Many people desire to escape the nine-to-five grind of the office world. Some venture into having their businesses. As an entrepreneur, one must learn some processes like branding and marketing. Business owners also need to manage people to keep their business operational. Some people find this not to be their cup of tea.
Another option to being your own boss is freelancing. A freelancer has total control over what projects they want to take. They also have the final say of how many hours to devote each day to work. Some people choose this path because it is location-independent. Some freelancers take it a notch higher by being digital nomads.
Digital nomads are remote workers who travel from one place to another on a regular basis. They only need a laptop, their skills, and a Wi-Fi connection, and they are good to go. One can go small and travel from town to town or interstate. Some digital nomads do it big and cross countries and continents. This trend is still seeing a rise as years pass by. You may be one of those contemplating on doing the big leap. You might be thinking of buying that custom motor home for sale. Are you searching the internet now for affordable accommodations? Before you do, here are some things you need to consider.
Have a Strong Financial Cushion
Being a digital nomad gives a whimsical notion of unending leisure. Think of beaches, new places, exotic food, and travel. But, you need to keep yourself grounded if you want to succeed on this path. For you to have a stress-free start to being a digital nomad, you need to have a considerable amount of savings.
Traveling is not cheap. Also, if you have not yet established a strong client base, your income for the first few months could be erratic. Before plunging into the digital nomad world, save up as much as you can with your corporate job. Do not quit out of the blue and throw all caution to the wind. Also, it is best to make your online work stable first. Look for promising projects that you could work on.
For every place that you travel, research the cost of living and set a budget. You have to keep your eyes wide open as you embrace the life of a digital nomad.
Choose a Niche
Before you hit the road or buckle your plane seat belt, you have to decide one essential thing. Think of the kind of work that you intend to do. This is best determined by your skills and experience. There are many lucrative options available. Some of them are freelance writing, web development, graphic design, or dropshipping. The list is long and the opportunities are vast. This is the exact reason why you need to decide well based on what you do best.
Competition is becoming stiff in remote work. The only way for you to stay on top is for you to upgrade your skills. Do not be complacent if you want to have a steady stream of income. Also, there are points in a digital nomad’s life when they would feel the wonder of travel wears off. If you are not one hundred percent passionate about what you do, then you might lose the drive to continue.
Take Care of the Legalities
Having a digital nomad life does not give you access to cruise in and out of different countries. If you want to go big in changing locations, you have to take care of some documents. Make sure that you have a visa in countries where you need one.
If you are making a steady stream of income, consider registering as a sole proprietor. This move will put you in a good reputation with some clients. It could also protect your transactions. You can decide later on if you want to change to an LLC.
Work on Your Schedule
One of the major reasons why people transition to being a freelancer is the flexibility of hours. A freelancer can work at the hours when they feel most productive. But of course, this is still bound with deadlines.
Find the schedule that would bring you work-life integration. Some people think that freelancing is easier. The truth is that freelancers also work hard, sometimes even beyond the 8 hours of a corporate job.
It defeats the purpose of being a digital nomad if you focus only on your job. Having a good work schedule will give you the freedom to enjoy what traveling has to offer. You can enjoy the scenery and the time with your family.
Being a digital nomad may not be as easy and carefree as it sounds. But, if you feel that this is the right fit for you, be gentle with yourself as you enter the system. Respect the learning curve and learn the ropes well along the way.
