It is increasingly common to find remote job offers suitable for the new worker profiles known as digital nomads. But, do you clearly understand what it means and entails to be a digital nomad? In this post, we will try to explain in detail what being a digital nomad involves so you can decide if it is the career future you have been waiting for.
What is a digital nomad?
A digital nomad is a person who uses the Internet to work remotely, which allows them to live while traveling. Being a digital nomad goes beyond just being a worker; it is also about living your own lifestyle.
With the Internet, and accelerated by the 2020 lockdown, a new work format has emerged—more free and independent, no longer requiring physical presence or spending X hours in the office. This has changed, and what many companies now seek are workers who truly engage, make decisions, and pursue X goals.
Once the idea of “needing to be in a fixed place physically” is broken, doors open to a freer lifestyle where it is possible to live traveling and working at the same time. Something similar, by the way, happens with education and eLearning.
Studies indicate that in Spain, 26% of workers are already digital nomads or are considering becoming one.
What is not a digital nomad?
Having defined what being a digital nomad means, we also want to clarify what being a digital nomad is not. Being a digital nomad is not any of these things or not only these:
- Saying “I have already visited xx countries.”
- Doing “vacation-style” tourism without experiencing new cultures.
- Wanting to get rich with your online business.
- Working under a beach umbrella.
As with all jobs and lifestyles, being a digital nomad has its pros and cons. In fact, studies show that 4 out of 10 professionals of this type say their lifestyle directly affects their ability to build and maintain romantic relationships over time. The same percentage says they do not disconnect enough from their work and admit to working more hours than before, sometimes even on weekends or answering emails outside their working hours. These are the tolls every good journey must pay, and you should be aware that these may also happen in your case.
Types of digital nomads
The decision to dive into this new adventure does not have to be so drastic as to bet everything on a single possibility, so don’t worry! There are several types of digital nomads, and if you are sure your lifestyle is to live and work while traveling, you can see which of these types fits your needs best:
- Freelance digital nomad: someone hires your services online without either party, client or contractor, having to leave their home.
- Entrepreneur digital nomad
- Employee digital nomad
Although at first it may seem incredible to try your luck as an entrepreneur, you must be aware that behind the more utopian side of the idea of living while traveling, there is also a downside to consider:
- Pressure.
- At the beginning, expenses exceed income.
- Very high work peaks.
- Distractions that can make us lose focus.
- Etc.
In addition to this, and although it is possible to have an interesting source of income, you must keep track of what it will cost you to live while traveling, which, although it may not seem so, also has its costs:
- Accommodation.
- Transportation.
- Food.
- Leisure.
- Etc.
Essential tools for digital nomads
Surely you already know that your basic work tools are a laptop and a good Internet connection, but you will need a few more resources that we list here.
- Hard drive: not only to store all your files, documents, projects… but because it is recommended to keep a backup copy of all your documents.
- Power adapter: depending on the destination country, you will have a different type of plug.
- Multi-socket plugs: to charge more than one device at the same time, as you may need it when you least expect it.
- Headphones: essential if you share your space with another person, not only to avoid disturbing them but also to prevent outside sounds from interfering with calls and videoconferences.
Are you ready to be a digital nomad?
To answer this question, you first need to ask yourself a few others:
- Do you want to live traveling? In what way?
- Do you like the independence, and at the same time the uncertainty, of working online, or would you prefer a more traditional job?
- If you start a business or become a freelancer, will you be able to handle the responsibility and uncertainty that sometimes comes with running a business?
If you answered yes to all of these, it seems you have a clear idea of which path to take in your career future. Then remember to consider the following:
- Create a source of passive income: through ads or selling info products. An info product is a digital product where you, as the creator, share your knowledge on a specific topic and people pay to acquire it.
- Establish a work routine: don’t fall into the belief that living and working while traveling means you will have all your time for leisure. Precisely to enjoy quality free time, it is best to create a routine and work plan that you consider appropriate and are willing to follow. The important thing here is to stick to what you propose because otherwise, it is very easy to get distracted by the “on the go” lifestyle.
- Courses for digital nomads: take advantage of the courses already available, taught by other digital nomads, to help those who want to face the challenge of becoming one. Of course, there is a huge amount of information on the internet, but if you don’t turn to something more concise tailored to your specific situation, you might get lost in the sea of documentation you will find online.
We hope this post has been helpful to you and that if you were at a crossroads about changing your life and becoming a digital nomad, at least we have contributed our bit to help you make the best decision for you and your future.
