The life of a remote worker or a digital nomad as we are now supposed to call them has become the modern dream for many. For most, it is almost a requirement to set up an Instagram account and show off your digital nomad lifestyle. While we are not telling you to do that we are here to help. If you are interested in becoming a digital nomad, follow our advice and you will be well on your way.
Why?
The first step is to ask why. Why do you want to be a digital nomad and why is now the right time? A digital nomad is basically someone who can work from anywhere. You may be a freelance worker, have a job that allows you to work from your computer, or be one of the hip and trendy influencers that we all love to hate. Whatever your job is you must make sure it is the right time to start working remotely. Talk to your boss and ensure that this is something that he or she is happy for you to do.
More importantly, talk to your family. Perhaps you have kids, a partner, or some other commitments that will stop you from being able to pack up your stuff and leave. If you pay rent or a mortgage and are locked into a deal you may not be able to afford to continue paying your bills at home and abroad. Do the math and see if this move makes sense right now.
Where?
The next question is where to go. There are amazing places all over the world and you likely want to see them all. For remote working, there are some requirements. You want to pick somewhere cheap – unless you are the remote CEO of a massive company that you will need to go somewhere cheap to make your money go that little bit further. You will want to see all the sights wherever you go so choose somewhere that your money allows you to have fun.
You should pick a place that has great internet. Thankfully today the fiber revolution has taken place in most countries around the world and finding great internet is not as difficult as it once was. However, you must still check that the exact place you are staying has a good connection or that there is a good cafe nearby. Arriving somewhere that you have committed to and not being able to access the internet will not work.
Language is also a key barrier. While you may love traveling and have gone to some crazy places you are no longer just a tourist. Being able to say hello and thank you in the native language will likely not be enough when you need something quickly. Thankfully there are amazing applications that allow you to translate on the go so you should be ok.
How?
We recommend settling in a place for 1 to 2 months. Any shorter and you will barely be settled, any longer and you will find that it feels like you are really living there. Of course, if you love a place you can stay longer but if your objective is to see the world then six weeks is ideal. Try and start in a location that is not isolated. Southeast Asia means you could move between a large number of relatively cheap countries without spending a lot of money. South America offers the same. Europe does too but at a much higher cost.
Overall you should really think if this is the life for you. It is not as easy and carefree as people like to pretend. It can be lonely. You can feel like your career is going nowhere. But you will get to see some amazing things. Make the right choice for you.
