A step by step guide on how to become a digital nomad in the next 6 months.
The new trend of working remotely is revolutionizing the concept of work and travel. The concept of working from home and at the same time being able to travel is quite appealing. But, it is not an easy task to transform from an office employee to a digital nomad. Remember, remote working is not for everyone. In this blog, we have outlined a six months plan that will assist you to transform from an office employee to a digital nomad.
The first step of your journey is to determine whether your current job can be performed remotely. Some positions can be done remotely, while others may require discussion with your employer or cannot be done remotely at all. The first question you should ask yourself is, is my current job a job that can be done remotely? If not, maybe it is time to search for new remote jobs. Negotiating with the employer about remote work possibilities is often difficult and a little scary. Initiate such talks as early as possible with your employer. Emphasize the positive aspects, including the efficiency gain and the satisfaction of the employees, to support your argument. And do not forget, if you really want to become a digital nomad, it is for sure worthwhile to take the leap with your current employer.
If your current job is not suitable for remote work, search for remote jobs. Start with browsing through the remote job boards and websites such as We Work Remotely, FlexJobs, and Remote. co to look for appropriate jobs. The most in-demand remote work skills are coding, marketing, graphic designing, and project management. All jobs which can be done easily from a computer. It is possible to enhance these qualifications by enrolling in online classes within these fields. If you already have experiences in these fields, you can begin your job search immediately without going through the process of education. There are also many opportunities for remote work which do not demand any specific abilities, for instance, customer support, virtual secretary, or transcriptionist positions.
Read more: Top 10 Job Boards For Remote Work
Establish realistic goals that you would like to achieve during your transition. Categorize your goals as financial, career, and personal goals. For example, set a target of saving a certain amount of money, find a work from home position, and choose the first location you want to travel to. This will help in the achievement of your plan of becoming a digital nomad.
To become a digital nomad, it requires several technical competencies. Become familiar with the use of applications and platforms such as Slack, Trello, Zoom, and Asana. You may already have experiences with this kind of tools in your current job. If not, try to gain knowledge about the most used online platforms for digital nomads. Take online courses and certifications to enhance your skills. Many platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning have numerous courses to guide you.
Just as important are the interpersonal skills that enable work from home to be efficient. Organization, communication, and self-control are very important when you do not have a clear working schedule. Nobody is expecting you to be in an office at a certain time, so you have to come up with a method of working that suits you and to keep you going. It is important that communication in remote teams is efficient. Remember to drop by your colleagues’ digital offices often, so you are updated on what they are doing and they are aware of your projects. Also ensure that you get to spend some time with your colleagues in a social way. For instance, offer the idea of hosting a digital Friday drinks call.
The digital nomad lifestyle requires the creation of a budget. Sum up all your anticipated costs such as the cost of accommodation, transportation, meals, and insurance. We recommend using budgeting apps such as Mint or YNAB to track your spending. Reducing avoidable costs will enable you to save more money. List down all the subscriptions that you can cancel in the current hometown, so that you can save money.
Ensure that you have adequate capital base to start with. This will help you not to worry when you decide to go fully remote. As for the final piece of advice, it is recommended to save at least six months of living expenses. It is also recommended that you open a high-yield savings account to help you save more. Check out the saving ideas such as the automatic saving, freelancing, or selling items you will not use again.
Setting up online banking is crucial for managing your finances while traveling. Select a bank that has little to no foreign transaction fees and has a strong online presence. The knowledge of taxes for digital nomads is also crucially. It is important to study the tax laws of your home country as well as of the countries you are planning to visit. If your case, is becoming complicated, it is advisable to seek the advice of a tax expert who deals with taxation of remote workers.
It is very essential that you familiarize yourself with the visa requirements of the countries you are planning to visit. Check these requirements thoroughly, so you don’s miss any significant information. Some countries have introduced a remote work visa that enables one to legally work and reside in the country for an extended period such as Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa or Barbados Welcome Stamp. Increasingly, nations are providing digital nomad visa’s to foreigners. To avert legal complications, it is crucial to comprehend the processes and timeframes of the applications. You can also discuss with an expert on this topic.
Selecting the right health insurance is mandatory. Seek for those plans that will offer you maximum coverage such as the emergency medical evacuation. This can for instance be done through your current travel insurance, or by taking out a new travel insurance policy. Some of the insurance providers that are focused on travelers and digital nomads are SafetyWing and World Nomads. Check out these websites, to make sure you are insured well.
Stable connection is necessary if you are working from home. Buy necessary technological equipment such as a light-weight laptop, portable WiFi modem, and noise reducing headphones to stay productive. Ensure that you always have a good internet connection by searching for internet services in the area you are going to. Also, SIM cards or mobile hotspots should be used as a backup connection.
It is recommended to try the remote work experience first before becoming a full-time digital nomad. You can begin with working from home or any other convenient place for a couple of weeks. This can assist in finding and preventing possible issues. This is also a great way to know if remote work is for you, before going fully remote, and not knowing how to go back.
Take a short vacation to challenge yourself on how you can manage work and travel. Select a location with reliable internet connection and places where you can comfortably work from. In this trial, you can also organize your working responsibilities while on the move. Can you work in a new time zone and be effective when you are not in an office? Let’s try it out!
Once you have all your strategies set, it is now time for the last touches. Make a list of all the items you will need to pack, starting with your clothes and ending with your gadgets. Pack as lightly as possible, and only bring what is absolutely necessary. This is most important when you are planning to move around a lot. Also, do not forget to factor in the climate and the culture of the place that you are visiting when packing. Another important activity is to begin selling or storing your items.
After you have transitioned, ensure that you concentrate on acclimatization to the digital nomad lifestyle. The first thing is to locate a house that will meet your requirements. Off course, this is also something that can be done beforehand. But looking around once you have arrived, is also a good idea, so you know what kind of areas you like. Some of the choices you have are short-term rentals, hostels, or co-living accommodations. Set a daily schedule that will allow you to work and travel at the same time. It is important to set some limits so that you can have a proper work and live balance while at the same time discovering the new environment.
Continue thinking about your shift from the office employee to the digital nomad. Accepting the concept of being a digital nomad is a process of constant learning and growing, which may be uncomfortable at times. However, turn this into a positive by learning from it and embracing the fact that you are a digital nomad and have the freedom to do as you please. Many interesting things will happen to you!
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