Chances are you have always wanted to explore the world and visit different travel destinations. But then life happened and now you are dreaming about your next vacation during your 9 to 5 job. The days of daydreaming are over. The time has come for you to finally take matters into your hands and blend travel and career. That is what digital nomadism is all about. Working while traveling or traveling while working. You get the best of both worlds right there. And the best part of it is that it takes 6 steps to finally live your dream. Wait no longer and scroll down to read all about the steps that will turn you into a digital nomad.
Understand Why
Believe it or not, one can become a digital nomad for all the wrong reasons. That is why most adventures fail. Therefore, you should play it safe and try to understand why you want to become a digital nomad in the first place. What makes this lifestyle so appealing to you? Why do you want to give it a try? Is it the lack of passion or perspective at your existing job? Or you just feel like there is more to life than work? Knowing why you want to change your lifestyle drastically will empower you and give you the motivation you need to make a plan and put it in motion.
Come up with How
Now that you have decided to make travel part of your career, you can sit down and come up with a way to do it. For example, do you make a living as a musician? You can use this passion to travel the world too. Without a plan, it is highly unlikely your nomadic adventure will be a successful one. Meanwhile, if you spend some time thinking and planning all the steps you have to take, then your chances of succeeding in your efforts to change your lifestyle will significantly increase. For this reason, you should divide your goal of becoming a digital nomad into sets of smaller steps. Once you complete these steps, you will also have completed the ultimate goal which is becoming a digital nomad.
Work Remotely
Digital nomads may differ in many aspects. Still, there is one thing they all share and that is remote work. It is what allows digital nomads around the world to travel and build a career at the same time. Therefore, if you aren’t already working remotely, you should consider changing your job to a remote one. This change will allow you to keep your job and have a steady income while traveling to all those wonderful destinations you have been dreaming of for a long time. All you need to nail remote work are a stable Internet connection, so you can access the corporate intranet every day for the latest information, and a functional laptop. This way you will stay in touch with colleagues, clients, and build a career while changing locations and enjoying the travels.
Start Saving Money
The most important plan you should make is the one focusing on saving as much money as you can. While transitioning from your current lifestyle to a nomadic one, you will need to have some money to fall back on. Bills will keep on coming whether or not you are trying to become a digital nomad or not. Since digital nomadism comes with ups and downs of its own, you still want to be able to cover any unexpected expenses that may ensue throughout all the travels. A great starting point is canceling any subscriptions you may have going on. If you are planning on moving away, you surely won’t be needing your gym membership, right?
Network
Networking is an important part of not only every career-building process but also making travel a part of your career. The only difference is in the community you are networking in. For instance, digital nomad communities gather thousands of people just like yourself. They are courageous, adventurous but most importantly, willing to help, give advice, and share experiences. For someone who is just about to embark on this adventure, other digital nomads’ stories can make a difference and the transition easier. There is no need to hesitate when becoming a member of such communities because it can only help you with many different things such as accommodation, jobs, travel destinations, etc.
Establish a Support System
On this journey, it is crucial to keep your spirits up. Only then will you be able to face all the obstacles and overcome them. Every digital nomad has its ups and downs. However, how long they will be able to enjoy being a digital nomad depends on their ability to stay motivated and encouraged. The best way to stay positive is to establish a support system. This means you should surround yourself with people who believe you can make your dreams come true. If you keep listening to people telling you your dreams are unattainable, then you won’t get too far. Your support system will help you and motivate you not to give up but to be persistent whenever you feel like quitting.
If you always dreamed of traveling, but want to build a career too, then becoming a digital nomad is the best chance for you. Don’t let it go away. Instead, follow our steps and in no time will you join the digital nomad community and enjoy traveling while building your career too.
Courtesy of Sarah Smith
