Remote work has created a new term in the professional world: Digital Nomad. How can you work while traveling from one place to another?
If your job only requires a secure internet connection and a laptop, you can easily hit the road and begin to enjoy the world around you. Of course, you’ll need a place to stay when away from home, for many people, that could be an RV or tent, depending on their desires. By becoming a traveling online professional, you’ll see more of the country than you would by staying at home in an office.
Here are some things you need to know about becoming a digital nomad.
Do you need any special skills to work on the road?
It’s not necessary to have a special degree or skill set to become a traveling professional, but the work you do must be mobile. It would be nearly impossible to be a traveling mechanic or landscaper, but some jobs are made for working remotely. Some of the top jobs that don’t require you to report to a physical office regularly are web development, software management, digital marketing, writing, and graphic design.
Are there any age requirements?
If your job can be completed from remote locations, you can be a digital nomad. There isn’t an age requirement to this lifestyle. Of course, if you want a little more comfort and convenience, you’ll want to travel in an RV or have enough money to stay at Airbnb’s or hotels along the way. Moving from one place to another can be a lot of fun and there are more opportunities to experience the world than ever before.
What do you do with all your stuff?
Moving from place to place means you might not have all of your stuff with you. This can be a troublesome part of working remotely from various locations around the country, especially if you’re used to having a home and all of your stuff. If you genuinely want to downsize, you can sell off items you won’t take with you on the road, but there’s a better option. Put some stuff in storage or leave it with a trusted friend or family member while out on the road.
Are there any travel limitations?
The lifestyle of a digital nomad can be interesting. If you want to travel to various countries around the world and work while on the go, you need to ensure the country you visit has the digital support you need. Some locations are advanced enough to make traveling and working online easy, while others are not, if you need to be in meetings while in other countries, you may have to take that meeting in the middle of the night, depending on the time zone.
What’s the difference between remote workers and digital nomads?
A person who performs remote work can become a digital nomad by simply heading out on the road and allowing their remote work to afford them the travel lifestyle they’ve always wanted to enjoy. Most remote workers stay in one location and work from the comfort of their home or a local office they have rented for the purpose. These two types of workers have differences in work-life balance priorities. Some remote workers don’t want to travel.
How much savings should you have before hitting the road?
If you travel to foreign countries with lower costs of living than your home country, you might not need to have a lot of money saved up to go on the road. Still, you should have three to six months’ worth of living expenses saved up to cover the starting costs of getting to your first destination. You’ll also need an emergency fund for unexpected expenses that can happen while traveling.
Should you be an ethical nomad?
When you take your show on the road, you need to respect where that road takes you. Many digital nomads head to countries with lower costs of living than their home country, which can create housing and resource shortages in that area. This could impact locals who already have a tough time maintaining any form of a lifestyle. Being ethical means understanding the impact on the local culture and respecting the local area and people by learning about customs and culture to fit in wherever you visit. This should be a big part of your overall travel experience.
If you want to head out on the road and take your work and life to various locations, there are some things to consider before becoming a digital nomad. Are you ready to hit the road?
