Ever dreamed of setting up office at a beachside Cafe, trading your office lights for golden sunsets, and swapping your daily commute for a morning stroll along the beach? All of us here at TBB dreamed this dream at some point. Well life as a digital nomad can offer all of this and so much more.
But why just dream when you can make it a reality? Welcome to the new and exciting world of remote work where the office is wherever your Wi-Fi connects. Thanks to the explosion of digital tools, we can now rewrite the rules of work to suit ourselves and create a lifestyle that blends productivity with adventure.
But before you rush to Skyscanner to book a ticket to farawayville, you need to know that there is more to the digital nomad lifestyle than just working with a great view.
Indeed, you will need a good plan to work and see beautiful places. You will also need some extra organizational tools like Trello for instance. Everything you need in one place, adaptable to you and your close ones.
You also need the ability to adapt to new environments, and some tools for your work and productivity. So how do you turn this exciting dream into a sustainable reality? Let’s break it down.
The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.
The Growth of Location-Independent Work
Today, more companies are adopting flexible work models. This is largely possible because of the advancements in digital tools. These tools have made it easier than ever for organisations to straddle geo-distances and for professionals to work remotely while travelling.
This trend is causing people to discover the freedom of a location-independent lifestyle. This change in working models has sparked the growth of co-working spaces, special visas for digital nomads, and a global community of remote workers who like to travel and work.
Internet Issues
If you are a digital nomad, you will often encounter internet restrictions when using work-related platforms in certain regions. There is always a risk of security while working on public networks in cafes, airports, or other places.
To overcome these challenges, I suggest using a good, solid VPN service to maintain secure and restricted access to your online tools. A stable and private internet connection is essential for staying connected and productive, no matter where you work.
What is a Digital Nomad?
A digital nomad is a remote worker who doesn’t stay in one place for long and often moves between countries every few weeks or months. Some traditional remote workers work all day from their homes or a local cafe, and then there are Digital nomads who travel to their favourite places and have fun while working and shaping their careers.
This lifestyle can you the freedom to explore new places and cultures, but you must also keep in mind that it comes with some challenges. There are always time zone problems, a struggle to find reliable internet, and balancing work with the excitement of exploring your surroundings.
You really do need to plan your trip wisely and carefully rather than simply expecting to just fall into place.
Best Jobs for Digital Nomads
No doubt the life of a digital nomad sounds exciting, but the reality is that you cannot simply take any old profession to remote work as not every profession is suited for that.
The most common digital nomad jobs include the following;
- Freelance Writing & Editing: If you are a writer, content writing, blogging, and technical writing may all be options suitable for you. You can take your work to your favourite places.
- Software Development & IT: Are you maybe good with tech? Go for coding, website design, and cybersecurity, and travel the world while doing that.
- Marketing & Social Media Management: If you are skilled at running online campaigns, branding, and content strategy, then choose this career path and plan your next trip along with it.
- Teaching & Online Tutoring: Teach languages and other subjects through virtual classrooms all while sitting in some beautiful, far away country.
- E-commerce & Dropshipping: Sell products online every day while being at different places of your choice without needing a physical store
These careers allow you to work from anywhere with a stable internet connection and maintain your job while travelling. Boom!
Top Destinations for Digital Nomads
You might be wondering, what are the best destinations for a successful digital nomad lifestyle? Well some locations are suitable due to their blend of affordability, safety, internet, accessibility, and presence of co-working spaces.
Here are some popular spots;
Chiang Mai, Thailand: Chiang Mai is a must-visit destination for a better and more affordable lifestyle. Here, you can enjoy a low cost of living, fantastic food, and an excellent nomad community.
Lisbon, Portugal: What’s better than a good Wi-Fi connection accompanied by delicious pastelitos? In Lisbon, you can access fast Wi-Fi, great weather, and a growing remote work environment here.
Bali, Indonesia: Working from Bali is incredible. You get stunning landscapes, coworking places, affordable lifestyles and more traffic than you ever dreamed of!
Mexico City, Mexico: Mexico City, you can experience the rich culture of Mexico. You may sometimes have issues finding excellent internet access, but there are plenty of remote work spots.
These are just some of the best spots and destinations to have a great time while working.
Top Tips for Thriving as a Digital Nomad
- Create a structured routine: Do you love working from anywhere, like me, but you struggle to get work done? Well all you need is a structured routine to help you balance your work with your adventure and avoid missing deadlines while having fun. Whiteboards and habit tracking apps are both great hacks.
- Use digital productivity tools: I have a long to-do list but can make everything happen by using my tools properly. Apps like Trello, Asana, and Notion will help you to help keep your tasks organized.
- Join remote work communities: I know all too bloody well that working and travelling solo can get lonely. And yet who says you must do it alone?! Platforms like Nomad List and co-working spaces can connect you with working-travellers like you.
- Plan financially: But most of all, you need to budget wisely. You do need to manage your finances wisely so you don’t have to constantly worry about money while enjoying your digital nomad lifestyle.
Final Thoughts
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
As you can see, you really can have it all but you do need the right mindset, tools, and the right Wi-Fi connection! You can build a thriving career while experiencing the world in a way most people only dream of.
So pack your bags, plan your adventure, and turn your favourite places into your office! There is nothing better than turning your office into a place you love.
