Leaving the consolation and wage of a gentle workplace job for the uncertainty of life as a self-employed digital nomad is a big change, each personally and professionally. I did it myself in 2021 once 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 onerous at instances, however in the end, I feel 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 assist you pull off your individual escape.
The best way 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 suggest you do first. It will assist set your self up for fulfillment, earlier than taking the plunge.
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Replicate on Your Why and Objectives
Earlier than you write your resignation letter, take a step again and ask your self why you need to turn into 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 essential.
For me, it was the frustration of being caught in a inflexible routine, and the stuffiness of the authorized occupation. I noticed I needed a life-style that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless provides me readability and motivation to at the present time, and helps me keep centered when instances get powerful.
Write down your objectives – each private {and professional}. Do you need to see particular nations? Study new abilities? A brand new language? Create a sustainable revenue on-line? Construct a mighty enterprise empire? Having clear targets will assist information your selections and hold you motivated.
Construct Monetary Stability and Safety
Cash stress is likely one of the worst elements of being a freelancer. That’s why making a strong monetary security web is important earlier than you hand in your discover. You’ll want financial savings to cowl not less than a couple of months of residing bills, plus an emergency fund, and a plan for regular revenue going ahead.
My enterprise took virtually a yr 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 stop my job, I might’ve quickly run out.
Earlier than leaving your job, make a funds, minimize 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 will probably be.
Develop Distant Work Expertise
One of many issues I 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 in case you can nip off for a cheeky surf between conferences.
As many people realized throughout the pandemic, remote work requires fairly a special mindset than working within the workplace. You want private self-discipline, strong communication abilities, and the flexibility to handle your time successfully with out having a boss wanting over your shoulder.
I discover this a lot simpler working alone enterprise that I care deeply about. However, don’t underestimate how totally different the expertise is. If you happen to aren’t already, get accustomed to 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 residing, lightning-fast web, welcoming perspective to nomads, and thriving communities of distant employees. Different locations are more difficult.
Choosing the right vacation spot to your life-style and funds could make or break your expertise. Take note 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 prone to be a difficulty?
Your first vacation spot doesn’t need to be good. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico once I first began out. It’s a fully gorgeous place, however it wasn’t best for distant working, with common energy cuts and ropey web. I additionally managed to catch dengue and covid on the identical time – tough.
Begin With a Trial Run
Earlier than you stop 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 all the things good right away.
I did this by spending a few weeks in Portugal whereas I used to be nonetheless working at my outdated job. My work was fantastic with me doing it (it was the summer time of 2020, so distant work was the norm anyway), and I acquired a style of what digital nomadism could be like earlier than going all in.
This will not be potential in your present circumstances, however, in case you do get the chance to do a trial run like this, I’d extremely suggest 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 atmosphere.
Plan Your Tech and Instruments
Having the proper tech setup is crucial relating to engaged on the highway. You’ll want a setup that’s dependable, transportable, and retains you productive (and cozy) regardless 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 onerous 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 exploit Google Drive, Zoom, Microsoft Workplace, and numerous search engine optimisation and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your individual record as wanted.
Construct a Help Community
Being a digital nomad may be isolating at instances, particularly in case you’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my companion, however nonetheless, it may be powerful generally. Most of our pals are 1,000s of miles away, and so they usually don’t relate to issues we wrestle with on a day-to-day foundation.
That’s why constructing a help community is so necessary. Coworking areas may be nice locations to satisfy different like-minded individuals. 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 so far.
Don’t underestimate the worth of those relationships. Fellow nomads can share insights about locations they’ve been, suggest instruments that work for them, and even collaborate with you on tasks. It’s additionally nice to have the ability to share your experiences with individuals who “get” it, as your folks from house won’t.
Additionally: Dariece and Nick’s “Distant Goats” teaching 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 help once I began!
Take the Leap
Planning and preparation are important, however sooner or later, you’ve simply acquired to go for it. Setting a agency exit date may also help you keep centered and offer you one thing to work towards. With no clear timeline, it’s straightforward to get caught within the “planning” section perpetually.
It would seemingly really feel like an incredible leap of religion. And it’ll in all probability be riskier than staying in a steady salaried job. However, there’s additionally the danger of wanting again in your life and regretting not having tried one thing like this. For me, that might be a far worse consequence than my enterprise not figuring out.
Belief in your planning, but in addition settle for that not all the things will go completely. And that’s okay – each nomad’s journey is exclusive. Embrace the uncertainty. And keep in mind, if it doesn’t work out, or in case you change your thoughts about what you need, the choice to return to a extra “conventional” life will nonetheless be there.
In Conclusion
Changing into a digital nomad is an enormous determination, however with the proper planning and mindset, it’s completely achievable. By breaking the method into manageable steps, and following the ideas I’ve shared right here, you’ll be setting your self up for fulfillment.
It’s not all the time straightforward, however it’s so value it. Leaving the conformist, hierarchical workplaces and fits of the company world to create a lifetime of freedom and journey was probably the greatest decisions I’ve ever made. It’d simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you strive.