What is Digital Nomad?

What is Digital Nomad?

Digital Nomads - Digital nomads are remote workers who travel to various locations. They often work from coffee shops, co-working spaces, or public libraries, relying on wireless Internet-enabled devices like smartphones and mobile hotspots to work wherever they want.

With 34% of remote workers working 4-5 days a week away from the office, the digital nomad lifestyle could be an exciting possibility if you're drawn to travel and want to escape the shackles of the 9-to-5 work life. This article will cover the benefits, job opportunities, and realities of this alternative lifestyle.

What is Digital Nomad? Picture 1

5 Benefits of Becoming a Digital Nomad

1. Work more efficiently

There is no time to waste when you are traveling to beautiful places almost every day. Exploring new surroundings will motivate you to get things done as soon as possible. Adventure can be one of the best types of motivation.

2. Have more innovative ideas

Creativity happens when you combine seemingly unrelated concepts to form a new idea. Working in a different place every day gives you a variety of experiences. And when your brain is filled with this variety of inputs, your ideas become much more creative.

3. Become more adaptable

Constantly traveling to new places pushes you out of your comfort zone. And to adapt to new environments every day, you need to be willing to interact with different people and cultures. This makes you more open to new experiences in the future.

Travel also improves your brain's response to change. When you travel, the stress of moving to a new place stimulates new neural branches in your brain. These extensions will enhance your brain's ability and attention to handle new and challenging situations in the future.

In short, travel strengthens your desire and ability to learn new skills.

4. Have more time to do the things you love

We work to live, not live to work. Getting things done faster frees up more time in your schedule to explore your surroundings, do the things you love, and spend more time with your loved ones.

5. Create lifelong friendships

Adventures and memorable experiences create strong bonds between people. As you start your journey, you will meet other digital nomads and become friends with them. And if you travel with a friend or partner, your relationship will become closer than ever.

Popular Jobs for Digital Nomads

Most companies are embracing remote work these days. 43% of American employees spent some time working remotely last year, and that number is only going to increase. But being a digital nomad and working from home for a few days are two very different things. If you want to keep your day job while traveling, you need to prove to your employer that you can still handle a full-time remote job while on the go.

If you're looking for a job, sift through websites that only list remote jobs and ask potential employers if the role would fit your nomadic lifestyle.

Freelancing is also a popular role for digital nomads. However, before you start your journey, you need to be realistic with yourself. How will you make a living? Answer the following questions to help you figure it out:

1. What am I good at?
2. What do I like to do?
3. Is there a job demand related to my skills?
4. Can I do this job online?

Once you know how to make money, you can enter the freelance market by marketing and selling your own services or finding work on the market.

Whether you choose to work for a company or freelance, being a digital nomad doesn't mean you have to box yourself into a specific role. Your work just has to be entirely digital. Here are some popular roles that fit the fully remote work lifestyle:

1. Accountant
2. Customer service
3. Design
4. Editing
5. Health care
6. IT
7. Marketing
8. Project Management
9. Quality Assurance Analyst (QA)
10. Recruitment & Human Resources
11. Sell
12. Software Development
13. Teacher/Tutor
14. Translation
15. Virtual Assistant
16. Writing

As you can see, there are many different industries and roles for digital nomads. Remote working is becoming more popular, which is exciting and beneficial for the workforce. But that doesn't mean that anyone and everyone should become a digital nomad. It's still a tough challenge. You need to be organized and disciplined, otherwise you won't be able to enjoy your travels. So how do you prepare for your journey?

5 Things to Consider Before You Start

1. Eliminate unnecessary expenses

Paying for things that don't make much of a difference in your life is never an option. That's why you need to eliminate all the expenses you won't need while living as a digital nomad. Things like gym memberships, subscription fees, and debt are all expenses that will bog you down in your career. And if you're a freelancer, they can be even more of a burden because you may experience some periods of unstable income. Eliminating these expenses and paying off debt will allow you to focus fully on your work and your travels.

2. Make sure you have a source of income to rely on for several months

No matter what lifestyle you lead, it's always wise to have a safety net. You never know when an emergency will arise. This is especially true if you're a digital nomad. You can't find solace in a warm, comfortable home or family, and if you're a freelancer, you don't have the luxury of a steady paycheck. To build up your safety net, you should sell any unnecessary belongings, move essential items into storage, sell or rent out your home, and save as much money as possible.

3. Buy travel health insurance

Travel can be some of the most amazing experiences of your life, but it's not always a constant stream of fun and excitement. It's still real life. You'll get sick, have emergencies and accidents, and need regular check-ups. You'll also need vaccinations to enter certain parts of the world. Your health should be a priority while you're traveling, so make sure you have health insurance that's valid wherever you go.

4. Prepare for financial success

Having enough money is key to a successful trip. Credit cards often charge fees if you use them abroad, so ask your bank for an international credit card. You should also sign up for a credit monitoring service to alert you if someone tries to steal your identity.

5. If you travel internationally, unlock your phone.

Most countries have different mobile carriers, so if you want to move from one country to another, you will need to call your current carrier and ask them to unlock your phone. You can use your phone in any country because you can put a different SIM card from each international carrier you use in your phone.

Once these issues are resolved, it's time to start your new life on the road.

7 Tips to Live Like a True Digital Nomad

1. Budgeting

As a digital nomad, budgeting is key. And if you stick to it, you can live quite comfortably. To budget successfully, consider your living expenses, the cost of traveling to each destination, the cost of staying there, the activities you'll do there, the cost of working, and how all of this will affect your savings if you can't earn an income for a while.

2. Plan for the worst

When you live abroad, it's important to have multiple emergency plans. Life is full of surprises. Anything can happen. What if your car breaks down? Or what if you get stranded in a foreign country without a backup plan? What are your Plan B and Plan C? You need to have these procedures in place to handle the inevitable bumps in the road.

3. Join a digital nomad community.

Digital nomad communities like Couchsurfing and Nomadlist will help you learn the nuances of this new lifestyle and provide plenty of helpful tips. Other nomads will be happy to answer any pressing questions about your new lifestyle and any areas you plan to visit. They'll also teach you how to be productive on the road. And the best part about these communities is that you can connect with other like-minded people, which can lead to new business opportunities, partnerships, and friendships.

4. Make sure there is always a cell phone or WiFi signal

If your company allows you to work remotely, show them and your team respect by staying online as much as possible. Not having WiFi or cell phone reception is never an excuse to miss a meeting or not complete an assignment. The same is true if you're a freelancer.

To ensure you always have an internet connection, consider investing in a cell phone signal booster and a mobile hotspot mifi device. Cell phone signal boosters can detect the slightest signal from your cell phone and send it to your car. Mobile hotspot mifi devices boost your network signal so you don't have to rely on unstable public wifi connections.

5. Make sure you can communicate with the locals

Knowing the language of the country you're visiting or knowing that they can speak your language is crucial to a successful trip. But if you have to go to a place where you don't know the native language or they don't speak your language, use Google Translate or another translation app to help you navigate the new environment.

6. Research the destination

If you're not living in your car, look for cheap housing on AirBnB or Couchsurf before you arrive. And make sure your accommodation is close to a hospital, emergency room, or clinic in case of an emergency. You should also do your research to find safe neighborhoods.

7. Withdraw cash from ATM

Airports are notorious for charging exorbitant currency exchange fees. If you need cash, withdraw money from an ATM. Your bank will charge a fee, but it will be much lower than what you would pay at a currency exchange.

If you enjoy the adventurous lifestyle, becoming a digital nomad can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging ways to live. But if you are well-organized, disciplined, and eager to learn, you can enjoy an exciting and fulfilling life along the way.

Hope you have an enjoyable experience!

Lesley Montoya

Update 07 February 2025