Becoming a digital nomad is one of the most rewarding career changes you can make, helping you to live a more rounded lifestyle, attain a more worldly perspective and give your career an all-important meaning.
With this in mind, it is perhaps little surprise that digital nomadism has skyrocketed in popularity over the past five years, as an increasing number of laptop-based jobs have been created.
A digital nomad is someone who has no fixed address - or at least does not live at that address for extended periods of time, preferring to travel the world as they work remotely.
It is certainly not for everyone, and requires a lot of organization, as well as the ability to adapt to sudden changes, but if you are interested in escaping the normal nine to five and seeing more of the world, then it is certainly worth considering.
This is the ultimate guide for becoming a digital nomad:
Make sure you have all the equipment you need
If you want to become a digital nomad, then you need to make sure you have the right equipment. Leading a digital nomad lifestyle means working off your laptop, completing work remotely. It is, therefore, important that you choose the right computer to suit your needs.
Finding the right laptop is not just about buying one that suits your job (although that should be the top priority). You might have hobbies that suit a particular type of computer. For instance, if you enjoy gaming, then you may want to look out for deals on gaming laptop.
Furthermore, you might want to supplement this with external hard drives, battery packs and a quality smartphone, so you will never be unable to complete your work.
Find a remote job
Of course, traveling the world as a digital nomad is not cheap, and will require you to keep working as you travel. You will, therefore, need to find a suitable job that you can complete remotely.
You may find that your existing job can be completed remotely, and with the permission of your boss you could be able to leave the office behind. However, if this is not possible, then try seeking jobs that suit a remote lifestyle - such as programming, marketing and website building.
Select locations where you can meet other digital nomads
There is no doubt that traveling the world is fun, but it can be lonely too. You will likely be traveling alone in countries that are quite unlike the culture you left behind in your home nation.
Subsequently, it could be a good idea to aim for countries that are popular with digital nomads. You may even find whole villages dedicated to remote workers, which is a great way to meet like-minded people and forge new friendships.
Build a strong, flexible skill set
In order to find remote work, it is crucial that you build a strong skill set which is suited to this kind of work. For example, you could train yourself to become a copywriter, website designer, consultant or content creator, which are all feasible on a flexible schedule.
Conclusion
To conclude, becoming a digital nomad can be tremendously exciting, as long as you do your due diligence and plan well in advance.
Ensuring you have a consistent source of income, a competitive skill set and the right tech equipment are all vital in order to make the most of your time as a remote worker and reap its many benefits.
