Have you ever dreamed of ditching your day job to travel the world? Or maybe you’ve already started down that path and are looking for ways to make it more sustainable?
If so, you might be wondering what the digital nomad lifestyle is all about. In this blog post, we’ll define what a digital nomad is, outline some of the pros and cons of the lifestyle, and give you some tips on how to get started. Are you ready to explore this exciting way of life? Let’s go!
Who Are the Digital Nomads?
Digital nomads are people who use telecommunications technologies to perform their work duties and conduct their business from any location that has an Internet connection. As a result, digital nomads may also be referred to as “location-independent workers” or people who work “anytime, anywhere.”
Most of us are familiar with the 9-5 office job. We show up at a specific time, work for eight hours or so, and then head home to relax until it’s time to do it again the next day.
But as technology advances and becomes more accessible, more of us are finding ourselves in positions where we can leave all of that behind.
The increasing popularity of smartphones and the wide availability of WiFi access points (which allow us to connect our devices to the Internet anywhere we go) is allowing digital nomads to make travel a priority. They aren’t chained to their desks. Instead, they can travel around the world while still getting work done.
The digital-nomad lifestyle also offers these other benefits:
- You decide where to go.
- You can take mini-trips during your longer vacations instead of having to use all of your days off at once.
- You have full control of your time.
- You can choose to work (or not) depending on your needs at the moment.
- You’re less tied down, which means you can move to a new city or country whenever you want.
Despite these benefits, however, there are some downsides that digital nomads need to be aware of before they make the switch:
- There are few, if any, brick-and-mortar offices where you can go when you need a break from the digital world and just focus on work for a while.
- Many digital nomads need to take their work with them wherever they go, which means that they may spend more time working than exploring.
- It’s difficult to work effectively while traveling because you’re extremely limited in what you can do. If your laptop dies, misses the WiFi hotspot, or isn’t charged up, you could be out of a job until you can get yourself set up somewhere.
- If you’re working with a team, it may be difficult to coordinate your efforts because everyone is in a different location.
Making the Digital Nomad Lifestyle Sustainable
If you’re convinced that this lifestyle is appealing despite the challenges, the next thing you need to know is how to make it sustainable for you. These tips can be helpful:
1. Consider a Mobile Home
If you’re going to be a digital nomad, you need to find a place to rest, sleep, and work. You have a couple of options. Usually, you can rent an apartment or stay in hotels.
While these are convenient, they can be expensive in the long run. You won’t also have access to facilities you truly need, and they don’t guarantee your privacy.
A better alternative is to buy a travel trailer for sale. These mobile homes already feature basic comforts like an air-conditioning system, bed, couch, tables, and essential appliances and lighting. You can drive to campgrounds, parks, homesteads, or any allowed open areas to work and relax without being disturbed by other people.
2. Find a Reliable Internet Connection
One of the essential factors in making this lifestyle sustainable is ensuring that you have reliable access to the Internet. You’ll be using the web for everything, from getting your work done and checking email to uploading photos and videos of your travels to social media.
Many countries are now investing in telecommunications infrastructure, so coverage can be strong even if you’re in more remote areas. In the United States, for example, T-Mobile’s 5G is present in over 5,000 cities and accessible to 150+ million Americans.
You can also use mobile apps that will map signal strength based on the data provided by your smartphone. This way, you can identify areas to stay during working hours.
3. Find a Job or Business That Supports Your Lifestyle
Just because you’re living a digital-nomad lifestyle doesn’t mean you don’t need to earn money or accumulate expenses and bills. But you need a job or business that can support you.
Fortunately, it’s easier to do that these days. Many companies now offer remote work, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology has also given you plenty of tools and opportunities to pursue side hustles and businesses. These include building a digital marketing agency, working as a virtual assistant, or creating digital planners you can sell at Etsy or Amazon.
Now that you have an idea of what being a digital nomad entails, ask yourself the all-important question: is this something I can see myself doing?
You need to consider many factors when making this decision, so don’t rush through it. Nevertheless, prepare for it. This way, once you’re ready to do it, you have fewer worries to think about.