(Plus a few tips I wish I'd known from the start)
In case you haven’t read my story elsewhere on the site, let me start with a few things about my journey toward becoming a digital nomad.
At this point, it’s been about two years since I left my job in Iowa as a medical interpreter to move in with my parents and find a remote job. I was determined not to be tied down to any one location and to make a living from the road.
It took a few months, but finally I landed two remote jobs as a health & lifestyle coach and as a German/Spanish translator.
Another few months later, after having saved for a bit, I finally took off and began my life as a digital nomad. That’s the way I’ve been living for the past year and a half now and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I can’t imagine myself being confined to an office or requesting time off for vacation.
This way, I can literally work from anywhere and can turn any day into a vacation. But, it hasn’t and still isn’t always an easy path to take.
There’s tons I’ve learned along the way that would’ve been nice to know before I took off.
1) You'll want to get work/finances straightened out before leaving
In general, I’m not much of a planner. (See more about that in point #5 below). But trust me when I tell you that you’re going to want a plan to keep you from getting stranded abroad without money or a job.
(Though that does sound like the start to a really great movie where you end up working for your stay at a local inn, only to meet your dream partner and live happily ever after).
But…back to reality. That’s not how things normally work.
Now to some of you, the whole planning thing might seem like a no-brainer.
However, to all the other non-planners like me, you may roll your eyes and say, “it’ll all work itself out.” Maybe you’ve saved a few thousand dollars and figure that’s enough to get started and you’ll figure out the rest along the way.
That was exactly my plan when I graduated from college and set off to be a digital nomad the first time around.
Notice how I said “the first time around?” Yeah, that’s because it didn’t work out for me when I didn’t have a plan. Here’s what happened…
I explored much of Europe by myself in the summer of 2017. Eventually, I ended up in Lisbon, where I got an apartment and enjoyed vacation until suddenly, my bank account wasn’t so full anymore.
In a last ditch attempt to keep my summer abroad going until a remote job in translation or writing magically fell into my lap, I got a job at the Hard Rock Cafe to pay for rent.
But alas, no such job ever came around (I know, shocking for a recent college grad with no experience as a translator or a writer). So instead, I came home with my tail between my legs and moved in with my parents until I got a “real job” and gave up my digital nomad dreams until the next year.
Here’s the moral of the story: please don’t make the same mistake I did!
Lucky for you and a happy byproduct of the pandemic, there are now more remote jobs than EVER before. So try to find one before leaving and/or save up more money than I did. You’ll be glad you did!
Now, before we move on to my second point, it’s time for:
Bonus Tip #1:
Having worked remotely for two years now, I want to point out that it could be harder to find and retain remote work than you might think.
Yes, there are more options nowadays, but be careful about checking the job requirements.
Many remote jobs still want you to stay in and work from your own country or state even. Others have set hours, which need to be taken into consideration if there’s a time difference where you’re going.
So be sure to keep those things in mind as you search! If you have any questions about freelancing or remote work, please comment below or shoot me an email and I’d be happy to give you more tips.
Another tip related to this: remember to stay in places with a good internet connection. If you get to where you’re staying and the internet connection sucks, you might need to find a new place. (I’ve done it before).
2) You get to go to beautiful locations, but it means working in them too (while everyone around you is on vacation)
In the photo above, you can see one of my favorite locations I’ve gotten to work from. This was in a gorgeous little town named Perast in Montenegro (which I highly, highly recommend visiting if you haven’t).
But this is just a little reminder that being a digital nomad quite literally involves work. And it’s a bit of a mindset shift going from traveling on vacation to slow travel as a digital nomad.
Most people around you will be on vacation and will want to spend their time accordingly.
They might invite you to go out and explore with them or you might want to explore on your own, but just because you’re abroad doesn’t mean you always have the time.
You’ll have to get used to setting time aside for your work life vs. vacation life no matter where you are.
For me as a freelance translator who doesn’t have a set schedule, that means getting jobs done whenever they come in. If I have plans for the day, it means they have to be changed or canceled altogether.
As an example, I was in South Africa earlier this year with friends and we’d planned to tour an ostrich farm. Instead, a translation job came in so I ended up working from an ostrich farm cafe while my friends explored!
Obviously, that’s not a huge deal, but it’s something to get used to. Especially when most of the people you meet will be in a different boat.
But I have to say, it beats the hell out of working from an office.
Bonus Tip #2:
Don’t let timing get in your way.
It’s easy to come up with excuses why now isn’t the right time to start this lifestyle. All the time people are telling me, “I wish I could do that” or “you’re so lucky.”
Well, the reality is that you can do it and I’m not lucky! It’s just a matter of how badly you want to make it happen. I had to work my butt off to get to this point, but I’m grateful every day that I did.
There will never be a perfect time. You can always come up with more reasons why not to start now. And to be honest, the people making those excuses are often the ones who end up never going for it.
With most if not all goals in life, the one thing standing between where we are now and what we want is ourselves. So you have to make the decision to change your thoughts and your words so that they align with the future you desire.
I won’t get too deep into the mindset side of this, but just know that you create your reality and your words are important. So quit saying now isn’t the time and start saying how you’ll get there!
3) Just because you're traveling doesn't mean each day has to or will be filled with adventure
Being a digital nomad is different than normal travel. Generally, you’ll spend more time in each place and you truly don’t need to feel pressured to see it all at once.
When I first set off as a digital nomad, I remember feeling so guilty whenever I spent a day relaxing at my AirBnB or just sitting at a cafe or something. (Again, especially since everyone you meet is on vacation and wants to be out doing/seeing something all the time).
But you need to do what’s right for you and remember to take breaks.
Don’t be afraid or feel bad for taking those days where you do nothing but lay on the beach and read your favorite book or watch Netflix from your AirBnB.
When you’re traveling for long periods of time, those days are necessary.
Just because you’re abroad, doesn’t mean that every second of the day needs to be action-packed. Remember, this is no longer travel, this is how you live. Which leads me perfectly into my next point:
4) Even as a digital nomad, routines are important
If you’re constantly on the move and let your circumstances and surroundings dictate how you spend your day, you’re going to burn out really quickly.
To maintain some sense of normalcy and to regularly check in with yourself, it’s important to create a bit of routine.
Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean you need to have each day planned out or spend each day the same way. For me, routine means doing two things: a morning and evening ritual.
Each morning, I spend 5-10 minutes meditating, another 10-15 minutes reading a book that inspires me and then do some journaling. And each night, I journal about everything I’m grateful for, what I’m proud of myself for accomplishing that day, and what I want to accomplish the next day.
These are simple routines and the rest of the day can be spent however I want. But those simple things keep me grounded and always make me feel better.
So take some time to figure out what your routine will be like on the road. What do you do now that’s important to continue or what kind of routine do you want to create no matter where you are?
Now, speaking of planning…
5) You don't need to have your whole trip, let alone your next destination, planned out
In general, people are more comfortable with life when they have a plan. They like to know what their next step is going to be.
As a digital nomad, however, planning is futile (at least in my opinion).
Before you’ve even left, you’ll notice that friends and family will want to know where you’re going and when you’ll be there. For them, it’s comforting to know exactly where you are because they want to make sure you’re safe.
But slow travel is different than what your friends and family are used to, which is probably two-week vacations with everything planned out ahead of time.
When you’re a digital nomad, it’s impossible to have it all planned out though. And if you do plan it all out, you’ll probably miss out on some of the best experiences along the way.
My advice is to go with the flow as much as possible.
The way I do it is I’ll choose a new destination (often the day before I leave) and I’ll book accommodation for a night or two. If I like it, I’ll stay and if not, I’ll move on.
I think that’s such a great way to do it because it leaves you open to experience whatever you’re meant to along the way. Maybe you’ll meet people going someplace cool that you get along with well and you want to join. Or maybe you’ll fall in love with a city you didn’t expect to and end up extending your stay for weeks.
The beauty of it is that it’s completely up to you and you’re not tied to anything! Remember, your happiness is key and the greatest benefit to being a digital nomad is the ability to be wherever you want whenever you want.
So take advantage of that and don’t tie yourself down to any one place just because you feel like you should.
Go with the flow. Do what feels right for you.
Bonus Tip #3:
In that same line of thought: When you’re traveling, try to be open to every experience that comes your way and, most importantly, trust your gut.
Most of the time, I travel alone and I’ve honestly had some crazy and unbelievable experiences just because I was open to talking to a stranger. Of course, you’ll want to trust your gut in these situations and get away from anyone who makes you feel uneasy.
(Side note: you NEVER have to feel bad for being rude to or excusing yourself from a person or situation that makes you feel uncomfortable. ESPECIALLY if you’re a woman who travels alone like me).
But generally, I’ve listened to my gut and it has always steered me in the right direction and left me with incredible stories to tell.
Just to name a few: I once street-performed in Dublin to raise money for a homeless man; I’ve met and ended up spending the weekend with a couple famous Hollywood actors; and I once met a group of businessmen who ended up buying me a $3,200 plane ticket on Emirates business class (pictured above).
People always ask me how I meet these people and how all these crazy things happen to me. And at the end of the day, it’s just because I’m willing to have a conversation with new people and see where it leads me.
So my tip is to be open to every experience. Traveling has a way of presenting you with opportunities you could otherwise never even imagine.
6) There are trade-offs to this lifestyle & you'll miss things
This is something you might have considered before, but I’d just like to point out the fact that you’ll miss things that are going on back home. That is one of the trade-offs of living a nomadic lifestyle.
Weddings, family gatherings, friend get-togethers, etc… you’ll miss some of them.
It’s a crappy reality and byproduct of living out your dreams. But you have to decide for yourself if it’s worth it and I’d recommend giving it a try before you write off the idea or waste too much time endlessly speculating.
As an adult, it’s normal to move or go to grad school elsewhere, in which case you’ll miss things too.
So it’s not all that different at the end of the day (even though some people might see it that way, which you have to learn to accept). People don’t see travel as a good excuse to miss things.
But are you going to let those people dictate what you do and how you live your life? I sure hope not.
Bonus Tip #4:
I just wanted to follow that up saying that you don’t have to miss everything. Tip #4 is: if you want to go home to family and friends, then go home!
It doesn’t make you any less of a digital nomad.
I regularly intersperse travel with trips to my parent’s place, and you know what? It makes me appreciate both my time abroad and my time at home that much more.
7) Being a digital nomad can get lonely
Another reality of long-term travel is that it can and will get lonely. And that doesn’t just apply to solo travelers. Even couples and friends traveling together can get lonely with it just being the two of them all the time.
But the good news is that it’s actually a great opportunity for personal growth.
If you’re traveling alone, you’ll get used to taking yourself on dates. Self-development books might become your best friends. And along the way, you’ll really get to know yourself and learn to love your own company.
For me personally, learning to be by myself has helped me to love myself and be happier than ever. Plus, family and friends are always just a phone call away.
Bonus Tip #5:
Even if it’s heavy or awkward to carry, bring something with you that brings you joy. That has helped me with the loneliness a ton.
For example: I always travel with a journal, a sketchpad, and my ukulele. That way, when I’m feeling lonely or down, I have something to turn to that I can count on making me feel better.
Sometimes I even travel with a mini sewing machine (linked here in case you want to get your own) to keep busy and keep creating! You obviously don’t need to take it to the extent that I do, but I find that carrying the extra weight of something like that is always worth it.
What item will you take along that brings you joy?
8) Being a digital nomad is exhausting & you must take care of yourself along the way!
That’s one thing that people don’t tell you about being a digital nomad. Influencers show you the flawless pictures of them working from their villa in Bali. They show you the amazing dinners and the gorgeous views.
But what they don’t show you or tell you is that it is absolutely exhausting traveling long-term. Emotionally, physically, mentally…in every way.
To keep yourself from getting burnt out, it’s essential that you take care of yourself!
I initially struggled with the thought of spending extra money on myself when I’m already spending so much on travel itself. Plus, I thought “I’m living the dream. This shouldn’t be exhausting. I shouldn’t need a break. I’m basically on vacation all the time.”
But trust me, just because you’re living your dream doesn’t mean it isn’t hard work.
That’s why you need to make sure to do things for yourself.
Luckily for you, you’ll be in gorgeous locations where that’s easy to do. Odds are, you’ll have access to a spa or the mountains or a beach (or whatever else relaxes you).
So take advantage of them!
Go to the spa for a day. Pamper yourself. Go for a hike. Whatever brings you joy and refuels you because I guarantee you’ll need it.
That's it for now!
This is a post I’m sure I’ll update as I think of more tips for you, but this should give you a good place to start.
There are obviously tons of things to consider before taking the plunge and deciding to be a digital nomad. As I mentioned, it’s hard work, it’s exhausting, it’s unpredictable, and it can get very lonely.
But in my experience, it’s a lifestyle you won’t regret living.
If you’re looking for beauty, adventure, and unforgettable experiences, then being a digital nomad is for you.
If you have any questions about how to prepare for your travels or what it’s like being a digital nomad, please comment below! I’d love to help you turn your dreams into reality.
Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you next time.
Love,
Emily