You've probably heard the term "digital nomad" lately and wondered what it is all about. Well, this could be the key to transforming your life and your work. Digital nomads have discovered amazing freedom and satisfaction in quitting the 9-to-5 job and exploring the world, all while working remotely and earning enough income to maintain this lifestyle.
In this article, I'll give you the lowdown on what digital nomadism is, how to become one, common mistakes to avoid, and the best options for living and working on the road. From top remote job sites to choosing the perfect coliving spaces (with built-in coworking!) to foolproof travel planning, I'll share my best tips so you can make your nomadic dreams happen.
Trust me, even starting with just a month or two of nomad life can open your eyes. So read on to find out how to get the ball rolling! Who knows, you may just fall in love with the digital nomad lifestyle like I did.
What is a Digital Nomad?
If you feel like your office is no longer for you and you want to explore the world while you work, being a digital nomad could be your solution. A digital nomad is someone who has the freedom to work from anywhere thanks to Internet connectivity. This life style is focused on finding the right work-life balance and travel the world while exploring new cultures.
Different types of digital nomads
This lifestyle is very broad and there are different ways to carry it out. Within the world of digital nomads, you will find diverse profiles of people and professionals.
- Digital Nomad as a permanent lifestyle
On the one hand, we find those digital nomads who do not have a fixed residence and choose to live in different places around the world. These adventurers often carry only the essentials, taking advantage of technology to work online and stay connected with their clients or employers regardless of their geographic location. Their free spirit and love of exploration leads them to travel continents, immersing themselves in diverse cultures and unique experiences along the way.
- Digital Nomad as part of a hybrid life model
On the other hand, there are those who, despite having a fixed home, choose to spend prolonged periods traveling, such as two to three months a year. These part-time digital nomads combine the stability of home with the thrill of adventure, finding a balance between their work responsibilities and their desire to discover new destinations. This modality allows them to enjoy the flexibility of working remotely without giving up the comforts of a place to call home. In both cases, the closest thing to a home when you are away from home are social coliving, which we will talk about later, which generally also include coworking and leisure activities in the package to be contracted.
The reality is that at first the majority of digital nomads tended to be people who worked freelance providing services often related to technology or design. But those times have passed and today anyone can be a digital nomad.
Now it's a question of freelancers vs remote workers.
- Freelancers
Freelancers are independent professionals who offer their services to different clients, managing their time and projects autonomously. On the other hand, remote workers for companies carry out their work for a specific company, following established schedules and organizational structures, but without the need to be physically present in an office.
With the arrival of the COVID pandemic, the number of remote workers has experienced a notable increase, since many companies have been forced to adopt remote working as a security measure and, after a while, opted to establish a "full" remote work model or hybrid. This has led to an exponential growth of professionals who now have the opportunity to work from anywhere in the world, thus driving the expansion of the digital nomad community and transforming the way we think about work and travel in the modern era.
- Flexible work
As a digital nomad, you can get online jobs that allow you flexible hours and the freedom to work from wherever you want. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer are great for finding freelancing opportunities in all areas. There are also many websites where you can find remote job offers such as Remote OK or Flexjobs for digital nomads.
How to get a job to be a digital nomad?
Create an attractive resume that highlights your freelancing skills. The most popular areas for remote jobs are technology, writing, sales, and customer service. Keep in mind that remote worker recruiters look at other things when it comes to the selection process, so it is important that you create a new CV specifically for remote positions. Not only your professional experience will be important, but also other aspects related to the organization of remote work teams. For example, you can include information about the time zone where you work, the work team you have, tools that you know how to use to organize online teams (such as Trello, Asana or Slack). All these little details will tell the recruiter that you are already used to working this way.
To stand out, focus on developing useful skills such as writing, programming, digital marketing or translation.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Nomadic Lifestyle (Pros and Cons)
The digital nomad lifestyle is not for everyone. It has its pros and cons that you should consider before embarking on the adventure.
- The freedom to travel and work wherever you want
The biggest advantage of being a digital nomad is freedom. You can work from anywhere with a good Internet connection. Whether it's a tropical beach, a charming cafe in Europe or an Airbnb in Asia, the world is your office. In addition, you can stay as long as you want in each destination and change scenery when you get bored.
- Constant uncertainty
The downside is that this nomadic life can be unstable. You never know where the next month will find you and it can be difficult to establish a routine. Some people find it exhausting to always be on the go and miss having a place to call “home.” It can also be difficult to make lasting friends or maintain romantic relationships.
- Full flexibility but fewer benefits
Working as a freelancer or remotely for a company gives you great flexibility, but usually fewer benefits. You will not have paid vacations, health insurance or pension plan. You will have to organize to obtain these benefits on your own.
- Save money but earn less
If you're smart, you can save a lot of money by living a nomadic life. You can find cheap accommodation and take advantage of low-cost travel. However, you may earn a little less as a freelancer compared to a traditional job.
The “Digital Nomad” life is ideal for those who value freedom and flexibility over stability. If you can handle uncertainty, love to travel, and are good at managing your time, this could be an attractive option for you. Just try it - you might discover a lifestyle you're passionate about!
How to be a Digital Nomad: Tips and Advice
Living and working while traveling sounds wonderful but of course there are always some buts that you must take into account. In this list we help you prepare like a true professional nomad:
- Plan your trips
As a digital nomad, you have the freedom to travel wherever you want, but that doesn't mean you have to be spontaneous. Plan your trips at least 2-4 months in advance to ensure you find affordable accommodation and transportation. Research visa requirements and make sure you have all the necessary documents ready before you leave.
Once you have 100% remote work, you can start planning your trips. Apps like Nomad List and Remote OK help you find popular destinations for digital nomads where the cost of living is low and internet connectivity is good. Some tips: choose cheap destinations, visit in low season and make reservations in advance.
If you want to find more information about the best destinations for digital nomads, the best thing you can do is follow these accounts. It is also advisable to use applications like Google Flights where you can select the origin and let Google show you the cheapest destinations to travel to.
- Follow the BEST Digital Nomads Influencers and Bloggers
These are some of our favorites accounts! Following them will help you understand how they live and follow in their footsteps. They will offer you tips, tricks and clues on where to go and where to stay. These are the most relevant influencers on digital nomadism at the moment:
- Nomad Collective Community
- Freaking Nomads
- Digital Nomads Adventures
- Nomad.girls
- The Remote Concept
- African Nomads
- Work Wanderers
- Andy Stofferis
- The Nomad Mumpreneur
- Two Tickets Anywhere
- Nomad Capitalist
- Not a Nomad Blog
Choose remote-friendly destinations
Some of the best places for digital nomads include Chiang Mai, Mexico, Colombia, and Spain. Look for cities with good weather, low cost of living, and good Internet connectivity. Follow other digital nomads on platforms like Nomad List to see their destination recommendations.
Thanks to CNBC we know the ranking of the best countries to live as digital nomads and remote workers in 2024. Spain: the No. 1 country for digital nomads.
Get the Visa for Digital Nomads
Starting in 2023, the Spain remote work visa allows people to live in the country. A Digital Nomad visa is a residence permit that can be extended for up to 5 years and will allow non-EU citizens to live and work remotely from Spain. In early 2024, Spain announced that it would allow spouses and families to join successful digital nomad visa applicants, as they tend to have higher salaries than usual and are very attractive profiles.
Therefore, if you are looking for your first destination where you can mix great culture, friendly people, open minds, an exceptional internet connection and incredible nature (from beaches to volcanoes): we recommend that you consider Spain as your first option.
Take out global health insurance
As a digital nomad, your domestic health insurance probably won't cover you abroad. Take out international health insurance such as World Nomads, orSafetyWing to be protected in case of medical emergencies wherever you go.
These are the most reliable health insurance companies:
- IATI.
- Heymondo.
- Interworld.
- Chapka.
- Axa.
Choose a coliving that suits your lifestyle
Colivings, or shared living spaces, are a great option for digital nomads who travel alone. They offer affordable accommodation with work spaces included, and instantly connect you with a community of like-minded people. Sharing common spaces like kitchens and living rooms also makes it easier to make new friends.
As you can see, being a successful digital nomad requires planning and preparation. But with a few helpful tips and the right tools, you can enjoy the freedom of working from anywhere while exploring the world.
Colivings: The best option for Digital Nomads
As a digital traveler, you need a place to live in every destination you visit. Colivings, co-livings, or co-living spaces are an ideal option. They offer short and long-term accommodation with all the comforts of home, but without the commitments of a traditional rental agreement.
You can book for weeks or months, which gives you flexibility. In addition, many colivings already include a coworking space, so you can work and socialize in the same place, without the need to pay separately for another coworking space and guaranteeing the best internet connectivity. This makes it easier to meet other digital nomads and form new friendships, one of the biggest advantages of this lifestyle.
Colivings also take care of all the details for you. They provide high-speed internet, common spaces such as fully equipped kitchens, living rooms and laundry rooms. Some even offer additional benefits like gyms, pools, and regular social programs. You only need to carry your laptop and your luggage; They take care of the rest.
In short, the best thing is that you try it and to do so, why not start with a country like Spain that offers you security, good weather, culture, gastronomy, quality services and of course, paradisiacal places.
You don't have to become a nomad all at once, you can also take advantage of 1 or 2 months of work and take advantage of this modality to see the world, alone or with your family.
Remember that the digital nomad lifestyle also allows you to train remotely in online schools like ours.
Join us at Palma Coliving and embark on a journey of exploration, creativity, and growth. We hope you liked this article, and that you found it useful. We would love to welcome you to one of our colivings. Whether you come to Palma Coliving in Barcelona, Valencia, or Mallorca, we will make sure you feel at home from day one. Apply for your stay here.
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