do let me know and I’ll do my best to help! Otherwise, maybe it’s time to take the plunge! You won’t regret it, or if you realize it’s not for you then that’s ok too. Nothing is forever, and you can always choose to have a home base again if it doesn’t work out.