The Covid-19 pandemic, as deadly as it was, uncovered a whole new world for us. Apart from shedding light on our terrible health systems, it showed us a new side of work culture. As offices shut down around the globe, we saw new work models like remote and hybrid come to light.
These new work models have given birth to a newer kind of work i.e. Digital Nomadism that allows working while traveling.
Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it isn’t and you can become a digital nomad too.
This blog has everything you need to know about the rise of digital nomads and how you can become one too.
JUMP TO:
What are Digital Nomads?
Benefits of the Rise of Digital Nomad Culture
Becoming a Digital Nomad
Characteristics of Becoming a Digital Nomad
Tech Essentials for Digital Nomads
What are Digital Nomads?
Digital Nomads are people who work remotely while traveling around the world. They are highly dependent on technology and the internet to remain online for their jobs. They can be permanent employees, freelancers, or have contract-based jobs.
The digital nomad lifestyle is not limited to any industry and can belong to tech, finance, marketing, or any field that allows work to be done remotely. They have flexible work schedules which make it easy for them to do their jobs while traveling from one time zone to another.
To be successful at digital nomadism, all they need is a steady internet connection, a trusty laptop, and the ability to meet deadlines.
Benefits of the Rise of Digital Nomad Culture
As fun as the digital nomad lifestyle seems, it is also super beneficial as an alternative lifestyle. Let us look at some of the reasons why people willingly choose this lifestyle:
- Global Exposure: Traveling to a different country every few months opens individuals to new experiences. They meet new people and learn about their values. This provides them with the exposure they never had before.
- Personal Growth: The recurrent exposure to new places, ideas, and people aids in the personal growth of digital nomads. Moreover, the ability to adjust to new places and systems also contributes to personal growth.
- Lower Living Costs: Rent, bills, and taxes are a major concern for every person right now. Becoming a digital nomad gives you the flexibility to choose countries with a lower cost of living. This, in turn, allows you to save up a great deal on rent and bills.
- No Work Commutes: Since digital nomads work remotely, it saves them the awful commutes to their offices and long rush hours. On the contrary, they get to work where they want, mostly in scenic locations with stable internet.
- Better Work-Life Balance: Since digital nomads are not tied to their physical offices and commutes, it lets them have a better work-life balance. They are out of office as soon as they shut down their systems and are free to do whatever they want.
Becoming a Digital Nomad
Flexible work schedules and traveling are the best parts of being a digital nomad. If you often find yourself curious about becoming a digital nomad, here are the important characteristics of becoming a digital nomad:
Characteristics of Becoming a Digital Nomad
1. Remote Job
Having a remote job is a basic prerequisite for becoming a digital nomad. However, it is important to find a remote job that does not require you to be present in a certain country or continent.
Remote jobs allow you the flexibility that is needed for becoming a digital nomad. For example, being a content creator on the OnlyFans platform offers a unique opportunity for digital nomads seeking flexibility and creative freedom. When partnered with an agency like https://bluresca.com/, this role allows you to monetize your skills and passion, while working from anywhere with an internet connection. The possibilities of becoming a digital nomad are endless with a content creator at the top.
2. Self-Employment
Another way of getting into digital nomadism is becoming self-employed or becoming a freelancer.
Being a freelancer, you are not bound by strict company policies and are free to work however you want to. This is easier than finding a job that does not bind you to be present inside specific geographies for tax purposes. In freelancing, popular careers are software development, digital marketing, and graphic design.
3. Networking
Networking is an important aspect of becoming a digital nomad. It opens you up to work opportunities and guidance. Therefore, you need to meet people from your industry and establish contacts.
Making acquaintances in your industry allows you to score jobs more easily. This is especially helpful if you lose your job unexpectedly and you want a gig that will help you cover your traveling and rent costs.
4. Gadgets and Equipment
Another important thing you need are gadgets and technological tools for work purposes. Basics include your laptop, charger, mouse, keyboard, universal adapters, etc. The specifics depend on your job, for example, a graphic designer would need a graphic tablet.
Another important aspect is getting a stable internet connection, which you will get from the country you are traveling to. You can research Internet Service Providers and see which ones offer diverse Internet plans. For instance, if you are traveling to the US, Xfinity is a popular choice of ISP with wide availability and dependable internet connectivity. You can find a suitable internet plan and pair it with a TV/phone from Xfinity internet deals at a good price. Plus, if you are working in a public area, you can find thousands of WiFi hotspots around the country to login your device to!
- Emergency Funds
Becoming a digital nomad comes with a lot of uncertainty. Since you will essentially be away from your family and friends, you can only depend on yourself.
A good way to stay safe is to have a financial cushion to fall on, in dire circumstances. You can do so by saving up for an emergency fund before you travel to your destination. Make sure it is secure and you can access it easily whenever the need arises. Moreover, it is also recommended to save up in a strong currency that is accepted internationally, like dollars or pounds.
- International Banking
Before you get on your first flight as a digital nomad, you need to contact your bank and tell them you will be traveling for a long time. Your representative will then guide you about international transactions and money withdrawals.
Setting up your international account will make it easier for you to receive and access your payments and have all your funds aligned in one place.
- Digital Nomad Visas
Next comes the question of where you will be traveling. This is not as easy as getting a tourist visa. You need to see which countries allow digital nomad visas first, which not all countries do, unfortunately.
A digital nomad visa allows you to work remotely while staying in a foreign country. These visas take months to process, so make sure you get it sorted in advance. There are also some eligibility criteria for getting a digital nomad visa. You can find out more about it and the list of countries offering these visas online.
Tech Essentials for Digital Nomads
Technology has enabled the rise of digital nomads. It plays an important role in letting people work while traveling around the world. High-speed internet, portable gadgets, cloud computing, online productivity and collaboration tools make remote working as seamless as working from the office.
Now, since technology is so closely associated with digital nomadism, if you want to become a digital nomad, you need the following technology essentials to ensure a seamless remote working experience. These essentials are different from the basics mentioned above.
- High-Speed Internet Connectivity: As mentioned above, this is the most important tool to ensure you can do your work remotely. Make sure you check into hotels with a stable WiFi connectivity. It is also a good idea to subscribe to a 4G or 5G package as a backup in case you are unable to find a good WiFi.
- Virtual Private Networks: Public networks are a cybersecurity hazard, especially when you are in a different country every few months. Therefore, it is important to protect your and your employer’s data by using a VPN.
- External Hard Drives: Since you are dependent on technology for your work, it is a good idea to keep offline backups of your work data. This is to ensure business continuity in case of any unexpected circumstances like your laptop getting stolen.
- Power Bank: Since you will be working on the go, it is important to have power backups to charge your gadgets. A power bank is helpful in case of power outages in your area.
- Noise-cancelling Headphones: These are great for helping you stay focused, especially when you are unable to find a quiet place to work. Moreover, you can also work on commercial flights if you have a good set of noise-cancelling headphones.
That is all you need to become one with the digital nomad culture. You can enjoy scenic destinations all year round while working to fund your travel dreams.
