Since the 2008 recession remote work has gained in popularity. But it’s skyrocketed now with the coronavirus lockdowns.
Financial analysts see a gloomy picture for commercial real estate and office space. Increasingly, businesses are ditching the office for good, and saving money in the process.
Many of their newly minted remote workers now have a choice: they can live wherever they want or they can travel and work from various locations.
What is a Digital Nomad?
Digital nomads earn a living without being tied to a particular location. Some digital nomads hold salaried positions with a single firm while others are freelancers who have multiple clients.
Similarly, they might be located in the same location for a year or more at a time. Or they might move every week, visiting dozens of new places in a given year.
Could You Be a Digital Nomad?
There are many upsides to being a digital nomad. Most people think of the adventure and travel aspect — the idea of being able to move to a new place is appealing to many. Traveling has lost some of its appeal due to the coronavirus lockdowns.
However, many travel companies are now offering cheap fares and hotel stays leading many to travel solo. Additionally, these solo travelers won’t miss the crowds at popular tourist destinations.
The Rise of Isolationist Travel
Interestingly, travel companies are now offering “isolationist” travel packages focused on wilderness travel, remote lodgings, and outdoor recreational activities like fishing and hiking.
This might be the perfect time to visit spectacular national parks like Yosemite. Remember, as a remote worker, you can work from any location that has internet service. You may also want to consider purchasing a mifi device, so you can take the internet with you. Mifi units provide internet connectivity via cellular service, like Verizon. Make sure you check coverage maps before you travel.
Move and Save Money
Some digital nomads move in order to find a lower cost of living. For example, some people with higher-paying jobs in the technology industry have moved away from expensive tech hubs like Silicon Valley and New York City in search of a cheaper lifestyle and higher quality of life.
Indeed, data shows that moving just one hour away from New York City can save a family tens of thousands of dollars a year. How much might you save if you moved away from a big city?
If you’re working remotely, you might want to try out some different areas to live in. After all, nothing is permanent. Since you can always change your mind, what do you have to lose? You might also find a better quality of life.
3 Questions
Here are three simple questions that can help you answer the question of whether you can be a digital nomad:
- Can you support yourself financially?
- If you have a family, are they willing to travel with you?
- How do you want to travel? Do you want to move on an annual basis or more frequently?
It’s hard to determine ahead of time if you could be a digital nomad, but if you are interested in seeing more of the world and you have a method for supporting yourself, it might be worth a try.
As we mentioned, there are many different ways to be a digital nomad, and the key is to find the specific variant that works for you (and your family, if you have one).
How Do Digital Nomads Support Themselves?
The best options for digital nomads tend to be those offering knowledge work or services: business consulting, software development, graphic design, research, marketing, and writing and editing are just some of the choices that come to mind. But what digital nomads do for work is quite varied.
Some business niches have taken off during the coronavirus. For example, business and finance sites along with online trading and brokerage sites have grown exponentially. There’s a demand for clear, quality information targeting the layman audience.
In addition, e-commerce giant Shopify’s stock has soared. If you are self-employed, this information may be able to help you target new clients or start a new business related to these niche markets.
How to Get Started
Once you’ve decided that a nomadic lifestyle is for you, how do you get started? Well, there are several things that you need to keep in mind.
1: Plan Your Finances
We’ve already discussed how digital nomads support themselves. Clearly, it is easiest if you already have a job that will allow you to work remotely or you are an established freelancer or have your own business.
Even if you have an established source of income, being debt-free and having a nest egg can make you more resilient.
For details about financial planning before you begin, check out Digital Nomad Soul’s article, 4 Financial Steps to Start a Digital Nomad Lifestyle.
2: Plan Your Destinations
In order to do your planning, you’ll need to decide where you will be traveling. If you’re traveling overseas you’ll need a passport.
Research any countries you plan on visiting to determine their visa and other entry requirements. Other considerations are things like international driver’s licenses and vaccinations.
Regardless of where you go, you need to research costs. The cost of living can change radically from place to place — even between places that are quite close geographically. It’s also good to find out what resources are available in different places and where you might connect with other digital nomads.
3: Packing
Digital nomads need to pack light although most carry more than a small bicycle pack. For most people, their computers and phones will be of primary importance. In addition, there are various things that go with them like extra batteries and chargers. Just ask yourself, “What do I need to work?”
WorldPackers provides an excellent Digital Nomad Packing List. It lists everything you might need in terms of clothes, toiletries, luggage, and more. It also provides packing tips.
Remember that if you’re giving up your permanent place of residency, you’ll need to sell, end the lease, or find a subletter. And you’ll also need to deal with all your assorted stuff as well.
4: Roll With the Punches
Once you have left your old life behind, you will probably find that things are not quite as you had imagined. It may take some time to settle into your new life. Above all, this will take flexibility on your part.
It can be really helpful to interact with other digital nomads. There are lots of online groups that can help you. In fact, it may be helpful to interact with these groups while you are planning so you can better plan your first trip.
Summary
Imagine working from the beaches of Indonesia or in a cafe that’s overlooked by Edinburgh Castle, rather than sitting at the same desk you’ve had for years. That’s possible with life as a digital nomad.
That said, there’s more to being a digital nomad than simply traveling with a laptop and a small bag of personal items. In this article, we hope that we’ve covered the basics of becoming a digital nomad and leaving the daily grind behind.
