Leaving the consolation and wage of a gentle 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 after I left my job as a lawyer in London.
Total, it was a tremendous resolution and I’m infinitely happier than I used to be earlier than. However, it’s not all roses and sunshine. It may be onerous at occasions, however in the end, I feel the challenges are well worth the big 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 enable you to 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 exterior 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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Replicate on Your Why and Objectives
Earlier than you write your resignation letter, take a step again and ask your self why you wish to turn into a digital nomad. What’s driving this resolution? 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 vital.
For me, it was the frustration of being caught in a inflexible routine, and the stuffiness of the authorized occupation. I spotted I wished a life-style that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless provides me readability and motivation to this present day, and helps me keep centered when occasions get robust.
Write down your targets – each private {and professional}. Do you wish to see particular nations? Study new expertise? A brand new language? Create a sustainable earnings on-line? Construct a mighty enterprise empire? Having clear goals will assist information your selections and hold you motivated.
Construct Monetary Stability and Safety
Cash stress is among the worst elements of being a freelancer. That’s why making a stable monetary security web is important earlier than you hand in your discover. You’ll want financial savings to cowl a minimum of a number of months of dwelling bills, plus an emergency fund, and a plan for regular earnings going ahead.
My enterprise took nearly a 12 months to start out making any cash. Being in Central America for the primary few months of my nomad life actually helped make the cash I had saved go additional. However, if I hadn’t constructed up a pot of financial savings earlier than I give up my job, I’d’ve quickly run out.
Earlier than leaving your job, make a price range, lower pointless bills, and attempt to save as a lot cash as potential. 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 it will likely be.
Develop Distant Work Abilities
One of many issues I 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 throughout the pandemic, distant work requires fairly a unique mindset than working within the workplace. You want private self-discipline, stable communication expertise, and the flexibility 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 completely different the expertise is. In the event you aren’t already, get aware of instruments corresponding to Slack and Groups, and take into account taking on-line programs or enrolling in a training program that can assist 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 price of dwelling, lightning-fast web, welcoming perspective to nomads, and thriving communities of distant staff. Different locations are more difficult.
Choosing the right vacation spot to your life-style and price range could make or break your expertise. Have in mind 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 good. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico after I first began out. It’s a completely gorgeous place, however it wasn’t best 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 give up your job and totally decide to the digital nomad life-style, attempt 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 stress of creating the whole lot good immediately.
I did this by spending a few weeks in Portugal whereas I used to be nonetheless working at my previous job. My work was advantageous with me doing it (it was the summer time of 2020, so distant work was the norm anyway), and I received a style of what digital nomadism can be like earlier than going all in.
This might not be potential 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 kit you do (and don’t) want, and the way well-suited you might be to working in a non-traditional surroundings.
Plan Your Tech and Instruments
Having the fitting tech setup is important in the case of engaged on the highway. You’ll want a setup that’s dependable, transportable, and retains you productive (and cozy) irrespective of the place you might be on the earth.
My tech stack consists of my MacBook Professional, wi-fi keyboard and mouse, foldable laptop computer stand, noise-canceling headphones, exterior onerous 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 numerous search engine marketing and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your individual listing as wanted.
Construct a Help Community
Being a digital nomad might be isolating at occasions, particularly when you’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my companion, however nonetheless, it may be robust typically. Most of our associates 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 might be nice locations to satisfy 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 thus 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 house won’t.
Additionally: Dariece and Nick’s “Creator Kickstarter Program” is designed to information you thru the method of changing into a web-based entrepreneur and making a location-independent life-style. I want I’d had that type of help after I began!
Take the Leap
Planning and preparation are important, however in some unspecified time in the future, you’ve simply received to go for it. Setting a agency exit date might help you keep centered and provide you with one thing to work towards. With no clear timeline, it’s simple to get caught within the “planning” part eternally.
It’s going to doubtless really feel like an amazing leap of religion. And it’ll in all probability be riskier than staying in a steady 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 might be a far worse final result than my enterprise not figuring out.
Belief in your planning, but in addition settle for that not the whole lot 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
Turning into a digital nomad is a giant resolution, however with the fitting planning and mindset, it’s completely achievable. By breaking the method into manageable steps, and following the ideas I’ve shared right here, you’ll be setting your self up for achievement.
It’s not at all times simple, however it’s so value it. Leaving the conformist, hierarchical places of work and fits of the company world to create a lifetime of freedom and journey was probably the greatest decisions I’ve ever made. It’d simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you attempt.
