There are many reasons why you may want to become a digital nomad.
For example, while just 45% of traditional workers like their jobs, a recent study found that 80% of digital nomads express high satisfaction with their work. This is a considerable increase, which can likely be tied to the freedom this kind of work provides. After all, nomads are not only in charge of their schedule but their location, too. This means you can replace your traditional morning commute with a stroll down the beach with the ocean lapping at your feet!
Sound appealing? Read on to discover how you can become a successful digital nomad!
Find a home base. Becoming a digital nomad means leaving your ‘home’ behind. However, this does not mean you must say goodbye to home comforts, such as having access to a kitchen. After all, living out of a hotel and in a suitcase will quickly become tiring (and expensive).
As such, before you book your flights, you should look into your accommodation options carefully. Ideally, you should keep an eye out for co-living spaces, such as this co-living space by Yon Living. This way, you can access a wide range of crucial amenities while also having the chance to meet other like-minded adventurers. Not only that, but co-living spaces tend to offer more flexible rental plans.
Think about the kind of work you’d like to carry out. There is a wide range of services that you can offer as a digital nomad. For example, you could work as an online teacher, content creator, or virtual assistant (to name a few). In short, you’ll be able to handle any work that can be carried out using a laptop and internet connection.
However, you should not wait until the day of your flight to start looking for potential clients. Having a pre-established relationship or contract ahead of time will provide you with financial stability (and peace of mind) as you embark upon this chapter in your life. As such, you should start reaching out to potential clients as soon as possible.
You should also think carefully about the ways in which you can promote or advertise your services to a wider audience. For example, if you’re working as a copywriter, you should set up a website for your business, detailing your expertise and sharing examples of your work.
Make sure you price yourself correctly. Many working professionals, nomads included, struggle to price their services. After all, you want to make sure that you are neither over or under-charging in order to achieve success, build a dependable client list, and ensure your long-term success in the field.
While pricing can depend on a variety of factors, from the nature of the work that you are carrying out to your experience levels, you can figure out a fair price for your services by checking out how much your competitors are charging.
Get your finances in order. Discussing getting your pay rates right brings us to the next important task you need to work on before getting on that flight: getting your finances in order. After all, many countries may require you to prove that you have access to a certain amount of money in order to obtain a working visa.
As such, you should carefully review your finances to ensure you have enough cash to support yourself for at least a few months. Remember, you don’t necessarily need money for the next year – just enough to set yourself up in a new location. After all, you’ll be earning money along the way.
You should also ensure that you set yourself a weekly/monthly budget and that you stick to it as much as you can. Remember that some of the destinations you visit may be more affordable than others, so you may want to adjust your budget accordingly to accommodate this.
Develop a healthy work-life balance. One of the major reasons why people consider working as digital nomads is due to the fact that they are dealing with burnout. For this reason, it’s important that you continue to pursue a healthy work-life balance moving forward.
While this may seem a no-brainer, as you’re far more likely to want to go out and explore when traveling to new countries than stay at home (therefore reducing the amount of time you spend at your desk), you’d be surprised at how many people nomads end up working unsociable hours in order to keep up with their workloads.
One way in which you can remedy this is by allocating a specific number of hours a week to work and play. For example, instead of working 9-5, you may want to get up earlier so that you can finish in the early afternoon and spend time exploring (without having to put work on the back burner).
Believe in yourself. Working to boost your confidence will also set you up for success when working as a digital nomad. This is because you’ll have a steadfast belief in your skills and your ability to chase your dreams, no matter what they may be. This, in turn, means that you’ll be able to navigate any of the challenges associated with becoming a digital nomad with ease without letting them get the best of you.
Check-in with friends and family regularly. Enjoying your work and travel does not mean that you are immune to homesickness. As such, you should be sure to check in with friends and family back home as often as you can. You’d be surprised at how much a quick phone call can change the trajectory of your day!
Final thought. From ensuring that you check in regularly with your friends and family to finding a place to call home abroad, there are many steps that you can take to ensure that you achieve great success when working as a digital nomad. This means that it can become a long-term career and lifestyle, as opposed to something you do for a few months before returning to your ‘normal’ life.