Interested in becoming a digital nomad but not sure how to get started? In this article, I’ll give you my best advice based on my own personal experience of trial and error. If you want to know what I wished someone would have told me, keep reading.
First of all, let’s just make sure we’re all on the same page when it comes to the definition of a digital nomad. So, what are digital nomads? Digital nomads aren’t much different from a traditional nomad with one exception, they make their moolah online.
In layman’s terms, a digital nomad is simply a person who travels from place-to-place all while working remotely from their computers. Not all “digital nomads” are truely nomadic in the traditional sense. For instance, my home base is in Florida but I have the ability to pick up and temporarily live anywhere that has a good Internet connection, for months at a time. I don’t do it often but I’ve done it often enough that I consider myself to be a digital nomad.
There are a number of reasons why people choose to pursue the lifestyle of a digital nomad. Whether you want to travel and see the world or whether you want to break out of the 9-to-5 grind, being a digital nomad affords you certain freedoms.
Before you jump into this laptop lifestyle though, some planning should be involved. There are a few things you can do to help you on your quest to become a digital nomad. Let’s break them down.
Table of Contents
Simplify Your Life
Start Your Own Business
Consider the Logistics
Diversify Your Income
Get On a Schedule
Conclusion
Simplify Your Life
When you think of a nomad in the traditional since, you think of a person who travels from place to place. Owning many possessions isn’t something nomads are known for. So if you have a house full of things and you’re serious about making the transition, you might want to start thinking about simplifying your life as much as possible.
An important part of becoming a digital nomad is getting rid of unnecessary baggage and expenses. When I first started my journey, I gave up my car and all things that I didn’t view as essential. It was a gradual process. You’ll want to be honest with yourself about what things are necessary and what you can give up. If you envision yourself traveling to different countries months at a time, do you really need that gym membership, magazine subscription, or Sam’s Club membership?
Don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed. Having many prized possessions can do that to you. Take baby steps. Two things that were really difficult for me to give up were my television and Vitamix. I actually tried to figure out a way to bring them with me. How crazy was that?
When it comes to simplifying your life, that includes your spending habits. Cutting down on your spending will not only save you money but will help keep unnecessary items out of your house that you’ll eventually need to give up anyway. When you’re traveling in countries where a dollar goes a long way and living is cheap, you’ll appreciate having more money in the bank.
READY TO BECOME A DIGITAL NOMAD YET?
If you’re serious about starting your own online business and living that laptop lifestyle, I’m here to help. Book a call with me today!
Freelance or Start An Online Business
Consider your skills and how you can carry them into online work. Writing, design, editing, and software development are common skills that lend themselves to freelance or remote work. Joining a freelancing community will expose you to collaboration opportunities, jobs for digital nomads, and resources used by other location independent entrepreneurs.
If you want to start your own online business but don’t have the confidence to leave your 9-to-5 job right away, you can try to get remote freelance work in your spare time. The point is to establish yourself as a freelancer so it can become a viable source of income. As a digital nomad, you won’t need a ton of money, but you will need a steady amount to get by. If you don’t have a lot of money saved in the bank, traveling without having clients or an established online business can make your life more stressful and the laptop lifestyle nearly impossible.
With anything, there are both advantages and disadvantages about being a digital nomad. You need to decide whether or not you want to work as an independent contractor or as a remote employee. Yes! There is a difference.
I’m partial to starting your own business as a digital nomad as opposed to becoming a remote employee. I feel it brings you more freedom of your time and your finances. As an independent contractor, you work when you want and for as many businesses as you can handle. As a remote employee, you work within a restricted set of hours each day and you have a cap on the amount of income you can make because you’re only working for one company.
One good thing about being an employee is, you may qualify for health benefits if you’re a full-time remote worker for a good company. So that’s something to consider.
If you’re going to start your own online business, you need to do it the right way. Especially if you have no prior experience. I highly recommend getting advice from a mentor or business consultant. Someone who has experience with starting and running successful online businesses and who could help you start your own successful online business while avoiding all the pitfalls that usually come with novice business owners.
Consider the Logistics
There are many factors that you’ll need to consider. Some questions you should ask yourself are: What countries would I like to travel to? Will I need a visa? What are the requirements of getting a visa? How will I be required to pay income taxes if I’m traveling to other countries? What is a good travel health insurance that will cover me while traveling to various countries?
If you already have health insurance, double check that you’ll be covered while you’re in other countries. If your health insurance doesn’t cover you while you’re abroad, you should consider travel insurance that is specifically for digital nomads. One insurance company that I absolutely love, and am also an affiliate of, is World Nomads. Depending on your needs, their comprehensive insurance plans could cover some combination of dental, emergency health, trip cancellation, delays, lost luggage, tech and gear and the list goes on.
Research the country, city or town you want to travel to before you go. Find decent lodging, whether it’s an affordable bed and breakfast or other reasonably priced place to stay. You’ll want to feel comfortable and safe in the place you’ll be lodging, so thoroughly look into the neighborhood you plan on residing in, especially if you plan on staying there for at least a few months. Figure out where all the essentials are—hospitals, grocery stores, coffeeshops, metro stops, places of worship, co-working spaces and so on.
Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, it’s important to make sure you have the cell phone reception and wifi you need. Consider getting a local SIM card in the area you’ll reside. You may also be able to rely on your cellular network and use your personal hotspot for internet connection if you find yourself without wifi.
Consider Avenues to Diversify Your Income
As a remote SEO agency owner, I can tell you that it’s crucially important to diversify your income by building multiple streams of income. Passive income can make life a whole lot easier for a digital nomad, especially at times when client work is inconsistent.
If you have the money, investments and dividend-yielding stocks might work for you. Others prefer going with something like an E-commerce business. If you already plan on documenting your travels through blogging, Instagram, YouTube, or other social media, placing ads, affiliate links, or sponsorship posts could be a possibility for you.
There are many affiliate marketing programs like Shareasale, of which I am an affiliate, CJ and Amazon affiliates just to name a few.
Digital Nomads Still Need a Schedule
It’s important to schedule your time, even as a digital nomad. Schedule time for work and time for leisure. That way you can stay productive and also enjoy your leisure time exploring your new environment.
Maintaining a work-life balance will make your new lifestyle more sustainable. Letting work take over leisure time will create stress, and failing to block out consistent work time will affect your productivity. Make goals and give yourself deadlines to meet so you can make progress on your work.
Conclusion
Becoming a digital nomad can seem like a big, intimidating change. But if you’re really interested in the lifestyle, there are steps you can take to make the transition easier and to minimize stress. And if you do eventually decide to settle down, you can still stick to freelancing instead of returning to an office job because of the work you did as a digital nomad.
Are you already a digital nomad? Did we leave any crucial steps out? Please share with us in the comment section below!
READY TO BECOME A DIGITAL NOMAD YET?
If you’re serious about starting your own online business and living that laptop lifestyle, I’m here to help. Book a call with me today!
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