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 once I left my job as a lawyer in London.
Total, 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 arduous at instances, however finally, I feel the challenges are definitely worth the enormous upsides.
Listed below are the steps that helped me go from office-bound and depressing to location-independent and free. The following tips all come from my very own private expertise. I hope they’re helpful and aid you pull off your individual escape.
Tips on how to 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 can 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 wish to grow to be a digital nomad. What’s driving this determination? Whether or not it’s the liberty to discover new locations, the possibility to work by yourself phrases, or simply wanting to flee workplace life, understanding your motivation is essential.
For me, it was the frustration of being caught in a inflexible routine, and the stuffiness of the authorized occupation. I spotted I needed a life-style that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless offers me readability and motivation to today, and helps me keep targeted when instances get robust.
Write down your objectives – each private {and professional}. Do you wish to see particular nations? Study new expertise? A brand new language? Create a sustainable revenue on-line? Construct a mighty enterprise empire? Having clear targets will assist information your choices and hold 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 strong monetary security internet is important earlier than you hand in your discover. You’ll want financial savings to cowl a minimum of a number of months of residing bills, plus an emergency fund, and a plan for regular revenue going ahead.
My enterprise took nearly a yr to start out making any cash. Being in Central America for the primary few months of my nomad life definitely helped make the cash I had saved go additional. However, if I hadn’t constructed up a pot of financial savings earlier than I stop my job, I might’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 doable. You don’t have to have already constructed up a enterprise to the purpose of profitability earlier than you hit the highway, however the nearer you might be to this stage, the much less dangerous will probably be.
Develop Distant Work Expertise
One of many issues I really like most about being a digital nomad is the flexibility to journey as a lot as you want. However, prefer it or not, you’ll nonetheless in all probability have to spend a big chunk of your time working – even when you can nip off for a cheeky surf between conferences.
As many people discovered through the pandemic, remote work requires fairly a special mindset than working within the workplace. You want private self-discipline, strong communication expertise, and the flexibility to handle your time successfully with out having a boss trying over your shoulder.
I discover this a lot simpler working alone enterprise that I care deeply about. However, don’t underestimate how completely different the expertise is. In case you aren’t already, get aware of instruments akin to Slack and Groups, and take into account taking on-line programs or enrolling in a training program that will help you upskill.
Analysis Potential Locations
Not all locations are created equal for digital nomads. Some locations (like Thailand and Portugal) are identified for his or her low price of residing, lightning-fast web, welcoming perspective to nomads, and thriving communities of distant employees. Different locations are more difficult.
Choosing the right vacation spot in your way of life and price range could make or break your expertise. Take into accout your individual 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 problem?
Your first vacation spot doesn’t must be excellent. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico once I first began out. It’s a completely gorgeous place, but it surely wasn’t supreme 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 stop your job and absolutely decide to the digital nomad way of life, strive dipping your toes within the water. A brief-term trial run can provide you a style of what it’s wish to work remotely whereas touring, with out the strain of constructing all the pieces excellent right away.
I did this by spending a few weeks in Portugal whereas I used to be nonetheless working at my outdated job. My work was positive with me doing it (it was the summer time of 2020, so distant work was the norm anyway), and I obtained a style of what digital nomadism could be like earlier than going all in.
This will not be doable in your present circumstances, however, when 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 might be to working in a non-traditional atmosphere.
Plan Your Tech and Instruments
Having the precise tech setup is essential relating to engaged on the highway. You’ll want a setup that’s dependable, moveable, and retains you productive (and cozy) regardless of the place you might be on this planet.
My tech stack consists of my MacBook Professional, wi-fi keyboard and mouse, foldable laptop computer stand, noise-canceling headphones, exterior arduous 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 website positioning and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your individual checklist as wanted.
Construct a Assist Community
Being a digital nomad may be isolating at instances, particularly when you’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my associate, however nonetheless, it may be robust 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 may be nice locations to fulfill different like-minded folks. 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 to this point.
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 turning into a web-based entrepreneur and making a location-independent way of life. I want I’d had that form of assist once I began!
Take the Leap
Planning and preparation are important, however in some unspecified time in the future, you’ve simply obtained to go for it. Setting a agency exit date might help you keep targeted and offer you one thing to work towards. With out a clear timeline, it’s simple to get caught within the “planning” part without end.
It should probably really feel like an incredible leap of religion. And it’ll in all probability be riskier than staying in a steady salaried job. However, there’s additionally the danger of trying again in your life and regretting not having tried one thing like this. For me, that will be a far worse end result than my enterprise not figuring out.
Belief in your planning, but in addition settle for that not all the pieces will go completely. And that’s okay – each nomad’s journey is exclusive. Embrace the uncertainty. And bear in mind, if it doesn’t work out, or when you change your thoughts about what you need, the choice to return to a extra “conventional” life will nonetheless be there.
In Conclusion
Changing into a digital nomad is a giant determination, however with the precise planning and mindset, it’s completely achievable. By breaking the method into manageable steps, and following the information I’ve shared right here, you’ll be setting your self up for achievement.
It’s not all the time simple, but it surely’s so value it. Leaving the conformist, hierarchical workplaces and fits of the company world to create a lifetime of freedom and journey was among the best decisions I’ve ever made. It would simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you strive.