Leaving the consolation and wage of a gentle workplace job for the uncertainty of life as a self-employed digital nomad is a big change, each personally and professionally. I did it myself in 2021 after I left my job as a lawyer in London.
Total, it was a tremendous 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 in the end, I feel the challenges are well worth the large upsides.
Listed here 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 assist you pull off your individual escape.
Easy methods 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 may assist set your self up for achievement, earlier than taking the plunge.
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Mirror on Your Why and Objectives
Earlier than you write your resignation letter, take a step again and ask your self why you need to develop into a digital nomad. What’s driving this determination? Whether or not it’s the liberty to discover new locations, the prospect 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 way of life that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless provides me readability and motivation to today, and helps me keep centered when instances get robust.
Write down your targets – each private {and professional}. Do you need to see particular nations? Study new abilities? 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 without doubt one of the worst components of being a freelancer. That’s why making a strong monetary security internet is crucial earlier than you hand in your discover. You’ll want financial savings to cowl at the very least a number of months of dwelling bills, plus an emergency fund, and a plan for regular revenue going ahead.
My enterprise took nearly a 12 months to begin 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’d’ve quickly run out.
Earlier than leaving your job, make a finances, lower pointless bills, and attempt to save as a lot cash as potential. You don’t must have already constructed up a enterprise to the purpose of profitability earlier than you hit the highway, however the nearer you’re to this stage, the much less dangerous it is going to be.
Develop Distant Work Expertise
One of many issues I like most about being a digital nomad is the power to journey as a lot as you want. However, prefer it or not, you’ll nonetheless most likely must spend a big chunk of your time working – even should you can nip off for a cheeky surf between conferences.
As many people realized in the course of the pandemic, distant work requires fairly a distinct mindset than working within the workplace. You want private self-discipline, strong communication abilities, and the power to handle your time successfully with out having a boss wanting over your shoulder.
I discover this a lot simpler working alone enterprise that I care deeply about. However, don’t underestimate how totally 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 recognized for his or her low value of dwelling, lightning-fast web, welcoming angle to nomads, and thriving communities of distant staff. Different locations are tougher.
Selecting the correct vacation spot to your way of life and finances could make or break your expertise. Take note 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 more likely to be a problem?
Your first vacation spot doesn’t must be excellent. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico after I first began out. It’s a fully beautiful place, but it surely wasn’t superb for distant working, with common energy cuts and ropey web. I additionally managed to catch dengue and the flu on the similar time – tough.
Begin With a Trial Run
Earlier than you stop your job and totally decide to the digital nomad way of life, strive dipping your toes within the water. A brief-term trial run may give you a style of what it’s prefer to work remotely whereas touring, with out the strain of creating all the pieces excellent immediately.
I did this by spending a number of weeks in Portugal whereas I used to be nonetheless working at my outdated job. My work was wonderful with me doing it (it was the summer season of 2020, so distant work was the norm anyway), and I acquired a style of what digital nomadism could be like earlier than going all in.
This is probably not potential in your present circumstances, however, should 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 kit you do (and don’t) want, and the way well-suited you’re to working in a non-traditional atmosphere.
Plan Your Tech and Instruments
Having the best tech setup is essential in the case of engaged on the highway. You’ll want a setup that’s dependable, transportable, and retains you productive (and comfy) irrespective of the place you’re on the 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 neglect software program subscriptions, too. I exploit Google Drive, Zoom, Microsoft Workplace, and varied search engine optimisation and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your individual record as wanted.
Construct a Assist Community
Being a digital nomad will be isolating at instances, particularly should you’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my accomplice, however nonetheless, it may be robust typically. Most of our buddies are 1,000s of miles away, they usually typically don’t relate to issues we battle with on a day-to-day foundation.
That’s why constructing a help community is so essential. Coworking areas will be nice locations to satisfy different like-minded individuals. I’ve made buddies 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 so far.
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 pals from dwelling may not.
Additionally: Dariece and Nick’s “Creator Kickstarter 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 help after I began!
Take the Leap
Planning and preparation are important, however sooner or later, you’ve simply acquired to go for it. Setting a agency exit date might help you keep centered and offer you one thing to work towards. With out a clear timeline, it’s straightforward to get caught within the “planning” part eternally.
It’s going to seemingly really feel like an incredible leap of religion. And it’ll most likely be riskier than staying in a secure salaried job. However, there’s additionally the chance of wanting again in your life and regretting not having tried one thing like this. For me, that may be a far worse final result than my enterprise not understanding.
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 should 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 best 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 at all times straightforward, but it surely’s so price it. Leaving the conformist, hierarchical places of work and fits of the company world to create a lifetime of freedom and journey was top-of-the-line decisions I’ve ever made. It’d simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you strive.
