Are you tired of the nine-to-five grind? Do you feel like there’s more to life than your current career? If so, you may be wondering how to become a digital nomad.
The term has been increasingly used in recent years, but how exactly can you become a digital nomad?
We’ve all seen it on social media at least once: A woman sitting on the beach working on her laptop, a group of guys at a cafe discussing projects, or a couple working abroad at the airport
In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make the switch and start living a location-independent, digital nomad lifestyle.
That’s going to be a long guide, so let’s jump right into it.
What is a Digital Nomad?
A digital nomad is someone who can work remotely and earns a living from anywhere in the world. Unlike traditional employees who have to commute to an office, digital nomads can work from home, in a coffee shop, or even on the go.
The lifestyle of living as a digital nomad has grown a lot in popularity lately, with more people wanting to leave behind the regular 9-to-5 job to enjoy freedom. For many digital nomads, earning money online gives them the chance to travel around the globe and still earn enough money to live well.
A study by MBO Partners revealed that, in 2019, there were as many as 7.3 million American digital nomads. This number increased by 49% in 2020 due to the pandemic, and they shared that there are now almost 11 million digital nomads.
Who Can Become a Digital Nomad?
Pretty much anyone can become a digital nomad, as there isn’t any age limit.
However, the Digital Nomad report 2020 by MBO Partners shared that the younger generations make 61% of the digital nomad community.
Other than that, Gen X (born between 1960 and 1985) make up 22% of the community and Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964) 17%. There are some things to consider when becoming a digital nomad, and the younger you are, the easier.
Is It Hard to Be a Digital Nomad?
After being a digital nomad for 4 years, I can truly say that I’ve never worked so hard in my life. I sometimes wake up at 7 in the morning and go to bed the morning after at 2 or 3.
Living the digital nomad life is not always easy, especially as a freelancer or if you have a location-independent business. And yes, you’ll have to make sacrifices. But no, you definitely won’t regret it.
That being said, if you work for a company that allows you to work remotely, or if you work for an online business, then you should be working standard hours, typically under the company’s time zone.
With that in mind, it’s essential to remember that you could be working night shifts if you’re based in a totally different time zone (for instance, working for an American business in Thailand).
Pros and Cons of Location Independence
The idea of becoming a digital nomad and living a location-independent lifestyle is more appealing than ever. And it’s not hard to see why. But just like everything, there are downsides to consider. Let’s elaborate and go through the pros and cons of working online.
The Benefits
There are endless benefits to being a digital nomad and these are the most notable:
- Live wherever you want
- Anyone can be a digital nomad
- Make friends from all around the world
- You get to open your mind and live travel experiences
- Learn new skills and become more emotionally intelligent
- You save money when living in a low-cost-of-living country
- Work your own schedule and take time off whenever you need to (for most digital nomads)
The Downsides
There are a lot of pros to being a digital nomad, but there are also some cons. For instance, it can be hard to make friends when you’re always on the move, and it’s sometimes tough to find stable internet connections. But wait, there’s more:
- Traveling isn’t as exclusive as before
- Working with time zone differences can be a pain
- Loneliness – Forget about colleagues popping up at your desk
- You might not be productive – especially when working from home
- Overworking – for many digital nomads, it can be hard to unplug from work
All in All…
While being digital nomads isn’t as perfect as they describe it to be, you’ll definitely get over the cons and get used to your nomadic lifestyle.
I’ve been a digital nomad working online for the past 4 years, and I surely got used to my lifestyle – and I wouldn’t change it for any office jobs anymore.
The State of Remote Work 2020 by Buffer shared that 97% of remote workers would recommend working remotely to others (and I’m in that category too).
Digital Nomad Jobs
The best part about digital nomad jobs is that they allow you to work from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. There are a variety of different options available, and these are the most common digital nomad jobs:
- Blogger
- YouTuber
- Marketer
- Translator
- Copywriter
- Online Tutor
- Dropshipping
- SEO Specialist
- Virtual Assistant
- Customer Service
- Software Developer
In another guide, I went through the best freelance jobs for beginners that you should consider when starting your digital nomad career. Of course, I can’t list all the digital nomad careers in this guide but you can pretty much work any office job on the go.
Where to Find a Remote Job?
There are many websites with a job board to find a remote job. Whether you’re a freelancer and want to work on gigs or looking for a full-time job online, these are the best platforms.
Best Websites to Find a Remote Job
- Flexjobs
- Remotive
- OkRemote
- Hubstaff Talent
- We Work Remotely
- LinkedIn Job Board
Best Platforms For Freelance Gigs
- Fiverr
- Contra
- Toptal
- Upwork
- People Per Hour
READ MORE: Get Started on Upwork Today
How to Become a Digital Nomad in 10 Steps
Don’t you just hate the feeling of being trapped? It’s like there’s this invisible force that is keeping you from doing what you want to do. You can feel it in your bones, this sense of unease and restlessness.
For some people, this might mean a constant need to move or travel.
And if that sounds like you, then read on. This is how to become a digital nomad step by step.
Step 1 – Learn a Skill
As mentioned previously, anyone can become a digital nomad. But in order to succeed, you’ll have to learn a skill to work online. I went through some common jobs above, but these most saught-after skills in the industry are:
- Video editing
- Graphic design
- Content writing
- Customer service
- SEO and marketing
- Software development
- Languages for translation
- Social media management
Obviously, there’s more, depending on the field you’re looking to work. The great thing is that you’ll find several platforms to learn a new skill online, and you won’t need to attend any physical course or spend lots of money.
For instance, Udemy has affordable courses that’ll teach you pretty much anything from programming to design to marketing to design and more. Coursera is also a great option.
Both platforms will give you a certificate as soon as you finish the course so that you can include it in your resume or post it on your Upwork profile.
Alternatively, SEMrush and HubSpot academies are great for learning marketing, TreeHouse is the best for learning coding and programming, and Skillshare has fantastic courses about photography, content writing, video editing, and more.
Step 2 – Find a Remote Job to Improve Your Skill
Once you know the basics of the job you’re after, you should find a remote job, may it be a traditional job online or freelance gigs, as far as you can make money and improve that particular skill.
Many digital nomads work as software developers or graphic designers, and you hardly get great at it unless you spend years in the role, so some recruiters and clients may understand and give you the job.
I selected a few sites to find a job online above, but my personal favorites are We Work Remotely and OkRemote for traditional positions and Upwork and Toptal for freelance gigs.
Alternatively, you could ask your boss if you can switch your current job to work online, some companies may be open for it.
Step 3 – Open an Account on Upwork
While you wait for recruiters to get back to you, I highly recommend opening an account on Upwork.
Upwork is a freelance platform that connects online businesses and freelancers, offering gigs in several industries.
Getting started is as easy as it gets – fill in the form with your personal details, add your previous job title and experience, your current job, and any skills you have – may it be languages, software, or industry.
Upwork will either approve or reject your profile within 24 hours. If you’re accepted, then you can start applying to freelance gigs and, who knows, you might just end up finding your dream job.
Before starting on Upwork, make sure to check out my 2 guides: Avoid scams on Upwork and How to Write a Propose on Upwork – they’ll be helpful to you.
Last but not least, it’s important to be patient when working online. When I first started on Upwork, I sent over 70 applications before getting my first gig. But it was totally worth it, I now make a stable and decent income working on Upwork only.
Step 4 – Buy an Online Business
If you have the means, then why not buy a location-independent business? It’s a potentially easier option than starting from scratch and you’ll have the previous founder helping you with the initial setup.
To give you an idea, you could buy and invest in a well-performing website on Flippa, and you’ll already have a passive income available. If you’re experienced in marketing and SEO, then you’ll know how to keep a steady income with that business, which is a plus.
You may feel that you didn’t create anything by yourself, but if you ask me, this is totally fine. And it’s the easier but also riskier way on how to become a digital nomad.
Step 5 – Sell Your Things and Save Money
When becoming a digital nomad, there’s one important thing you need to do first: sell your things and save money. That may sound like a drastic step, but it’s actually a lot easier than you might think.
With the rise of the internet, there are now plenty of ways to sell your belongings online, from clothing to furniture to electronics. And once you’ve sold everything you don’t need, you can use that money to fund your travels.
Do NOT make the mistake of leaving your job unless you have a healthy bank account! Traveling is much more expensive than it looks, even if you travel to low-cost destinations like South East Asia.
Of course, becoming a digital nomad isn’t just about selling your things and saving money. It’s also about finding ways to make money while you travel. But if you’re armed with a little bit of cash and a lot of determination, there’s no reason you can’t make your nomadic lifestyle dream a reality.
Step 6 – Join the Digital Nomad Community
This is a pretty simple yet important step before adopting the digital nomad lifestyle – join the community, regardless if you have a traditional job or you’re a freelancer.
You see, according to the State of Remote Work 2022 by Buffer, one of the biggest challenges of working remotely is loneliness, only topped by overworking.
Needless to say, joining other digital nomads will make you feel more comfortable, especially if you plan to travel far from home.
I recommend you join Nomad List as they have a community of remote workers all around the world. Not only will other location-independent workers help you with basic questions but they will eventually help you find co-working spaces or give you other tips like setting up a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
As a freelancer, I found that talking with other digital nomads working on the road also helps with loneliness, even if it means having a coffee once a week or so.
Step 7 – Invest in Remote Work Equipment
Just like office workers, remote workers need specific accessories to make them feel more productive and get things done more easily. And it all depends on the job you’re doing.
For example, if you work in customer service, then make sure to invest in high-quality noise-canceling headphones and a laptop stand. A power bank and a mobile WiFi hotspot are also travel essentials for digital nomads.
On top of that, having an external hard disk is a great idea. Many digital nomads travel from country to country and have TONS of photos stored on their phones, and, of course, that takes a lot of space.
Finally, a travel adapter is a great gadget to have.
All these are must-haves for successful digital nomads, and I can’t recommend investing in these items enough.
Step 8 – Get Travel Insurance
One of the most important things as a digital nomad is to be insured. Imagine traveling to some country and getting run over by a car or having an accident with your motorbike.
Travel insurance will come particularly handy if you need to get to a hospital. Suppose you are traveling to countries like Thailand or Vietnam, you’ll want to be covered. While hospitals in South East Asia or South America are cheaper than in the first world, I still paid $700 for a night at a hospital and 3 tests in Chiang Mai.
If you’re traveling around the world as a Digital Nomad, I highly recommend subscribing to Safety Wing Nomad Insurance.
Safety Wing has been covering me for months, and they’re their customer service is state-of-the-art.
For only $42 per month, you can renew your subscription anytime and remain insured no matter where you’re traveling. I previously subscribed to another travel insurance which expired after 6 months, and it was then no good.
That’s not the case with Safety Wing – they’ll keep your contract active for as long as you need to.
Step 9 – Figure Out the Visa Options
Let’s clear this out right off the bat – Most digital nomads travel on a tourist visa, despite working. And once you start to working remotely, this is probably what you’ll do, too.
Officially, you’re not supposed to work on a “tourist” visa, hence why countries have “working permits.” That being said, you probably won’t need to explain your professional situation, and tourist visas are usually valid long enough (sometimes for a few months) to enjoy the country.
Apart from that, you’ll have to figure out what countries you can visit on a tourist visa – some offer a visa on arrival, so there’s no need to fill out any form, while others, like the Schengen area, require you to apply several weeks in advance.
Step 10 – Buy Your Flight Ticket and Book Your Hotel
Finally comes the moment you’ve been waiting for, buying your first flight ticket as a digital nomad and booking your hotel.
Naturally, some digital nomads are more adventurous and will not book any hotel before getting to your destination, but if you want to secure your accommodation and a working space for remote work, this is important.
Also, keep in mind that it will be very difficult to work remotely without a strong internet connection.
Finally, you need to be willing to embrace change. The digital nomad journey can be unpredictable, especially when traveling for a few months, so it’s important to be flexible and open-minded.
Popular Digital Nomad Destinations
While digital nomads can travel pretty much anywhere they want with their business online, there are some key destinations that are specifically made for them. For instance, the cities for digital nomads below are the perfect mix of quality of life, affordable living cost, and internet speed:
- Bali, Indonesia
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Budapest, Hungary
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Tbilisi, Georgia
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Seoul, South Korea
- Da Nang, Vietnam
Tools for Working Remotely
Depending on your projects, you may want some tools to work as a digital nomad to make your life a nomad easier. These tools make you more efficient by increasing your speed, avoiding tech issues, or even making you more productive.
For example, you will want to get a powerful laptop to avoid bugs and unnecessary stress. Also, think about upgrading your equipment and buy an external hard disk or wireless earbuds to avoid distractions.
Lastly, if you plan to teach English online, I’d recommend getting good noise-canceling headphones. On top of that, getting an external webcam is a good idea in case yours breaks.
So, Are You Ready to Become a Digital Nomad?
Being a digital nomad is not only a prevalent trend right now, but it is becoming more and more a job opportunity. The digitization of the workforce allows the possibility of working as a freelancer all over the world.
It is not only changing the modus operandi of companies but allowing more and more people to live as they have always dreamed of. The internet offers many opportunities for so many different types of jobs that you, too, can pursue a new career, even as you climb Kilimanjaro.
If you like to take risks and you’re passionate about travel, then what are you waiting for?
Think you’re not ready to leave home yet? Give it a try for a couple of months and see if you enjoy working around the world. The digital nomad experience could offer you many fantastic opportunities. For instance, meeting new clients, connecting with new friends, and just seeing the world!
Conclusion
Becoming a digital nomad is a new dream for so many people. It’s no wonder, then, that so many people are asking how to become a digital nomad. The allure of being able to work from anywhere in the world is hard to resist, and for those who have the itch to travel, it can be an incredibly appealing way to live.
But what does it take to make the switch? How do you go about becoming a digital nomad?
There was everything you had to know about becoming location independent and before making the leap into full-time digital nomadism. You don’t necessarily need programming or design skills, but you should at least be competent in using technology and comfortable working on a computer for long periods of time.
Thanks for reading until the end and please let me know in the comment section here below if I forgot anything.
Other Location Independence Guides
- 7 Ways to Find Clients Online
- Is Upwork Good For Beginners?
- Best Cities for Digital Nomads to Live
- How To Become a Freelance Copywriter
- How To Be Successful On Fiverr and Get Jobs
- Your Full Guide to Work Remotely From Mexico
Pin it For Later
Becoming A Digital Nomad Step by Step
- Who Are Digital Nomads?
- Why Becoming A Digital Nomad?
- Find a Remote Job
- Work on Online Projects and Earn Money
- Start a Blog and Make Money as a Digital Nomad
- Buy a VPN
- And Buy an Internet Backup As Well
- Benefits of Becoming A Digital Nomad
