The Life of a Digital Nomad

If you’re considering a lifestyle change, then you may have imagined yourself working remotely in some faraway country, or perhaps going to more extreme measures and quitting your job to live the life of a digital nomad. Either way, the motivation is the same – to have a positive impact on your overall quality of life.

: The Life of a Digital Nomad

Before you dive in, here is some advice garnered from my own experience when I chose this path … before laptops and smart phones! Here’s My Story a 2 min read.

Now let’s start YOUR journey!

1. Define your goals: As you start your digital nomad journey, it’s important to understand why you want to become a digital nomad. Do you want to travel the world while working remotely? Do you want to experience new cultures and learn new things? Knowing your goals will help you make informed decisions.
2. Build your skills: To be a successful digital nomad, you need to have the right skills. Focus on building the ones you will need to work remotely, including language and skills which are in demand, such as technology, writing, design, marketing, and consulting.
3. Choose your destination(s) wisely: Research your destination to ensure they have stable internet connection, affordable living costs and a good quality of life. Look for places with a large digital nomad community, as this can help you connect with like-minded people and find work opportunities.
4. Try before you leap: Just as you would try on a pair of shoes before buying, its strongly recommended you do a test visit to a destination before making a commitment. One week sitting on a beach drinking piña coladas is a far different experience than actually living full time in a foreign country. Of course, if you plan to move around to different destinations every couple of months, we suggest you at least have a good working knowledge of the first stop on your route.
5. Build your network: This is crucial to your success. Attend networking events, connect with other digital nomads on social media, and join online communities to expand your network.
6. Be flexible: Being a digital nomad requires flexibility, both in terms of your work schedule and your travel plans. Manage your expectations. Embrace the freedom that comes with working remotely and be willing to adapt to new situations and environments.
7. Manage your finances:  Make sure you have a solid financial plan in place before you set out. Have a budget for your living expenses, as well as a plan for how you’ll manage your income and expenses while on the road.
8. Stay productive: This can be a challenge, but it’s essential for your success as a digital nomad. Create a routine, set goals, and use productivity tools to help you stay on track.
9. Stay connected:  Finally, staying connected with your family, friends and colleagues back home is essential. Use video conferencing tools to keep in touch and maintain your relationships, even when you’re on the other side of the world.   

As a professional travel advisor with over 35 years of experience, here are some of the services I offer clients looking for a digital nomad or remote working lifestyle.  Apart from my regular travel business booking vacations, hotels, flights, transportation, tours, cruises and insurance, the needs of a digital nomad are more specialized including:

• Being a support network: Offering support throughout the process from someone who has been there and done it. Connecting ahead of time with expats who have settled into offshore living.
• Long-stay rental assistance: Helping find suitable accommodation for your extended stay
• In country support:  Where possible, putting you in touch with affiliates who will guide you through the process obtaining the necessary visas and navigating the complex immigration requirements of foreign countries.
• Travel insurance advise:  Recommending options that are suitable for digital nomads, taking into account the length of your stay, your destination and your work activities.

And don’t think you’re alone in your journey! The number of digital nomads worldwide is reported to be anywhere from 10-35 million depending on who did the survey. All agree that this number is expected to reach over 1 billion in the next 10 years. The most popular regions for digital nomads are Southeast Asia, Europe, Central America, parts of the Caribbean as well as Canada and the USA. Studies are showing approximately 75% reporting being happier working remotely than in a traditional office setting. The pandemic has certainly accelerated the trend of remote work and has made digital nomadism more accessible.

Most importantly, as we circle back to the title of this blog, it’s clear that the main reasons people become digital nomads are the desire for travel and adventure, the desire for flexible lifestyle, and the desire to work on their own terms. Are you ready to take the next step to LIVING, WORKING & PLAYING BEYOND YOUR BORDERS? Let’s talk!