How to Become a Digital Nomad and Live A Location Independent Lifestyle

by | Last updated Apr 2, 2022 | Work Online + remote & nomad Life

Me, doing my best digital nomad impression living my location independent life

 

I often receive emails asking me how to get started as a digital nomad. In this blog post I will do my best to answer it. I have been a digital nomad for a long time and never realised it. This is because what I was doing didn’t have a name, but now it does. If you are dreaming of packing in your 9-5 job to travel the world and make money by working online, like I do, then read on. As well as explaining the life of a digital nomad I have included information on how to start living a location independent lifestyle. Now is a great time to begin your journey, so read on.

 

What is a Digital Nomad?

 

To be as succinct as possible, a digital nomad is someone who works online to make money to sustain a nomadic lifestyle. This nomadic lifestyle allows you to be location independent which basically means you aren’t tied to one location. Another phrase you will hear is work remotely or remote work. This is when you work for an employer but work remotely at home or from a van, coffee shop or accommodation in another country.

 

What are Digital Nomad Jobs?

 

Digital nomad jobs are basically any professions or jobs that can be done online and that can be combined with traveling. The list of jobs that you can do is growing, but basically, anything you can do from a computer, can become a digital nomad job. 

READ MORE: 18 Digital Nomad Jobs for Beginners You Can Do From Anywhere.

 

How to Find a Digital Nomad Job

 

The second most popular question I am asked after how to become a digital nomad is “How do I find a Digital Nomad Job”? So here goes, here are my suggestions on how to find a digital nomad job.

  • Ask your current employer if you can work remotely. This can sometimes be an option but if not I suggest,
  • Set up a website and/or a social media channel and market, market, market yourself and your services or products.
  • Approach potential clients – get yourself a media kit which sets out your rates and send out emails to targeted clients.
  • Register through specific websites – there are many online sites to register with such as Fivvr, Airtasker, Upwork, Freelancer, FlexJobs and Remote to name a few. 

Tip: Choose one service to offer. Concentrate on that to grow it before expanding. It is better to be a specialist at one rather than mediocre at many.

 

What Do You Need to be a Digital Nomad

 

In my opinion to be a digital nomad you need two things. Firstly, skills that you can use on an on-line platform and secondly, the right equipment that allows you to work on-line.

 

Skills Required

 

Everyone has skills, even if you don’t realise it. You then adapt these skills to an on-line platform. And if you don’t have skills you can always do a course to help you get skills. For instance, I like to write and travel so I did a travel writing course and then a proofreading and editing course. Now I offer writing services and proofreading skills via an on-line platform, my website. And I have a number of clients that I provide travel articles for and also I proofread other people’s work. The best part is, I get paid to do these things and even better is I can do them from wherever I may be. I also have a travel writing course I teach. Find details about my travel writing course here.

As well as my writing and proofreading skills I have done courses in social media which I found through Udemy. Udemy is an on-line platform that offers courses in many areas. Check them out here. I am also considering doing a TEFOL course so I can teach on-line. I have found a great course through i-to-i. If you are also considering this get details of their TEFOL courses here.

To find out what jobs digital nomads do read my post 10 Digital Nomad Jobs.

 

Equipment Needed

 

The other thing you need to be a digital nomad is the right equipment. Depending on what digital job you intend to do you will need equipment. Essential Tech Equipment I suggest includes a laptop with appropriate software. A power adaptor to so you can use power points no matter where you are. A powerbank to ensure electronics are always charged. An electronics carrier bag to keep electronic bits and pieces in. A camera or GoPro with accessories. And access to a fast wifi connection either at my accommodation or in a co-working space.

 

A laptop is an essential item to be a digital nomad.

 

When going off-grid a Powerbank is essential. Never lose power again!

 

Power points are different so a power adaptor point is a great tech item to travel with.

 

I keep all my tech accessories in my Electronic Accessory Bag.

 

If providing content you will need great photos. A GoPro will help you get them!

 

Pros and Cons of Being a Digital Nomad

 

Before you throw in your current job consider the pros and cons of being a digital nomad. They might just help you decide whether or not to make the leap to being a digital nomad.

So the pros. You can live in other parts of the world and make money to support your new lifestyle. By living in another part of the world you can immerse yourself into the local culture and experience the place differently to just visiting for a week or two. Then you can move on to another place. And if you don’t like the cold you could follow the sun! Sound good?

Now the cons. As wonderful as it sounds to travel the world and live and work in amazing places, you need to keep in mind that this lifestyle may not last forever. You will need to work also to bring in an income to enable a nomadic life. The amount of work you will need to do will vary and it has been known when you are just starting out you may be working much longer hours than your previous 9-5 job! Time zones are something to consider also. What if your client is in a different time zone to you and you have been given a deadline – will you meet it? And if you don’t make enough income what will you do? In that case I suggest you save as much as you can to help fund your travels until such time as you are making enough money to sustain the nomadic lifestyle you want. There is nothing wrong with being ‘just a backpacker’ backpacking around the world.

 

Life as a Digital Nomad

 

The definition of a nomad is someone with no settled home. They are continually moving from place to place. A digital nomad travels with their devices and use them to make money so they can continue moving. They can live in their transport such as in a van or can set up home in accommodation for a few weeks to months or longer. Maybe house sitting could be an option. Your accommodation should have an area where you can work on-line. If interested to book some accommodation check out Booking.com. I wouldn’t suggest staying in a hostel as you may not receive the privacy you require to work. Many digital nomads rent a co-working space. Most cities have them. So with those things sorted you can immerse yourself in the place you are in.

 

Popular Cities and Countries to be a Digital Nomad

 

I personally feel you can be a digital nomad wherever you are, because that is the point of being a digital namad. Many digital nomads though are ranking some cities and countries. They do this by providing details on living costs, the cheaper the better, and availability the of digital nomad infrastructure, such as how good the wi-fi is. What I am hearing from other digital nomads is top destinations for digital nomads are: Canggu, Bali, Indonesia; Lisbon, Portugal; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Medellin, Colombia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Seoul, South Korea; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Budapest, Hungary; Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Tallinn, Estonia; Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. But remember, you can be a digital nomad wherever you are as long as you have the skills and equipment.

 

READ MORE: Digital Nomad and Remote Worker Visas

 

Final words on becoming a Digital Nomad and living a Location Independent Lifestyle

 

I hope this post has helped you gain a clearer picture of the possibilities of becoming a digital nomad, or not. There is no harm travelling the world as a backpacker who has saved and resigned from their job and then hit the road. If the digital nomad lifestyle doesn’t eventuate you can always pick up physical work along the way. Read my post How to find jobs as you travel the world. Most of all, enjoy your time living, working and playing around the world – however you do it.

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing!

Just so you know: some of the links in this post might be affiliate links, which earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. No pressure to use my links, but I REALLY appreciate when you do! Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 


My favourite tools to Travel Live and Work Abroad

 

🏠 Where Will You Be Sleeping Tonight? – Get a bed in a hostel dorm through HostelWorld or for a hotel room check out Booking.com. Get free accommodation house and pet sitting through Trusted Housesitters – this has saved me thousands on accommodation, no joke!

✈️ Need a cheap and flexible airfare – head to Skyscanner.

 🚙 Car Rental – search and compare vehicles at DiscoverCars.

 🚆 Train Travel: I love riding the rails. For a rail pass in Europe head to Raileurope. And Japan has a great one too – JapanRail Pass.

🚌 Travelling by bus is often the cheapest way to travel. Compare and get a ticket or a pass at Busbud.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Jump-the-queue entrance tickets and day tours: I book these through GetYourGuide.

 🌏 How to pick a country to live and work abroad in? Check out my Working Holiday Visa Country Guides and Digital Nomad Visa Country Guides to see where you can live work play travel abroad.

 🚑 Should you buy travel insurance? Absolutely Yes! SafetyWing is great digital nomads and long-term travellers and World Normads has policies for general and adventure travel.

 

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Sharyn McCullum Sailing Through The Panama Canal With Storm Chasing Boat.

Sharyn McCullum – Travel Writer / Blogger, Remote On-line Worker, sometime Digital Nomad and Travel, Live and Work Abroad Expert. Is a chocoholic, coffee connoisseur and lover of ’80s music. Been travelling all her life thanks to her dad who worked for an airline. Lived in London 4 years on a working holiday. Has holidayed in Hawaii over 15 times and currently calls Melbourne, Australia home. Is inspiring others to get the live work play travel lifestyle with this blog. Read more about Sharyn here.

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