You’ve likely heard of the digital nomad trend.
After all, the internet is flooded with pictures of young professionals chilling by the beach, working on their laptops while sipping from a coconut. In fact, over 10 million people in the U.S. alone follow this lifestyle!
Promises of European vacations earning money or tropical work trips could invite envy from others. Especially if you’re the one working from home in your sweatpants or slogging it out at the office.
But the good news is, you too can enjoy the best lifestyle by learning the basics of smart travel. Below, we break it down.
What Is a Digital Nomad?
Let’s start with the basics.
The digital nomad life promotes remote work, where individuals can work from any location regularly.
The idea here is to take on ‘smart work,’ or work you can complete on your own time and schedule. Digital nomads use modern technology like co-working spaces or coffee shops and libraries with WiFi to stay connected.
Most digital nomads are freelancers of some sort. Regular employees can undertake the lifestyle, too, although clocking in from 9-5, five days a week can be challenging when traveling.
Find the Right City
One of the biggest tips we can give you is to find the correct city for your new lifestyle. Location will be everything. For example, time zones may play a part in your work, as may connectivity.
You may also want to choose a city with lots of co-working spaces or offices of the company you are working with.
Another essential factor to consider here is to pick a city with an already established digital nomad community. This will grant you more support in your travels. Look up community groups on Facebook and Reddit; as individuals there will be able to answer many of your city-related questions.
Figure Out Your Living Situation
Once you’ve decided on a city and have secured an income stream, you will need to figure out your accommodations.
Digital nomadism can be a lonely lifestyle. That’s why many individuals start their journey by living in a hostel or co-op. This will enable you to make friends and meet people from other cultures.
If you prefer a more solitary lifestyle, Airbnb will be an option for you. You could choose to rent a room or an entire apartment for a set period. Both co-living and individual living options are excellent if you’re planning to hop from one city to another quite frequently.
However, if you plan to remain in one location for a longer time, say several months, you could consider leasing or sublet options too. This is a great way to get your bearings and live as the locals do. You’ll also get a better idea of a place this way and will have a stable base to come back to consistently.
Our tip for making housing easier is to get on different groups online. You’ll be able to find affordable pricing at reasonable rates in this way. You’ll also get an understanding of the going rates in your destination city to ensure you don’t overpay.
Identify Your Work
You’ll need the right job to make digital nomading a breeze.
Most people follow this lifestyle choice to become freelancers. Start by identifying your skills that are transferrable to the online space. You will be able to monetize this skill as well.
Common remote work skills include writing, marketing, graphic design, or teaching a language. You might have to start with work that doesn’t pay very well, but by putting in enough hours and with repeat clients, you’ll be able to convert your work into a well-paying gig.
After you find your first source of income, you’ll need to decide if you will develop that into a bigger business or find similar jobs to make more money. There is no correct answer here; it’s all about finding what works for you.
You can find work on online job hunting platforms. Starting with a freelance platform will be the way to find gigs for your specific skillset.
Set Up Your Tech
If you’re planning to become a digital nomad, you will need the proper tech backup.
Luckily, you don’t need too much to get going!
Start with a SIM card of the country you’ll be travelling in to avoid surcharges from international roaming. A great option here is to buy a prepaid SIM with a data plan at your arrival destination.
Keep your existing SIM handy, so you can restore it when you’re back in your own country. Don’t forget to get a plan that gives you a lot of data coverage – you’re going to need it!
You will also need a laptop that works well. Investing in a Virtual Private Network or VPN will be essential too. This will let you log onto U.S.-based sites which may not be available in your country of choice.
In addition, be sure to check out to find more apps that will support your digital wellbeing during your travels.
You Too Can Enjoy the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Working from anywhere in the world has its perks. You can fulfill your lifetime dream of traveling the world – while earning money!
The digital nomad trend is all about smart travel. Start researching to explore the idea of living and working anywhere you want! This sought-after lifestyle is possible with (a lot of) planning and a great deal of flexibility.
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