Live Like A Local: The Digital Nomad’s Guide to Fully Experience The World

Digital nomads are those who do their work remotely and travel to different locations. They typically work in coffee shops, public libraries, or other public places and rely on devices with the Internet to do their work. 

The digital nomad lifestyle is an exciting possibility for many today looking to break away from the 9 to 5 “normal” lifestyle. Over 34 percent of remote employees work 4 to 5 days per week outside the office. In this article, we will discover the lifestyle of digital nomads and how to become one.

Who Is a Digital Nomad?

Digital nomads are those who travel freely while working remotely. They might work remotely for years, months, or weeks. Some cross borders into other countries, while others stay in the United States. Their professions also vary. 

They can be highly skilled and digitally savvy and may work in fields like computer programming, IT, web design, creative fields, finance, digital marketing, engineering, and traditional marketing. However, they aren’t limited to these fields. The work that a digital nomad may do is constantly evolving. Ultimately, being a digital nomad is a lifestyle choice. 

The Digital Nomad Lifestyle

The digital nomad lifestyle is different even from location-independent workers. A digital nomad often lives fully on the go and travels almost full time, while location-independent workers have a home base but travel from time to time.

There are several benefits of being a digital nomad, including:

1. The Ability to Work Anywhere at any time

Working from anywhere is one of the distinct benefits of being a digital nomad. They don’t have to stick to a specific schedule and know that they can pick up and go wherever they want while still maintaining a source of income.

2. The Ability To Work How They Want

Working in an office isn’t for everyone. Some people are more focused, while others are more chaotic and easily distracted. Being a digital nomad, you can wear whatever you want, be as productive as you want, have a set office or not, etc. You can choose how to work in a way that is best for you.

3. Lots Of Online Communities

One of the challenges of being a digital nomad is living in a place where you may not speak the language. There are a lot of online communities, such as Slack, Discord, Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and more, where you can converse with other digital nomads about your lifestyle. 

4. Learning

There is something to be said about working and living in a country with a different culture than your native country. It can teach you to be a more independent person as well as open you up to new cultures.

5. Not Feeling Like You Are Living To Work

A digital nomad lifestyle prevents the feeling that you are living to work. The typical worker spends a lot of time getting ready for work, commuting, and decompressing afterward. Being in control of your location and schedule can allow you to have a higher measure of freedom.

There are also some disadvantages of being a digital nomad, including:

1. Difficulty Maintaining A Work/Life Balance

As a digital nomad, you can work anytime and anywhere. However, it isn’t always easy to navigate a work-life balance when you can work anytime. If you aren’t careful, you can end up working more than before to make ends meet.

2. Logistics

Many things are easier when you are closer to home. Communication and getting things done in your native language can be much easier. Things also tend to take longer and cost more if it has an international element. Day-to-day logistics can often restrict your freedom of movement even if your work doesn’t.

Working on a beach may sound awesome, but what about the glare on your screen from the sun? Sand in your laptop? Etc?

3. Lack Of Comfort

It can be fun to travel as you please, but you are trading off having stability, a dedicated setup, and ease of maintaining relationships and friendships. When working as a nomad, you might not have a desk, a comfortable chair, a decent monitor, etc.

4. Difficulty Making Friends

It can be extremely challenging to build and maintain relationships in a country where you aren’t fluent in the language. In some countries, English is not even a second, third, or fourth language. Many want to travel to experience other cultures and ways of life, but you can’t fully understand the culture when you can’t communicate with locals.

5. Internet Availability

In the United States, the internet is fairly reliable. In other countries, there may only be one or two options for service providers, and they might not be reliable. Having a frustrating internet connection can be detrimental for someone who works online. When you are a digital nomad, having a backup plan can be crucial to meet your internet needs.

How To Become A Digital Nomad

If you have decided that the digital nomad is right for you, you may wonder how to become one. This step-by-step guide can help you successfully become a digital nomad.

1. Identify Your Skills

To be a successful digital nomad, it might be crucial to identify the skills you already have and which skills are in demand for remote workers. Plan to strengthen your skills through courses or organizing ways to get experience, like shadowing.

2. Portfolio Building And Beginning To Search Job Boards

Freelancing as a digital nomad can require having a portfolio. Many sites like Wix allow you to create websites where clients can view your portfolio. A good portfolio will show your best work and include an about me section to tell clients why they should hire you.

Once you have created your portfolio, job boards are full of jobs for remote workers, including platforms like Remote Ok and FlexJobs.

3. Use Your Skills To Make Money

There are a few good ways to make money online. One of the most popular options is freelancing or creating your own business. Freelance work can be anything from designing websites to being a virtual assistant.

4. Invest In Yourself

If you don’t have existing skills that can be freelanced, invest in yourself by taking an online course. Various platforms like Skillshare and Udemy can teach you the skills to create remote work opportunities. Use what you already know to your advantage.

5. Begin Networking

Begin networking and building a relationship with companies and individuals in your chosen industry. Also, reach out to other digital nomads. Attending webinars or workshops for your industry is a great way to network and increase your knowledge of the industry.

6. Join A Digital Nomad Community 

Joining a digital nomad group can help to inspire you to pursue your goal of becoming a digital nomad. Making connections and friendships within these groups can be beneficial in helping you find a community while traveling abroad. There are many Facebook groups and websites like Work Wanderer where you can connect with like-minded people.

7. Begin To Simplify Your Lifestyle 

One thing to consider when you are traveling is that you will have to greatly downsize the amount of things you own. For the things you can’t part with, you can pay for a storage unit if you can afford it.

8. Build Savings

Building a safety net before becoming a digital nomad is crucial. Having savings to sustain yourself for three to six months without work is a good start to ensure any emergencies or unexpected expenses come up while traveling.

9. Determine Budget And Location

You will need to determine a location that works with the amount of money you are making. Create a budget mindset before traveling. You need to choose a major city with a small income to be sustainable. Consider the quality of living in each place you are interested in. A fast internet connection is a necessity.

If you prefer a more social culture, consider a location that is ranked well for safety. A great resource to determine ideal locations to suit your income NomadsList.com

10. Invest In Travelers’ Insurance

You will want to ensure that you have health insurance, travel insurance, and life insurance. Depending on where you are traveling, there may not be certain types of coverage available. There are many different types of insurance to consider. Many countries require health insurance if you are visiting for an extended period. 

11. Make The Most Of Digital Services 

Explore digital services to keep your workflow optimized when you are traveling. 

Payment Methods

You will need a solution for how to be paid while you are working remotely. Bank transfers and PayPal are among the most common payment methods. A business bank account can also help you do business online if you are planning on opening up a business.

VPNs

Virtual Private Networks are often necessary for digital nomads. VPNs allow you to keep your internet traffic encrypted so your personal information stays safe.

Virtual Mailbox

If you don’t have a permanent address, consider using a virtual mailbox to allow you to manage your mail anywhere. 

12. Gather All The Necessary Documents

Before you can become a digital nomad, you will need to gather all the necessary information and make copies of everything. The following are the documents you will need: 

• Passport: Ensure you have at least 6-month validity
• Travel Permits Or Visas: You will need specific visas or travel documents for the countries you are planning to visit. 
• Driver’s License: You will use your driver’s license as a form of identification. If you plan on driving abroad, consider an international driver’s permit.
• Social security card
• Medical Records: Having copies of important medical records can help you if you need any medical procedures while abroad. 

Digital Nomad Visa Countries

Living abroad can be a life-changing experience, but planning is crucial. If you don’t have the right visa, you won’t be able to work effectively. One of the easiest ways to become a digital nomad is to go to a country that offers a visa specifically for digital nomads. Several countries allow nomads to stay for an extended period as long as they are earning enough income. The following countries have digital nomad visas:

• Bali
• Dubai
• Iceland
• Norway
• Georgia
• Antigua
• Czech Republic
• Spain
• Portugal
• Croatia
• Hungary
• Malta
• Anguilla
• Estonia
• Germany
• Costa Rica
• Mexico
• Mauritius
• Cayman Islands
• Barbados
• Bermuda

If you are planning to travel to these countries and work, apply for their digital nomad visa. 

Is The Digital Nomad Life For You?

Traveling and working abroad sounds like a dream to many, but it isn’t for everyone. Some planning is crucial when living abroad, and there are some necessary steps to take. Identify the skills you have or need to successfully work abroad, downsize your belongings, build your savings, determine your budget, and invest in the proper insurance. 

By taking all these steps, you can become a digital nomad successfully.