CHECKLIST
Just to give you a quick background, my name is Arjay and my passion for travelling and photography/videography has led me to creating content full time. Before you read my guide on how to become a digital nomad, quit your job and run off to paradise with your laptop, I'd like to give you a solid idea of what comes with being a digital nomad. Sure, it's great to be able to have the freedom to work anywhere you want and control your hours. Living the dream right? Well, it's not as easy as it sounds. In fact let me tell you right now that it's one of the hardest things you'll ever do in your life but it is one of the most rewarding things as well. You'll have to make sacrifices if this is what you really want to do.
Let's quickly go over some of the common things you wouldn't do at a typical job and if you think this is still right for you, continue reading along.
Early mornings and late nights - Sleep? What is sleep? Ok, sleep is important but you need to figure out a schedule that is a good balance between work and play. Being on the road can be tricky especially if you have a sunrise hike that starts at midnight or if you're doing a multiple day trek up on the mountains with no connection. These are exceptions. Generally speaking, you NEED to get up early in the morning and stay up later to make the most out of your day.
For me personally, I like to get up super early first thing, do a moving activity (lift, run etc.) then start working away. I like getting things done when my mind is fresh and people are still asleep. It's quieter and there's less distraction. Then just before lunch is when I would explore and play. After my day is done, I go right into doing more work till about midnight or so then I hit the bed. This is a regular schedule of mine unless I'm doing sunrise shoots/activities etc then I just shift things around my day.
Everyone is different, some of you may find yourself more productive late at night. It's all about figuring out the schedule works best for you.
Discipline - Prioritizing is essential. You need to find balance between work and play. This is not your typical 9-5 on weekdays and live it out over the weekend type of deal. Being a digital nomad means you can pick your own hours most of the time but the catch is you also need to work on weekends. As tempting as it may be to leave your work behind for the weekend and join everyone else on their adventure, there may be weekends (or many weekends) when you have to get your work done. You need to have enough discipline and be aware of this.
Embrace the unknown - Most entrepreneurs and digital nomads are not afraid of the unknown. Depending on what you do, you may not know where your next income is going to come from. The amount may be higher or lower than the last pay out. You may even get nothing at all the following week. You may land a lot of clients unexpectedly and then all of a sudden you're jammed with a ton of work. My point is there's going to be a lot of curveballs thrown at you and this is just a part of it. Anything can happen and you need to embrace it as it is a part of it. Deal with it and learn from it. Appreciating the unknown is an underrated skill that often gets overlooked.
There's definitely a lot more things you have to deal with as a digital nomad but these are the most common ones. If you think you can handle these things and have what it takes to work and travel at the same time, then read up!
Save Up Money as Backup
Ensure you have enough money saved up before making this transition. If you have a job now, save some money aside in case you get in tight situations and hit several bumps along your journey. If you need to sell your old items at home, get a second job for a couple of months, no matter what you need to make it happen. This will be your emergency stash so keep it aside as you take on this new venture. This emergency stash can be used for replacing items that you need for work, i.e. if your laptop breaks etc.
Sell Items You Don't Need
Get rid of clutter at home. If you have items in your garage or in your living room collecting dust, post it on Craigslist or eBay and sell it. This is going to be good for you mentally as it will give you clarity in terms of where you're going with your life and it's also good for your pockets.
Get a Remote Contract
Before you quit your job, if your profession involves working with computers or laptops most of the time, you can test out the waters by asking your current job to see if they would like to give you the opportunity to work remotely from home. Then ease your way up to making your role even more remote, like say, working on the coast of Costa Rica or under the palm trees in Indonesia. The key here is to show that you're more productive and efficient when working away from the office. You need to be prepared to have results and show it to whoever you report to. Highlighting the benefits of working away from the office whether that's increasing sales, productivity level, efficiency etc. You can't just slack off, you actually have to be able to show improvements by working remotely. If they're not willing to try out this idea then there's only one thing left for you to do.
Invest in A Decent Laptop
This may sound stupid but you need a laptop if you want to be a digital nomad... (duh!) Perhaps a stupid advice as it is common sense but I just need to throw this on here in case people come at me for not saying they need a laptop - this is a beginners guide after all. Invest in a laptop that will meet your requirements on the road and a laptop that can sustain the different conditions you'll meet on the road. Whatever you do, do not invest in a cheap laptop. You need something that is reliable and well built. Remember, you are going to be taking this on the road and this will be your baby. You need to also protect this thing on the road as if it is your life, I mean.. in this case, it really is your life.
Take Your Skills Online
If you can't get a remote position with your current job. Find what you're passionate about and that strong skill set you have. Do your research and think of different ways you can charge for it. I firmly believe that most careers can be taken online. For those in the skilled trades, some say that it's impossible. A plumber can't take his work online as easy as a photographer because it's a completely different environment but I DISAGREE! Plumbers or anyone else in the skilled trade have just as much of an opportunity as the photographer or anyone else in the digital space. If you're a plumber, you can create YouTube videos or e-book manuals on basic "How To", "DIY" guides and make bank off it. If you do a bit of research and think outside the box, you can capitalize on this amazing opportunity we have in front of us. It may not be the sexiest thing but if you're passionate about it and you're very talented in doing it, it will pay off.. literally.
Build A Website
Now that you've figured out what you're going to be doing, you need to create a site as a hub that everyone can go to. A site is a great way to showcase your products or services, to highlight your portfolio, to have people learn more about your story and what you do. This is a must and websites are inexpensive. You can even build your own website as WordPress makes it easier for someone who is not technically savvy.
Sign Up for PayPal
Once you've created a site, you need to set up how to get paid. There are many ways to get paid online but PayPal is the one I use. I like PayPal because of their reputation, security, and ease of use.
Hop On Social and Promote
Sign up for social media accounts. I'm talking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube etc. Whether you're a photographer, a handmade goods seller, a plumber, or someone whose services involves taking care of pets, you can market whatever it is you do on these platforms. The best thing is, it's free to sign up! Building up your social in the beginning is tough but you can start off by letting your family and friends know about it. Tell them to also spread the word and support your new venture! Be patient from here on out, as great things takes time to build.
Stay Connected on the Road
One of your worst enemies on the road is losing connection. Connection is a crucial piece to being a digital nomad. This is the key ingredient to running your business online, without it, you won't even have the chance to run it. Make sure you do enough research about where you're staying and get a sim card when you land in a country. The sim card can be a backup in case wifi is not working at your place, or there's a black out etc. There are a lot of co-working spaces now worldwide, I highly suggest staying at these places as they are truly meant for digital nomads.
Ongoing Research and Learning
Current trends, ways to improve to run your business, common hurdles in your field and how to over come them etc. Trying to make yourself better at what you do everyday will propel you to doing greater things. It's amazing how much valuable information is out there online with a click of a button. Take advantage of this.
Connect
Surround yourself with people who are on the same path as you. If you're having a hard time meeting other digital nomads, join online groups through platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn. Having to know other digital nomads and having them on a messaging/texting or friendship basis plays a huge factor in what you do. You can reach out to these people for ideas, connections, help, or even get you through hardships because they can relate to you on that level. These are some of the people that can make an impact in what you do. So don't be afraid to connect with those who are living that nomad life like you!
I hope this guide will start you off on the right path. Definitely not an easy road to take but it will give you the most freedom and give you the most potential of what you can accomplish compared to your 9-5. Take the risk and you will lead a much more satisfying life.. unless you truly love your job, and you're already happy then you're set. But if you aren't happy with your current situation, I'm not saying this guide will make you a millionaire in a year, but it will lead you to a path where new doors and opportunities will open for you. If I was given the choice again between going through a known unsatisfying life or the unknown that could potentially lead to a satisfying life, I'd choose the unknown over and over again.
There are a ton of people who thinks being an entrepreneur or being a digital nomad is cool and that it's sexy. Many people start getting into this line of work for the label or so they could change their IG bios to founder of something etc.. don't do it for that reason. You need to have a bigger purpose as to why you would want to have this lifestyle. I went into doing this because I wanted to do more of what I'm passionate about, things that have more meaning and things that makes me feel alive. Travelling to new places and photography/videography does all this for me and more.