Taking Control of Your Career: The Basics of Digital Nomads
The digital nomad lifestyle is an increasingly popular career path for those looking to break away from the traditional office environment and explore the world. With no fixed home base, digital nomads can travel and work simultaneously, making it a dream job for many aspiring entrepreneurs and freelancers.
However, before taking this leap into the unknown, certain fundamental concepts must be understood to ensure success as a digital nomad. From understanding taxes and visas to finding housing or coworking spaces abroad - there's plenty of groundwork that needs to be laid out first.
As we've already coveredwhat digital nomadism isand why it matters - let's take the next step: how to evolve your career as a digital nomad. In this article, we'll look at some of these basics so you can be better prepared when taking your job on the road!
What Do Digital Nomads Do?
If we break down the name, a nomad is traditionally a member of a group that travels from place to place with no permanent home. Some examples include bedouins and farmers. We also connotate nomads as wanderers, people who do not stay in the same location for very long.
In the modern era, digital nomads use technology to work remotely and travel the world while they do it. Depending on the job type, digital nomads may stay in one place for as little as a few weeks or several months. They often travel to areas with an understanding that their work is independent of being in any particular place.
What Are the Best Jobs for Digital Nomads?
Digital nomad jobs range from freelancing opportunities in marketing, writing, design, and web development to specialised positions like healthcare professionals or software engineers. It's also possible for digital nomads to be employed in an online job that allows them to remain location independent— here are a few:
- Teaching English online,
- Consulting/training,
- Running a virtual assistant business,
- Copywriting/editing,
- SEO consulting,
- Marketing/social media management,
- Web development/design services,
- Software engineering.
The list can go on! Since the COVID-19 pandemic showed us that more skill-based occupations could be shifted digitally, it's only a matter before digital nomads become the norm. In theory, all jobs can be done anywhere in the world.
What Does Digital Nomad Living Look Like?
As we've mentioned, digital nomads use digital technologies to work remotely. They often travel as they work and can be found living and working from anywhere with an internet connection. Because of modernisation and internet connection easily found in most places worldwide, sometimes they don't even need to live in a far-off land to enjoy the digital nomad lifestyle.
In lieu, digital nomad lifestyles vary greatly - some prefer a more structured existence with regular office hours. In contrast, others travel freely without commitments for extended periods. A few common characteristics most digital nomads share include flexible schedules, the ability to set their own rates, and the freedom to work wherever they'd like!
Best Workplaces for Digital Nomads
Since digital nomads have flexibility in their location, you can often find them anywhere and everywhere! It's common to see digital nomads at cafes and coworking spaces worldwide. But most importantly, they need a room with remote working tools and a solid internet connection to stay connected with their employers or clients.
Finding the best workplace for digital nomads depends on your location and needs. If you're working entirely from your laptop, make sure to find a spot with an excellent internet connection and easily accessible outlets to charge your laptop (and other devices). On the flip side, you might work with a lot of paper and need to scan and print documents, in that case, make sure to find a spot with great tools and amenities that will make your work day seamless.
If you’re inDubaiorLisbon, we’ve got a quick list of our favourite coworking spaces in each city. Check them out!
Top Tips for Digital Nomads
If you're considering shifting to digital nomad living, here are our top five tips to keep it a smooth and comfortable process.
- Research your destination
Find out what it's like to live and work in the country you're traveling to so you can plan accordingly.
- Plan your work schedule
As a digital nomad, you'll want to ensure enough time for work and exploring your new home. Make sure to account for jet lag and other potential distractions when creating your work schedule.
- Budget appropriately
Estimate how much money you'll need for living expenses and adjust accordingly if required during your stay abroad.
- Use budget-friendly travel hacks
Use budget airlines, use public transportation systems, stick to free activities, etc., and get creative with saving money while travelling!
- Network with other digital nomads
Connecting with other digital nomads is a great way to make friends, find housing or coworking spaces more efficiently, and exchange valuable information about their experiences as digital nomads across different countries!
Any career path requires plenty of research and hard work before diving in. Follow the above tips and join communities of digital nomads and coworkers to best thrive in this lifestyle.
Apps for Digital Nomads
There are many apps that digital nomads can use to connect with other digital nomads, understand a new place, and more. However, of all the apps, one that helps you find a solid coworking space (to take the pressure off the copious research needed to find a suitable workplace for you) is incredibly beneficial.
Letsworkis a fantastic app for digital nomads, designed to easily access workspaces in various countries. It allows users to find and book workspaces in multiple countries with just a few clicks. Letswork also helps users save time and money by offering discounted rates on workspace rental prices.
The Letswork app is available on both Google Play and the App Store - making you one click away from finding your dream space today.
Conclusion
Digital nomadism is an exciting way to break away from traditional office work and explore the world. With some planning, it can be achieved by anyone with some digital skills and ambition! Whether you're interested in freelance writing, web development, or software engineering - there are plenty of opportunities for remote working across all sorts of disciplines.
Plus, many apps such as Letswork make it easy to find coworking spaces on the go so that you never have to worry about being without internet access when traveling. So what are you waiting for? Start exploring your options today, and get ready to become a digital nomad!
