Leaving the consolation and wage of a gradual workplace job for the uncertainty of life as a self-employed digital nomad is a large change, each personally and professionally. I did it myself in 2021 after I left my job as a lawyer in London.
General, it was an incredible determination and I’m infinitely happier than I used to be earlier than. However, it’s not all roses and sunshine. It may be exhausting at occasions, however finally, I believe the challenges are well worth the enormous upsides.
Listed below are the steps that helped me go from office-bound and depressing to location-independent and free. The following tips all come from my very own private expertise. I hope they’re helpful and allow you to pull off your individual escape.
Find out how to Plan Your Exit: Going From Workplace Desk to Digital Nomad
Whether or not you’re craving freedom, journey, limitless journey, higher climate, or just a life exterior the company field (for me, it was all of these issues), right here are some things I extremely advocate you do first. This may assist set your self up for achievement, earlier than taking the plunge.
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Replicate on Your Why and Targets
Earlier than you write your resignation letter, take a step again and ask your self why you wish to grow to be a digital nomad. What’s driving this determination? Whether or not it’s the liberty to discover new locations, the possibility to work by yourself phrases, or simply wanting to flee workplace life, understanding your motivation is vital.
For me, it was the frustration of being caught in a inflexible routine, and the stuffiness of the authorized career. I noticed I needed a life-style that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless offers me readability and motivation to today, and helps me keep targeted when occasions get robust.
Write down your objectives – each private {and professional}. Do you wish to see particular international locations? Study new expertise? A brand new language? Create a sustainable revenue on-line? Construct a mighty enterprise empire? Having clear targets will assist information your choices and hold you motivated.
Construct Monetary Stability and Safety
Cash stress is among the worst elements of being a freelancer. That’s why making a strong monetary security internet is important earlier than you hand in your discover. You’ll want financial savings to cowl a minimum of a number of months of dwelling bills, plus an emergency fund, and a plan for regular revenue going ahead.
My enterprise took virtually a 12 months to begin making any cash. Being in Central America for the primary few months of my nomad life actually helped make the cash I had saved go additional. However, if I hadn’t constructed up a pot of financial savings earlier than I give up my job, I’d’ve quickly run out.
Earlier than leaving your job, make a finances, reduce pointless bills, and attempt to save as a lot cash as potential. You don’t must have already constructed up a enterprise to the purpose of profitability earlier than you hit the highway, however the nearer you might be to this stage, the much less dangerous it is going to be.
Develop Distant Work Abilities
One of many issues I really like most about being a digital nomad is the flexibility to journey as a lot as you want. However, prefer it or not, you’ll nonetheless in all probability must spend a big chunk of your time working – even if you happen to can nip off for a cheeky surf between conferences.
As many people realized through the pandemic, distant work requires fairly a distinct mindset than working within the workplace. You want private self-discipline, strong communication expertise, and the flexibility to handle your time successfully with out having a boss trying over your shoulder.
I discover this a lot simpler working alone enterprise that I care deeply about. However, don’t underestimate how completely different the expertise is. Should you aren’t already, get aware of instruments reminiscent of Slack and Groups, and think about taking on-line programs or enrolling in a training program that will help you upskill.
Analysis Potential Locations
Not all locations are created equal for digital nomads. Some locations (like Thailand and Portugal) are identified for his or her low price of dwelling, lightning-fast web, welcoming angle to nomads, and thriving communities of distant staff. Different locations are tougher.
Choosing the right vacation spot to your life-style and finances could make or break your expertise. Be mindful your individual priorities. Would you like year-round sunshine? Easy accessibility to coworking areas? A low-key vibe or a busy social scene? Rural or city? Is the time zone more likely to be a problem?
Your first vacation spot doesn’t must be good. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico after I first began out. It’s a fully gorgeous place, but it surely wasn’t perfect for distant working, with common energy cuts and ropey web. I additionally managed to catch dengue and the flu on the similar time – tough.
Begin With a Trial Run
Earlier than you give up your job and totally decide to the digital nomad life-style, strive dipping your toes within the water. A brief-term trial run may give you a style of what it’s prefer to work remotely whereas touring, with out the stress of constructing every thing good immediately.
I did this by spending a few weeks in Portugal whereas I used to be nonetheless working at my previous job. My work was wonderful with me doing it (it was the summer season of 2020, so distant work was the norm anyway), and I received a style of what digital nomadism can be like earlier than going all in.
This is probably not potential in your present circumstances, however, if you happen to do get the chance to do a trial run like this, I’d extremely advocate it. It’ll assist you determine what works (and what doesn’t), what tech and kit you do (and don’t) want, and the way well-suited you might be to working in a non-traditional surroundings.
Plan Your Tech and Instruments
Having the best tech setup is crucial relating to engaged on the highway. You’ll want a setup that’s dependable, moveable, and retains you productive (and cozy) irrespective of the place you might be on this planet.
My tech stack consists of my MacBook Professional, wi-fi keyboard and mouse, foldable laptop computer stand, noise-canceling headphones, exterior exhausting drive (for backups), common energy adapter, extension cable, and my iPhone (with an eSIM for whichever nation I’m in).
Don’t neglect software program subscriptions, too. I take advantage of Google Drive, Zoom, Microsoft Workplace, and varied search engine optimisation and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your individual checklist as wanted.
Construct a Help Community
Being a digital nomad could be isolating at occasions, particularly if you happen to’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my accomplice, however nonetheless, it may be robust typically. Most of our pals are 1,000s of miles away, they usually typically don’t relate to issues we battle with on a day-to-day foundation.
That’s why constructing a assist community is so necessary. Coworking areas could be nice locations to fulfill different like-minded folks. I’ve made pals at social occasions organized at coworking areas, each in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, and I’m nonetheless in contact with a number of of them thus far.
Don’t underestimate the worth of those relationships. Fellow nomads can share insights about locations they’ve been, advocate instruments that work for them, and even collaborate with you on initiatives. It’s additionally nice to have the ability to share your experiences with individuals who “get” it, as your pals from house may not.
Additionally: Dariece and Nick’s “Creator Kickstarter Program” is designed to information you thru the method of changing into a web-based entrepreneur and making a location-independent life-style. I want I’d had that form of assist after I began!
Take the Leap
Planning and preparation are important, however in some unspecified time in the future, you’ve simply received to go for it. Setting a agency exit date may also help you keep targeted and provide you with one thing to work towards. With out a clear timeline, it’s straightforward to get caught within the “planning” part endlessly.
It is going to possible really feel like an incredible leap of religion. And it’ll in all probability be riskier than staying in a secure salaried job. However, there’s additionally the danger of trying again in your life and regretting not having tried one thing like this. For me, that will be a far worse final result than my enterprise not figuring out.
Belief in your planning, but additionally settle for that not every thing will go completely. And that’s okay – each nomad’s journey is exclusive. Embrace the uncertainty. And bear in mind, if it doesn’t work out, or if you happen to change your thoughts about what you need, the choice to return to a extra “conventional” life will nonetheless be there.
In Conclusion
Turning into a digital nomad is an enormous determination, however with the best planning and mindset, it’s completely achievable. By breaking the method into manageable steps, and following the information I’ve shared right here, you’ll be setting your self up for achievement.
It’s not all the time straightforward, but it surely’s so value it. Leaving the conformist, hierarchical workplaces and fits of the company world to create a lifetime of freedom and journey was top-of-the-line selections I’ve ever made. It would simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you strive.
