The digital nomad lifestyle has become extremely popular over recent years, with up to 40 million people taking part. As popular and exciting as the idea sounds, it’s also a challenging approach to living. It certainly isn’t not suitable for everyone. Those interested in becoming a digital nomad need to carefully consider some key aspects before taking the leap, and that’s what we will explore in my post Preparing for Life as a Digital Nomad.
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Preparing for Life as a Digital Nomad
What is a Digital Nomad?
A digital nomad is someone who lives and works while in a state of semi-permanent travel. This can be domestically, travelling around the country, or internationally, as they work and travel to different countries. The idea is highly flexible, with some digital nomads choosing to separate themselves into different subtypes.
Some travel often as they work, leveraging adventures into a social media presence they can profit from. Others prefer a more measured approach, setting up shop in areas for months at a time before moving on. Each are still digital nomads, however, since the term is a broad one.
Securing a Financial Base
Before you even think about heading out into the world with work, you need to have your financial bases covered. It might seem romantic to drop everything and set sail, but this approach is too risky to be viable, especially if for those with no experience as a digital nomad.
Firstly, it’s important to have enough money saved to be able to return you to your home country and support system if needed. These savings need to remain untouched. If you ever find yourself needing to dip into them, it’s time to go home, at least until you can build up enough funds to do it again. You’ll also need to have enough in the bank to cover unexpected costs for early adjustment periods and unexpected work downturns.
Securing this base can sometimes mean selling item you have at home. This could begin with smaller goods, and go all the way up to property sales. With the latter example, you can rely on digital systems to expedite the process. If you’re wondering who could ‘buy my house for cash’, online property buyers can provide free cash offers within minutes. With guaranteed sales on any property and transferred funds in as little as seven days, this approach can help prepare you before you go, or keep you going once you’ve begun.
Choosing Your Locations
As a digital nomad, you’re going to be relying on internet connections to keep yourself working. This means that the first thing you need to think about while travelling is web connectivity, and access. Some countries might not offer reliable internet connections. Others might have high average speeds, but difficult-to-find connection points.
Part of this point also ties into how you want to work. Some nomads will choose to work from local coffee shops, while others will prefer to get their work done in their hotel rooms before starting their day properly. How are the coffee shop internet connections around where you stay, how is your hotel’s internet rated, and can you rely on mobile hotspot connections if these options become untenable? It is important to do the necessary research before you get there.
You’ll also need to understand how different locations can affect your will and ability to work. Have you ever tried working in an environment filled with distractions? How do different weather and heat systems change your ability and motivation to work and the technology you work with? Such elements might be inconsequential to some, but for others, they could hugely affect your capacity to work.
Understanding Requirements and Demands
Both physically and mentally, the digital nomad lifestyle is unlike what most people have ever experienced. Mentally, you’re going to be removed from existing friend and family groups, and placed into foreign environments that you might not be able to connect with. Methods to reduce travel anxiety and local hangout spots with digital nomad and expat populations can help, but these might not work for everyone.
You’ll also have to manage the ability to motivate yourself and stay on task. This can be challenging in a new place, especially if you’re tempted to stay out all night with the partying population. Some new digital nomads treat this lifestyle like a holiday first, when just like at home, real responsibilities to support yourself are still the most important.
On top of all these issues is the potential roadblock of culture shock. Dealing with air and noise pollution you’re not used to, only finding food you’re not familiar with, and not speaking the language can be major issues for some travellers. Any of these can make or break an experience, so they need to be considered carefully.
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The best advice to anyone looking to begin a digital nomad life is to take a practice trip first. Research what you can expect ahead of time. This will at least prevent you from jumping in the deep end, and help to reveal any key difficulties you might otherwise have overlooked. Do all of this right, be measured in your approach, and you could find the perfect new way to live as a digital nomad.
I hope you enjoyed reading my post, Preparing for Life as a Digital Nomad. As you can see there are things to consider before taking the leap and becoming a digital nomad. If you do enough research and preparation you should be fully prepared and have an amazing time.
Would you ever consider being a digital nomad? Is this something you might consider even if just for a short period of time?
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I was always so envious of this lifestyle, but after reading this, I realize there’s so much more depth and thought put into it. This is definitely eye opening!
There is a lot involved and preparation is very important.
This is all such great advice! I’ve been a digital nomad since graduating university in 2017 and it’s been the best decision I’ve made for myself.
It can be really good fun. I bet you’ve had an amazing time doing it.
This is all such excellent, sound advice! It’s no wonder people want the flexibility of being a digital nomad; you can see the entire world (though, does come at a cost).
It is amazing how many places you can get to see.
Sounds like a really life changing way of living but not for me. Like you say, the savings, the noise and pollution and the different foods may work for some people but im not this way inclined. Im a creature of habit but I do envy people who can do this. The life experiences have must be amazing.
It isn’t for all but can be a great experience.
TO be honest, I didn’t how this digital nomad work. But reading this blog makes me interested to know more about this.
It can be a great way to travel and earn.
I would love to have done this when I was younger!
It can be a great experience x
I often see people’s lifestyles online and how they’re earning whilst travelling, it sounds amazing. But you are right there are so many factors to consider first.
There really are and it’s important to make sure you are fully aware before trying this.
Never heard of this culture before,but it sounds interesting
It can be great to get to see new places.
This is a great post, I have a friend who I guess you can say is a digital nomad person because she lives and works while in a state of semi-permanent travel, that girl travels all over the world. I’m sure this is an adventure but for me I don’t think I could do this. All I know is she loves it, and she has a family that travel with her.
Oh wow, they must get to see some amazing places.
Being a digital nomad seems like such a great experience, as you travel and work simultaneously. I love traveling and in turn sometimes I bring my workload along, so this is definitely something that interests me!
That’s great to hear. I hope you get to try it for yourself.
This sounds like for some this is the perfect lifestyle, I know this would not work for me as I do love my home and having a permanent place to call home
It can be a fun adventure but not ideal for home bods xxx
These are great tips for anyone considering this lifestyle to think about. Everyone thinks they want to live like this, but not everyone is cut out for it.
I agree, it really isn’t ideal for everyone.
I could not be a digital nomad. It sounds exciting, but I don’t even like leaving the house to go to the grocery store. LOL
It isn’t for everyone although to get to travel can be nice.
I do a lot of work on the road and I can relate to working as a digital nomad. Bad wifi and cell signals seem to be the bane of my existence sometimes!
Wifi can be a real nightmare!!!
As someone who’s been considering the digital nomad lifestyle, I found these tips super practical and easy to understand. You hit on all the key points – finances, destinations and being realistic. It’s not just working from a beach with a laptop but actually planning ahead and being smart about it.
That’s so great to hear. It can be so lovely to get to see new places.
Honestly, I would like to try the digital nomad life because I’m a freelancer. But we have young kids, and they just started going to school. Maybe I’ll try it on the pension!
It’s not so easy to do these things when you have young kids. I hope you get to do it later in life.
Preparing for the digital nomad lifestyle is pretty important before embarking on that journey. Thanks for these valuable tips.
It is important and can be helpful to have done some prep work
I really like how realistic this post is! SO many people have romanticised becoming a digital nomad, but there are so many practical things to consider and prep first.
There can be a lot to consider before going and to arrange.
Interesting! I love how you covered both the practical aspects, like budgeting and choosing the right destinations, as well as the emotional side of adapting to constant change.
Thanks so much, I am glad to hear you found the post interesting.
Even when I was younger I always said I didn’t want to work a traditional 9-5 and I wanted to travel the world. So living as a digital nomad or something adjacent is something I’ve had in mind for a long time! Thanks for these great tips! Saving this post to come back to!!
I’m so glad you liked the post. Thanks for visiting AJ x