Perhaps the best thing about working online is the freedom to move around when you please. As long as you have a stable Internet connection, you can go almost anywhere in the world and experience things that you would otherwise not experience in the four walls of an office. If you are itching to join the community of writers traversing around the world, here are some tips to help you get started:
1. Choose your destination wisely
First things first, where do you want to go? Many digital nomads gravitate to countries where the cost of living is doable and the surroundings feel nothing short of paradise. Examples of such places include Thailand, the Philippines, Mexico, Portugal, and Spain, just to name a few. However, your destination will most likely be largely determined by your budget, as well as the stability of your income. Choose a place that best fits your income and ensure that this is a place where you can last a relatively long time.
2. Leave no loose ends at home
Who is going to stay at your apartment while you travel? Do you have a pet that you can’t take with you? Where are you going to leave your car until you get back? These are some of the things you have to take care of before leaving to be a digital nomad. As much as possible, tie up loose ends so that you don’t have to worry about them when you leave. Pay off all your bills, sublet your apartment, sell your car, and close down accounts that you won’t be using. Even if you are not leaving your home country for good, it’s better to go with less stuff to worry about at home.
3. Learn how to be a good traveler
Whether you are a freelance writer or a novelist about to publish their book with a self-publishing company, being a digital nomad takes more than just being good at your job wherever you might be. A large part of being a nomad is traveling, and if you’re not good at it, you might run into more trouble along the way.
Unfortunately, being a good traveler comes with experience, but it doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for it. Research is a must when getting ready to move to an unfamiliar place. Find out as much as you can about your destination, including the culture, visa rules, laws, climate, and cost of living. Expect the unexpected, and never be too complacent in a foreign land. It can be scary at first, but over time, you will get to hone your traveling skills as you move from place to place.
4. Connect with a community
Connecting with other digital nomads can help you learn more about the lifestyle. If you want, you can even choose a niche community of writers in a specific area or region. Whatever the case might be, being in a community of people who have similar goals as yours can make the adjustment period easier for you, especially if you are entirely new to traveling.
Who knows? You can even find new writing opportunities within your community. Many groups double as job portals where fellow digital nomads seek help with their projects. If you can take more responsibilities on your plate, your connection to a digital nomad community can help you earn more income.
5. Use your experiences in your writing
One of the best parts about being a traveling writer is gaining experiences that you can use for your work. For one, you can start a blog about your digital nomad journey and earn money from that. Alternatively, you can write travel blogs for clients or infuse your articles with a broader world view, possibly even with industry experts you meet along the way. Either way, your experiences as a digital nomad will be beneficial not only for your personal life but for your work as well.
The idea of moving to an unfamiliar place and essentially starting your life anew can be daunting. Just ask anyone who has gone from being a work-from-home writer to a digital nomad. But if you want to pursue this dream, the first thing you have to do is take the plunge.
Do you want to travel the world while writing, too? If you have questions about being a digital nomad, leave them in the comments below!
