Before I started running my online business full-time, I had a desk job with just a couple of weeks of vacation each year. Before that, I spent over five years in a position with no vacation time at all. I knew that limited travel time wasn’t enough for me.
Even though I have to work while traveling because I’m location independent, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Working remotely is a dream come true! I love traveling, seeing new places, and being able to work at the same time. Being a “digital nomad” isn’t perfect, but it’s a lot of fun!
In 2015 alone, I traveled to Nevada, California, Washington, Wyoming, Utah, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and, of course, Colorado and Missouri. I’ve been on the road for most of the year, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Right now, I’m looking at the beautiful Jackson Lake and the mountains in Grand Teton National Park while typing this post.
Many of you are interested in living a location-independent lifestyle too. It’s a dream for many, but there are things to consider. Being location independent still means you have to work and earn money! Keep reading if you want to learn how to become a digital nomad.
First, figure out how you’ll support yourself. There are many ways to make money while traveling, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead. You might find an employer who lets you work from your laptop and phone, decide to run your own business, or find work as you travel.
Next, have a plan. If you want to travel and work at the same time, planning is essential. Think about how you’ll earn money, how much you’ll need to survive, whether you need to save money before you leave, how long you plan to travel, what you’ll do for health insurance, whether you’ll have a home base, how you’ll receive mail, what you’ll do for internet, and if you’ll need a visa to work.
Determine your pace. Traveling slowly can be more affordable because transportation costs usually eat up a travel budget. Plus, you’ll have more time to enjoy each place. Traveling quickly means you can visit more places, but it might be harder to work if you need to hold a job in each city for longer periods.
Backup all your work. Keep backups of everything you do if you work primarily from your laptop. You never know if your phone, laptop, or camera will get damaged or stolen. Backups will save you a lot of pain and frustration.
Work ahead. Planning and working ahead helps me stay sane. This way, if I find myself in an area with no internet, really love an area I’m visiting, or can’t work for some other reason, I can still have fun and not feel stressed out. Trust me, this is key. In Wyoming, the internet hasn’t been great, but planning and working ahead has helped me a lot. For internet, I’m using a Verizon MiFi Jetpack.
Unplug occasionally if you work remotely. The hardest part of traveling for me is unplugging. Being location independent means it can be tough to balance work and life because you can work anywhere.
Travel hack. Since you’ll be traveling a lot, find ways to save money on your trips. Travel hacking can help you travel cheaply or even for free in some cases.
Keep yourself motivated. Whether you’re working for someone else or yourself, you need to stay motivated because no one will be hovering over your shoulder. If you’re struggling to stay motivated, set a designated work schedule to help you stay on track, just like if you were in an office.
Enjoy yourself. In the end, you should enjoy yourself. Traveling all over the world but only seeing the inside of a hotel room wouldn’t be any fun. Get out there, work remotely, and see the world!
Would you like to live a location-independent lifestyle? What other tips would you give to someone who wants to become a digital nomad?