Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work from the most beautiful beach or even the most crowded building in NYC? Are you tired of working 9 to 5?
If you love the sound of this and want that to be your future, stick around, because what you want to be is a digital nomad.
But of course, not everyone is familiar with the term digital nomad. We know it’s a strange sounding term, but the truth is that it’s a very apt description.
So after this brief introduction, let’s get to the heart of the matter. You have come here to find out how to change your lifestyle and how to make a living from being a digital nomad. So come on, let’s get down to business.
What does it mean to be a digital nomad?
Being a digital nomad is a lifestyle. In this post, we will explain the pros and cons. We will also address the issue of what it means to be a digital nomad.
The figure of the digital nomad breaks with the framework we were taught all our lives and gives it a groundbreaking and innovative twist. That’s why it’s said that it’s a lifestyle, because just as you would choose to be a hippie or a groupie, you can choose to be a digital nomad, as long as you meet some requirements that will be covered later.
For thousands of years, humans have been sedentary, which has brought both good and bad things. Being a digital nomad implies breaking with that routine and creating a totally new one that does not comply with the traditional view of work.
But no, you’re not going to become an influencer and upload pictures in bathtubs. Although influencers could also be considered digital nomads, we believe being a digital nomad is more normal.
You won’t be recognized by people on the street since you don’t need to sell your image to be a true digital nomad.
You’re going to have a job that can be done completely online that doesn’t mean living off social media. Rest assured, you don’t have to have 100k followers to be a digital nomad.
How can you become a digital nomad?
I’ll let you in on the secret, digital nomads leverage and maximize the use of technology and take advantage of opportunities to work remotely. They use technology to work from anywhere.
You can work for yourself, with your own clients, or you can work for a company. In many sectors, this has become the working norm because it’s more convenient and efficient.
During the pandemic, remote work became the norm for many companies since it saved office costs that, in times of social distancing, could be reduced.
In areas such as design, digital marketing, community management or web development, remote work became a standard practice since employees don’t need to be in the office to work effectively.
What are the best digital nomad jobs in 2023?
In the post 10 remote jobs to be a digital nomad in 2023 we explain in detail what the best jobs to live a nomadic lifestyle are.
You will discover that there are many new and innovative jobs if you opt for this way of life, which some companies are even promoting.
What requirements do you need to be a true digital nomad?
I am going to share with you the best tips you should know to be a digital nomad. Things that very few people know and that you should take into account if you want to make the big leap to the nomadic lifestyle.
To be a digital nomad, you need some basic requirements, which are not very demanding.
First, you must like to travel. This lifestyle has revolutionized the 21st century as it allows people to travel and work in more exciting locations.
For a few years now, remote working has been around in numerous companies who believe that this working model can benefit both them and the employees.
You will need a computer, at least a laptop with internet access. Internet access is essential, since you’re going to be on the move and won’t be able to take out internet contracts everywhere you go.
One very important thing is that you are willing to make the change. Before you become a digital nomad, you have to be aware that you will be facing the unknown, and you have to be brave enough to take it on.
But if you’re here, it’s because you’re going to take the step, right?
What are the drawbacks of being a digital nomad?
You might think with everything I have told you so far there are only advantages, but there are also some small downsides to consider.
This isn’t to discourage attempts to be a digital nomad, I just think it’s only fair to go over both the good and the bad.
There are good things, but there are also things that aren’t that good. I know you didn’t want to go into this part of the blog, but you need to know what the disadvantages of being a digital nomad are.
Being a digital nomad is great and gives you plenty of freedom, but there are some aspects that you should absolutely be aware of if you’re going to make such an important decision.
Since you won’t have an office, establishing a relationship with your colleagues will be more difficult, but not impossible. If you work in a company, you will probably have a system to communicate with your colleagues, but it’s not the same.
Not being face-to-face with your colleagues makes it more difficult to foster relationships with them. After all, if you have a coffee together, you always end up talking about topics that you might not be able to discuss remotely. Here you must be sure that there’s mutual trust between you and your colleagues, so you can bond with them; something which could turn out important for your career in the future.
This was just about how you connect with colleagues, now come the downsides.
You must have excellent organizational and time management skills. Yes! Working in the Maldives is great, but if you get distracted, you can lose track of time and miss deadlines. You must also be very aware of where and when you are to deliver everything on time and to do a good job.
You must be independent and know exactly which tasks you need to do and whether you can do them alone or need help of any kind.
But why should I opt for this lifestyle?
Well, if everything I’ve told you hasn’t convinced you, or you don’t know whether to take the step or not, I’ll tell you something else.
This model is what today’s companies are opting for, since the majority of their work is now digital.
Why are companies relying on digital nomads?
Being a digital nomad allows you to have a certain freedom that you would not be able to have if you had to go to an office.
Being able to work from anywhere, aside from being able to travel, allows you to find a healthy work-life balance. This means that a company’s employees don’t work for a living, but that work is an important part of their life and can be coordinated with other family aspects.
Reconciling work and family life is something that workers are often deprived of if they want to climb the “corporate ladder”.
This model allows you to keep working and traveling, so that you can enjoy your work and your life without either of them spoiling the other.
Being a digital nomad is here to stay, more and more companies are getting on board.
That’s why we believe that being a digital nomad in 2023 is empowering, as you’ll belong to a growing and developing global community.