Digital nomadism has become increasingly popular in recent years, as technology has made it possible for people to work remotely from anywhere in the world. Keep on reading to discover all about this movement and find out how to become a digital nomad in this article. 
What Is A Digital Nomad?
A digital nomad is someone who uses technology to work remotely and travels the world while doing so.
The rise of remote work and the gig economy has made it easier for people to transition from a desk job to a remote one; the digital nomad movement started gaining popularity in 2018 and 2019 but when the pandemic hit in 2020 the whole world became familiar with the work-from-home dynamic because well, as we all know, physically going to work wasn't possible.
People in areas such as UX/UI design, graphic design, social media management, and programming among others, can work remotely as long as there is an internet connection. This has opened up the possibility to travel and work at the same time, allowing adventurers to see the world while earning a living.
Pros Of Being a Digital Nomad
One of the biggest benefits of digital nomadism is the ability to travel and experience new cultures. Since digital nomads can live and work in different parts of the world, experiencing the local way of life and immersing themselves in a new atmosphere while also being able to enjoy different and unique destinations it's now easier than ever. This can be a great way to break out of the monotony of everyday life behind a desk and gain a new perspective on the world.
Another benefit of digital nomadism is the flexibility it offers. Many digital nomads can work on their own schedules, often set their own goals and deadlines, and of course, have the freedom to choose where to work from anywhere in the world, and although some others still have to stick to daily schedules and delivery dates the perk of working remotely is still a big win.
Digital nomadism gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy a more relaxed and stress-free work environment, which can lead to increased productivity and creativity.
Cons Of Being a Digital Nomad
One of the main challenges of digital nomadism is maintaining a consistent income. Many digital nomads rely on freelance work or running their own businesses, which can be unpredictable and unstable. It's important for digital nomads to know how to ensure a consistent income and manage their finances.
Digital nomadism gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy a more relaxed and stress-free work environment, which can lead to increased productivity and creativity.
Cons Of Being a Digital Nomad
One of the main challenges of digital nomadism is maintaining a consistent income. Many digital nomads rely on freelance work or running their own businesses, which can be unpredictable and unstable. It's important for digital nomads to know how to ensure a consistent income and manage their finances.
Another challenge of digital nomadism is the lack of a permanent home base. This can make it difficult to maintain relationships and a sense of community. Digital nomads often have to put extra effort into staying connected with friends and family and building a sense of community among other digital nomads.
Digital nomadism is not for everyone, and it's important to weigh the pros and cons before making the decision to become a digital nomad. It requires a certain level of independence, self-motivation, and adaptability. It's also vital to have a plan to maintain long-distance relationships with friends and family and expect to handle unforeseen situations.
How To Become a Digital Nomad
If joining the digital nomad world sounds like something you'd want to try here are some of the basics you need to take in mind before you dive into this journey.
1. Get a job or income-earning activity that allows you to work remotely
As we all know, money is the basis of everyone's life so getting a remote job or other digital activity, such as creating a successful online business for example, which gives you money to pay for all your expenses is a must before you start traveling.
If you already have a job at an office that you can do remotely you can always check with your company if it's possible for you to switch to remote work. Some companies developed a new hybrid work style after the pandemic so chances are that you'll be able to pull this off!
2. Have savings
Having enough funds to cover your expenses in case of an emergency, or if you're a freelancer in case business slows down is something important. Keep in mind that you won't have any relatives or friends who can help you out if something goes wrong so a safety net is a key component of this lifestyle. Consider selling unnecessary stuff, subletting your home, and saving as much money as you can.
3. Get a travel health insurance
Accidents happen, and while adventuring into the digital nomad lifestyle hoping for the best is the kind of mindset you need to have it's also a good idea to get travel insurance. Traveling will no doubt give you some of the best memories and experiences of your life but it can also give you some of the worst if you're not as prepared as you can be. Staying healthy should always be one of the top priorities so remember to buy a health insurance that is valid in all in every destination you visit.
3. Unlock your phone SIM
If you're planning to travel abroad and jump from country to country you'll probably need to ask your current phone company to unlock your phone, this way you'll be able to get new SIM cards as you need.
Some companies offer international plans with reasonable prices but if you prefer to take advantage of local phone plans and fares then unlocking your phone is totally necessary.
4. Ditch unnecessary expenses
One of the key steps to become a digital nomad is to cut any unnecessary expenses. Do you have a gazillion streaming subscriptions that you don't really use? Cancel them, do you have a gym membership? You won't be there to use it anymore.
Make a list to track your monthly payments and get rid of the ones that aren't essential and also pay all your debts, this way there won't be anything dragging you down financially and and you'll be able to use your money in other ways while traveling, this is particularly important if you're a freelancer as your income may vary from month to month.
5. Have a plan
It may sound obvious but making a plan to know where you'll go, where you'll stay, for how long, how much are you going to spend, how much do you need to save, etc. is totally crucial. If you just decide on a random day that you'll start being a digital nomad without any prior analysis and planning you'll probably won't succeed at it.
There will be times where unexpected events will happen, for example, maybe you'll make friends along the road and decide to go to Colombia instead of Mexico, that's okay, you can also go with the flow but it's important to have a basic structure.
Final Thoughts
How To Become a Digital Nomad
If joining the digital nomad world sounds like something you'd want to try here are some of the basics you need to take in mind before you dive into this journey.
1. Get a job or income-earning activity that allows you to work remotely
As we all know, money is the basis of everyone's life so getting a remote job or other digital activity, such as creating a successful online business for example, which gives you money to pay for all your expenses is a must before you start traveling.
If you already have a job at an office that you can do remotely you can always check with your company if it's possible for you to switch to remote work. Some companies developed a new hybrid work style after the pandemic so chances are that you'll be able to pull this off!
2. Have savings
Having enough funds to cover your expenses in case of an emergency, or if you're a freelancer in case business slows down is something important. Keep in mind that you won't have any relatives or friends who can help you out if something goes wrong so a safety net is a key component of this lifestyle. Consider selling unnecessary stuff, subletting your home, and saving as much money as you can.
3. Get a travel health insurance
Accidents happen, and while adventuring into the digital nomad lifestyle hoping for the best is the kind of mindset you need to have it's also a good idea to get travel insurance. Traveling will no doubt give you some of the best memories and experiences of your life but it can also give you some of the worst if you're not as prepared as you can be. Staying healthy should always be one of the top priorities so remember to buy a health insurance that is valid in all in every destination you visit.
3. Unlock your phone SIM
If you're planning to travel abroad and jump from country to country you'll probably need to ask your current phone company to unlock your phone, this way you'll be able to get new SIM cards as you need.
Some companies offer international plans with reasonable prices but if you prefer to take advantage of local phone plans and fares then unlocking your phone is totally necessary.
4. Ditch unnecessary expenses
One of the key steps to become a digital nomad is to cut any unnecessary expenses. Do you have a gazillion streaming subscriptions that you don't really use? Cancel them, do you have a gym membership? You won't be there to use it anymore.
Make a list to track your monthly payments and get rid of the ones that aren't essential and also pay all your debts, this way there won't be anything dragging you down financially and and you'll be able to use your money in other ways while traveling, this is particularly important if you're a freelancer as your income may vary from month to month.
5. Have a plan
It may sound obvious but making a plan to know where you'll go, where you'll stay, for how long, how much are you going to spend, how much do you need to save, etc. is totally crucial. If you just decide on a random day that you'll start being a digital nomad without any prior analysis and planning you'll probably won't succeed at it.
There will be times where unexpected events will happen, for example, maybe you'll make friends along the road and decide to go to Colombia instead of Mexico, that's okay, you can also go with the flow but it's important to have a basic structure.
Final Thoughts
Despite the challenges, digital nomadism can be a fulfilling and rewarding lifestyle. It will allow you to travel and explore the world while earning a living and offer you a level of flexibility and freedom to enjoy life and work on your own rules. It's essential to weigh the pros and cons before making the decision to become a digital nomad. With proper planning and preparation, digital nomadism can be one of the best experiences of your life!
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