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 laborious at instances, however finally, I feel the challenges are definitely worth the enormous upsides.
Listed here are the steps that helped me go from office-bound and depressing to location-independent and free. The following pointers all come from my very own private expertise. I hope they’re helpful and show you how to pull off your personal escape.
How you can 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 outdoors 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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Mirror on Your Why and Targets
Earlier than you write your resignation letter, take a step again and ask your self why you need to turn out to be a digital nomad. What’s driving this determination? Whether or not it’s the liberty to discover new locations, the prospect 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 occupation. I noticed I needed a life-style that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless provides me readability and motivation to today, and helps me keep targeted 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 goals will assist information your choices and maintain 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 stable monetary security web is important earlier than you hand in your discover. You’ll want financial savings to cowl not less than a number of months of dwelling bills, plus an emergency fund, and a plan for regular revenue going ahead.
My enterprise took nearly a 12 months to start out 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 price range, 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’re to this stage, the much less dangerous it will likely be.
Develop Distant Work Expertise
One of many issues I like most about being a digital nomad is the power to journey as a lot as you want. However, prefer it or not, you’ll nonetheless most likely must spend a big chunk of your time working – even should you can nip off for a cheeky surf between conferences.
As many people realized in the course of the pandemic, remote work requires fairly a distinct mindset than working within the workplace. You want private self-discipline, stable communication abilities, and the power to handle your time successfully with out having a boss trying over your shoulder.
I discover this a lot simpler working by myself enterprise that I care deeply about. However, don’t underestimate how completely different the expertise is. In case you aren’t already, get accustomed to instruments comparable to Slack and Groups, and contemplate taking on-line programs or enrolling in a training program that can assist you upskill.
Analysis Potential Locations
Not all locations are created equal for digital nomads. Some locations (like Thailand and Portugal) are recognized for his or her low price of dwelling, lightning-fast web, welcoming perspective to nomads, and thriving communities of distant employees. Different locations are tougher.
Selecting the correct vacation spot on your life-style and price range could make or break your expertise. Take into account your personal priorities. Would you like year-round sunshine? Quick access 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 should be good. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico after I first began out. It’s a fully gorgeous place, nevertheless it wasn’t perfect for distant working, with common energy cuts and ropey web. I additionally managed to catch dengue and covid on the similar time – tough.
Begin With a Trial Run
Earlier than you give up your job and absolutely decide to the digital nomad life-style, attempt dipping your toes within the water. A brief-term trial run may give you a style of what it’s wish to work remotely whereas touring, with out the stress of constructing all the pieces 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 tremendous with me doing it (it was the summer season of 2020, so distant work was the norm anyway), and I acquired a style of what digital nomadism can be like earlier than going all in.
This is probably not potential in your present circumstances, however, should you 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 equipment you do (and don’t) want, and the way well-suited you’re to working in a non-traditional surroundings.
Plan Your Tech and Instruments
Having the correct tech setup is crucial in terms of engaged on the highway. You’ll want a setup that’s dependable, transportable, and retains you productive (and cozy) regardless of the place you’re on this planet.
My tech stack consists of my MacBook Professional, wi-fi keyboard and mouse, foldable laptop computer stand, noise-canceling headphones, exterior laborious drive (for backups), common energy adapter, extension cable, and my iPhone (with an eSIM for whichever nation I’m in).
Don’t overlook software program subscriptions, too. I take advantage of Google Drive, Zoom, Microsoft Workplace, and varied search engine optimization and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your personal checklist as wanted.
Construct a Help Community
Being a digital nomad might be isolating at instances, particularly should 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 associates 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 assist community is so vital. Coworking areas might be nice locations to satisfy different like-minded individuals. I’ve made associates 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, 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 mates 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 assist after I began!
Take the Leap
Planning and preparation are important, however in some unspecified time in the future, you’ve simply acquired to go for it. Setting a agency exit date will help you keep targeted and provide you with one thing to work towards. And not using a clear timeline, it’s simple to get caught within the “planning” section perpetually.
It’s going to possible really feel like an incredible leap of religion. And it’ll most likely be riskier than staying in a steady salaried job. However, there’s additionally the chance of trying again in your life and regretting not having tried one thing like this. For me, that might be a far worse final result than my enterprise not figuring out.
Belief in your planning, but additionally settle for that not all the pieces 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 should you 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 a giant determination, however with the correct planning and mindset, it’s completely achievable. By breaking the method into manageable steps, and following the guidelines I’ve shared right here, you’ll be setting your self up for achievement.
It’s not at all times simple, nevertheless 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 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 attempt.