What is a Digital Nomad and How to Become One

Digital nomadism is an increasingly popular workplace trend whereby employees continue working while traveling. Many like the freedom of not being tied to a set geographical area, while others are skeptical. This piece goes over the good and the bad.

The pandemic has conventionalized remote work so that most people prefer to work remotely, even if it is unnecessary.

The next question is how remote can remote become??

More workers are asking themselves that question. And they’re answering with digital nomadism.?

What Is a Digital Nomad?

A digital nomad is a remote worker who works from a variety of geographic locations.?

There’s more to being a digital nomad than global jet setting. Most digital nomads are freelancers or nine-to-fivers who make their living hovering over a computer screen. Some of them take pictures and capture video, sure. But the point isn’t glamor, it is an authentic world experience.

The Rise of the Digital Nomad?

Digital nomadism is rising in the last few years. This is surprising because the pandemic made the world stop spinning for a while.

For the digital nomad, life becomes permeable: Work and play; stress and relaxation; responsibility and innocent experience all merge. This can be good, depending on how separated you need the elements of your life to be.

Travel is inherently appealing to many. And some manage to do it without holding a job. Of course, this can be difficult when it is time to rejoin the workforce, as Adrienne Tom, LinkedIn executive resume writer, puts it: “Many job seekers find themselves grappling with the best way to positively address an employment gap in their resume.”?

Digital nomadism is a way to close that gap while maintaining a continuous work history.?

Benefits of Life as a Digital Nomad

The benefits of digital nomadism include:?

• Freedom. Digital nomads are free-floating workers. Thanks to a worldwide Wi-Fi network, geographical boundaries no longer confine workers to an office park.?
• Challenge. Travel can change your life for the better. It allows you to experience new cultures, meet new people, and challenge you to expand your horizons and comfort zone.
• Travel. Travel is edifying. Does it build your skillset? Not always, but it does something to stir the soul and dissolve barriers between peoples and cultures. And it reconceptualizes work: If you can do what you do for a living anywhere, your professional problems seem small.?
• Individualism. Some decide to go digital nomad in groups. Those who don’t, have to rely on their wits and resilience to earn what they can from the digital nomad lifestyle. Digital nomads with an independent streak can show how well-rounded and adaptable they are.

Challenges of Life as a Digital Nomad

Living life as a digital nomad isn’t easy.

LinkedIn international CV writer Hannah Mason reflects on her period of digital nomadism in Dubai in the previous decade, and compares it with travel today: “There are always complications with an international move, but looking back it seems so simple compared to the ever-changing travel restrictions [as they are nowadays].”

Let’s go over some challenges digital nomads face:

• Homesickness. You can’t hug a video call. If the feeling of being unsettled and missing your loved ones isn’t overcome by the travel experience, you may want to travel modestly. Visit different cities in your state, then go state to state, then see how you’re doing.
• Burnout. Work is stressful. Travel is stressful. Doing both on top of the other? If you don’t have a robust reserve of energy this may lead to burnout. And this can be disastrous: You’re tired of traveling, fine, go home. But you’ve soured on your job because of all the traveling — big trouble.?
• Work-life balance difficulties. The permeability mentioned above? Some love it but it is difficult for others. It is troublesome for those who don’t like to “take work home” with them. The mélange of work, life, passion and play that is digital nomadism might not be for you if you need to go radio silent from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.?

Common Jobs for Digital Nomads

Most people don’t move much when they work.?

So what do digital nomads typically do? What job descriptions are conducive to the incipient nomad?

Web Developer

Every business should have a website, but building one isn’t the easiest thing to do if you don’t have specific training.?

This is where web developers come in. They construct websites to client specifications or they help adjust existing sites to better fit customers’ needs.?

Web development conversations can take place digitally or by phone, meaning that web developers can do what they do from anywhere.?

Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are sometimes pulled in by web developers to help complete a website setup. They’re also tapped by marketing agencies to create visual advertisements for any number of products.?

Digital Marketer?

It takes quite a mind to be a digital marketer, but it doesn’t take much equipment.

A laptop is all you need. That means a digital marketer can do their work in any cramped tiki bar, pub or shawarma hut.

Content or Copy Writer

Copywriters don’t need any more equipment than digital marketers do. In fact, if you saw one of each sitting side by side in a tea house you wouldn’t necessarily be able to tell which was which by the equipment they’re using.?

Social Influencer?

Social influencers require a camera — or at least a camera phone — possibly an external microphone and a laptop to upload everything onto.

How You Can Become a Digital Nomad

Still intrigued? Then take a look at what it takes to be a digital nomad.

Plan Your Current Budget

Salaried digital nomads know what kind of money they can count on throughout the month. Freelancers less so; they may need to force a schedule on themselves if they haven’t already.?

But you’ll likely need some start-up capital, whether to purchase plane, boat or train tickets or a pickup and an RV.?

Whatever a digital nomad looks like, they need to save to begin.

Consider the Technology Requirements?

Wi-Fi is key to digital nomads’ work. Depending on what a digital nomad does, they may be short-handed in countries that, as a matter of government policy, wall up certain websites. This is called geo-blocking and, think what you want of it, it can make a digital worker’s life harder than it has to be.?

Consider getting a VPN — virtual private network — before leaving home. A VPN scrambles your IP address and precise location, making you all but impossible to track and giving you access to internet content that may be banned in a country you plan to visit.?

Choose a Location to Work in

To a certain extent, a digital nomads can improvise their travel itinerary.?

Once you’re there, you need to know where you work best. Do you like crowds, do you need silence to work? Know the work environment that allows you to complete your tasks.

Hone Your Skills?

Digital nomadism is a great way to hone your skills. You have to learn how to do more with less, or at least in a different way or at a different speed.?

Choose Your Occupation?

If you’re looking to change careers specifically to become a digital nomad, think long and hard.?

Do you have tech knowledge? Are you comfortable working in front of a computer all day? What are your special skills — copywriting, graphic design??

If you already have an occupation that allows for fully remote, then you’re well on your way.

Is Being a Digital Nomad Right for You?

Now you can better gauge whether digital nomadism is a good fit. But ask yourself some questions again:?

• Do you want to travel internationally, and do you have plane fares???
• Do you want to travel by car in one country or across a contiguous continent??
• Is your job conducive to travel? Are you the type of person who can deal with the stress of travel and still get what work done that you need to??

Only you can decide. Either way, there's enough world and time — if you want it.

Key Takeaways:?

• Digital nomadism is an ever more popular way of life for professionals.?
• Is digital nomadism a good fit for you? That depends on exactly what your occupation is and whether it can be performed with minimal equipment.?
• Plan a financial itinerary or budget to ensure that the nomad lifestyle will match your finances.?

(Reporting by NPD)