Becoming a digital nomad
Enhance your skills, market yourself and start enjoying the rewarding life of a digital nomad.
It is that simple if working while traveling is an appealing lifestyle to you.
Digital nomads travel freely while working. Their lifeline is internet and technology to work and move from travel destination to the next.
This ideal lifestyle is possible for anyone.
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Japan ranks at 239 among digital nomads according to the nomad list. It has excellent internet speeds of up to 27Mbps, it scores high on the safety scale and has lots of fun things to do.
The downside is it is so expensive. You need over $4,000 a month to live in Tokyo alone.
- So you have to equip yourself with tools like nomad list. It gives you reviews of the different pros and cons of each destination.
- A language app that helps you translate the different languages.
- An app assistant for settling in a country.
- A reliable digital money transfer system.
It can take some time to get settled in this lifestyle but its no time at all in the long run.
Jobs that support a remote work lifestyle
Writing, editing, design, sales, marketing, customer service, IT.
Software developer, teacher/tutor, project management, quality analyst, health care.
Accounting, virtual assistant, recruitment and human resource, transcription.
If you don't have the mentioned skills, that is okay. Answer the questions below to establish your market value.
1. What am I good at?
2. What do I enjoy doing?
3. Who needs my skill?
4. Can I do the job remotely, online?
Once you have your money-making role, start marketing and selling your services in the gig economy. Find and connect with your clients.
The rewards of the digital nomad lifestyle speak for themselves.
1. Higher productivity
You will be less distracted. Every beautiful place and new country will motivate you to get your work done as fast as possible so you can explore the new area.
There’s no time to waste when you travel to gorgeous places almost every day. Exploring your new surroundings will motivate you to get your work done as soon as possible. Adventure can be one of the best types of motivation.
2. Your creativity skyrockets
Neuroscientists call it synaptic play. Being exposed to new and unrelated concepts often leads to the formation of new ideas. The more unrelated the concepts, the more ideas form from synapses.
3. You become more daptable
This lifestyle kicks you out of your comfort zones. Plus, different areas bring out different sides of your personality.
You become more open to new experiences, tolerant, resilient, attentive, free and increases your curiosity for knowledge and skills.
4. More work-life balance
Traveling away from family and friends forces you to focus on connecting with the things that matter to you. Each minute away from work is time to explore and do things you are passionate about.
5. Long-lasting friendships
You will meet fellow nomads and memorable experiences with them will forge tight connections. If you travel with a partner, you will grow closer than before by having to rely on each other.
Join a nomad community to learn the in-seams of the trade, living, get answers, business opportunities, and simply expand your nomad network.
Requirements and tips for becoming a digital nomad
1. Becoming financially independent
This lifestyle requires that you cut out unnecessary expenses out of your life to make room for impactful financial habits. This includes: gym memberships, subscriptions, and paying off debt. When on the road, some expenses don't make financial sense.
2. Planning ahead
Always have a safety net because being on your own requires you to have an emergence plan. So you have your months planned out financially. You also live a minimalist life while adapting to have as much money on you as possible.
Have a reliable and adjustable budget depending on destination. Living expenditures, activities, costs of working, travel and how your pay fits into all of them for extended periods of time.
Research your destinations and quickly learn to communicate with locals.
3. Travel health insurance
Health emergencies, accidents, checkups, compulsory immunisation in some countries, all these need to be taken care of with a solid insurance plan.
Have a backup plan for the worst case scenario. Set up processes to deal with forks in the road.
4. Financial stability
Ask your bank to give you an international credit card and protect yourself from identity theft using a credit monitoring service.
5. Make your phone international
Ask your carrier to unlock your phone so you can easily use simcards of any country. Ensure clear phone reception and WiFi at all times, after all, your lifestyle depends on it.
6. Use ATM machines
Currency exchange is more expensive than drawing from ATMs.