If you’ve ever dreamed of living the digital nomad lifestyle, where you travel the world while also making a living, then this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know on how to become a digital nomad and work from anywhere.
- Decide What Type of Digital Nomad You Want to Be
There are many different types of digital nomads, and each one has its own journey and experience. Just as there are different ways to travel the world (on a budget or not), there are ways to make money while travelling that suit everyone’s preferences and lifestyles. When deciding what type of digital nomad you want to be, think about what type of lifestyle you have been dreaming about for years now: do you want to work from home? Or maybe somewhere else in the world? Will it be for just a few weeks or months at a time, or indefinitely? Do you want financial security, and flexibility in location choices/employment opportunities?
- Work Out Which Locations You Want to Visit
The next step is to research the best places to visit. You should aim for somewhere that’s easily accessible, but also has plenty of things to do and explore. If you’re going with a group of friends or family members, make sure everyone is happy with where you decide on going.
Next, think about how long you can afford to stay in each location. This will depend on your budget and savings level. It’s worth considering the weather and climate in each place; if it’s winter when you want to visit Europe or Asia then it might not be worth flying over there just yet.
Finally, consider what time of year would be best for your trip. Is there anything special happening during that period? Is there something good on at home that might mean leaving earlier than planned? Plan carefully so no one feels disappointed when they find out they have missed out because they weren’t ready early enough.
- Put Together Your Digital Nomad Starter Kit
Your digital nomad starter kit is a small collection of essential items that you should bring with you on your travels. These items will allow you to work from anywhere in the world and make money while doing so.
The essentials for your digital nomad starter kit are:
- A laptop or tablet computer (Macbook Pro, MacBook Air, Chromebook)
- An external hard drive (1 TB minimum)
- A wifi hotspot device
- Find a Way to Make Money While You Travel
To make money while travelling, you’ll also need to find a way to get paid. This can be accomplished in several ways:
- Online jobs. The most popular digital nomad work is online jobs that you can do from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Some of these platforms will serve as your employer, others require you to find clients on your own.
- Freelance writing/editing/graphic design. If you’re well-versed in one or more niche subjects, there’s probably a market for your services if you look hard enough. It’s also possible to get hired by local companies while travelling through Southeast Asia or Europe just ask around at hostels and cafes where other travellers go.
- Teaching English abroad (or any other language). Another commonly recommended option is teaching English abroad; not only does it provide great practice for improving your target language skills, but it also gives you something interesting to write about when applying for freelance work later down the line.
- Avoid Wasting Time and Money
This is one of the most important steps in building your itinerary. You will be spending a lot of time on transportation and more than likely staying in hostels, so it’s best to plan out as much as you can beforehand. For example, take into consideration where you want to go and what types of activities are available in each area. Also, make sure that everything is within walking distance or reachable by public transportation.
If possible, try to stay at accommodations with other digital nomads (this could be difficult if visiting major cities like Bangkok or Bali). This way there will be plenty of opportunities for networking and making friends with other like-minded people who are interested in travelling and working remotely too.
It’s possible for anyone to become a digital nomad and travel the world if they want it enough.
Once you know what kind of work would fulfil your purpose as a human being on this planet, the next step is learning how to get paid for doing it. While there are many different ways that people make money working remotely (freelancing or consulting), one thing should be clear: location independence doesn’t mean financial independence at least not yet. Many digital nomads struggle with making ends meet while travelling around the world because they aren’t monetizing in any way besides living off savings accounts or investments such as stocks/bonds/real estate etc.
Conclusion
Hope this guide has helped you to understand what it takes to become a digital nomad. It’s not easy, but it can be done. If you have the drive and determination then there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to travel the world for a living.
Author Bio
Delan Cooper is a writer with years of experience in marketing communication. He enjoys meeting new people and reading more books to get inspired for his own book. Connect with him on Twitter.