Becoming a digital nomad is an exciting lifestyle choice, offering you the chance to work remotely while traveling and exploring the world. There are many different ways you can become a digital nomad, but here are 15 tips to help get you started.
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1. Research Your Options
Taking time to research the work options you have.
What type of work can you do and what type of location and lifestyle would suit you?
You might want to base yourself by coastal or beach locations (Bali, the Canary Islands, and Costa Rica are some options), or you might be looking for rural or urban locations.
Also what work can you do as a digital nomad?
Start with pen and paper (or do it on your laptop) and write down bullet point lists of:
- what you are good at
- what you enjoy doing work-wise
- what experience you have
- what type of nomads location you are looking for
There tend to be 3 types of digital nomads in terms of the work they do and these are:
- Fully employed and allowed to work remotely – many software developers and project managers fit into this section and this is the majority of nomads I have met.
- Freelance workers – some people work for a variety of clients online as they travel.
- Business Owners – quite a small percentage of nomads are business owners and this is a great option for the total freedom to make your own decisions as a nomad.
Then research locations and online jobs that match two of these sections.
Ideally, you are looking for jobs you can do online because being a true digital nomad means having the geographical freedom to work from anywhere (WFA).
This post on finding remote jobs might be useful to read:
2. Develop an Online Presence
If you have specific skills that could attract clients or job offers that will allow you to work remotely, then having a good online presence can only aid this.
With WordPress, you can really quite easily develop a basic website (see our post here on building a website)
A professional website, portfolio, and social media pages are a great idea if you want to get noticed and have a better chance to get headhunted.
3. Start Freelancing
Another way to move toward being able to work fully remotely is to begin freelancing and then build up your client base.
You might have to price yourself competitively at first (more than you ideally would want to) and then, through doing great solid work, build up a good reputation.
You can develop clients via a few different paths including:
- Using sites such as Upwork, or Freelancer.com – start off one client at a time and build your reputation and then increase your fee as your reputation grows.
- Getting your experience and skills listed on LinkedIn – many freelancers I know have been very successful in finding clients on LinkedIn.
- Using word-of-mouth and build from there. If you are a graphic designer, for example, you might want to do the first two clients for free (i.e., a day’s of work each) in exchange for getting reviews to just get started and build your reviews.
- Using what we mentioned earlier and build a website and showcase your work and skills
Freelancing is one of the most popular paths for digital nomads and offers flexibility while allowing you to build up your skillset and portfolio.
4. Narrow Down Your Location Choices
Deciding on which countries or cities you want to explore is an essential part of being a digital nomad.
Think about the access to high-speed WiFi, nomad visa options, and the cost of living in your desired destination.
Think also about:
- which countries and locations have an existing and strong digital nomad community
- what the timezone/s is/are and if this will fit in with your client’s needs
- what countries and destinations you’ve always dreamed of visiting and are realistic to work from
5. Get the Right Visas
Some countries take it very seriously if you overstay your visa so do consider carefully getting the right visa.
Many digital nomads travel on tourist visas and just stay in countries this way but you should consider where you have to pay taxes and any implications on your travel insurance.
Note: Many travel insurance policies have small print invalidating the cover for stays in one place for more than 30 days on an annual insurance policy.
You can start learning more here about what countries offer digital nomads visas.
Just remember though that different countries have different laws and regulations for digital nomads, so make sure to become informed about what is required before you travel.
6. Make Sure You Are Insured
I would always recommend ensuring that you have proper travel and health insurance when traveling, whether as a digital nomad or just as a traveler.
As touched on in the previous point, do consider what type of insurance you need, i.e., if you will be in one place for longer than 30 days.
I would recommend getting insurance that is specifically designed by digital nomads for digital nomads, such as via Safety Wing.
7. Create a Budget and Stick to It
It can be incredibly easy as a digital nomad to get stuck in a grey area between being someone living in a location and being a travel/tourist.
The temptation, understandably, is to experience the local destination and to do local tours and see the attractions hence you inevitably need more income than what a local would likely need.
Knowing your financial limits is an important part of being a digital nomad, so make sure you have a budget in place and stick to it.
8. Develop a Routine
One of the biggest challenges as a digital nomad is developing a routine and sticking to it.
A regular schedule will help you become more productive and prevent burnout.
As a part of this routine, I recommend writing down a specific schedule including days and times for when you will do fitness.
9. Find Reliable WiFi Internet Access
As someone who works online, finding reliable internet access is essential.
Research the different options available in the places you plan to visit and make sure you have a backup option when needed.
I recommend also having a roaming data allowance on your cellphone (mobile phone ) so that you can always create your own mobile hotspot if it becomes necessary.
The great news of course is that WiFi access is becoming easier worldwide, although I did have issues with WiFi access in the rainforest in Costa Rica (not surprising though given how remote the location was).
10. Make Use of Digital Nomad Communities
Whatever destination you are considering visiting and staying in, there is often a couple of digital nomad communities that you can join for that place.
Facebook, Whatsapp, and Slack tend to be three of the most common sites for finding these communities.
By joining these groups you can get advice on everything including:
- finding accommodation locally
- events and social meetups
- everything you’ll need to know as a digital nomad in that location
Just do a search on each platform to find and join local groups.
If you are planning to work in Lisbon, Portugal, for a few months, for example, then you could visit:
11. Have an Emergency Fund
Working in different locations for long periods of time, it is worth having a little kitty of money available for the unexpected.
Spending months or a few years abroad, you might find that you need to pop back to your home country, for example, for a friend’s wedding, to visit a sick relative, or you might want to do a couple of workshops or learn something whilst in your new remote location.
Furthermore, accidents can happen while traveling, so make sure to have an emergency fund in place before you become a digital nomad, if possible.
12. Take Advantage of Local Events
Exploring local culture is a great way to become more familiar with the places you’re visiting and make new friends along the way.
One of the first things we always do in fact is to go on one of the local free walking tours so that we can get an instant understanding of the local area.
Two companies we have used often and can recommend are:
- Tours by Foot – offers free tours in about 50 cities worldwide.
- Guruwalk
13. Get to Know the Locals
Becoming friends with locals is a great way to become more immersed in the culture of your destination and to learn about hidden gems that you would otherwise miss out on.
There are a couple of great websites for meeting the locals and these are:
14. Learn 25 Terms/Words of the Local Language
Learning even as little as 25 words of terms of the local language, you will already be learning more than most visitors do.
At least try to use some terms and words; the locals will very often appreciate the effort.
15. Make Sure to Enjoy the Journey
Becoming a digital nomad isn’t always easy, but make sure to enjoy the journey and appreciate all the experiences that come with it.
Living on the road can be an incredibly rewarding experience and adventure so make sure that you make the most of it.
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