Long-term global travel and remote work doesn’t have to be just a dream. You can sway your 9 to 5 job for a life of adventure where you work from a cafe in Bali one week and enjoy sushi in Japan the next.
This guide will help you achieve a location-independent lifestyle. Discover practical considerations and how to manage work while traveling the world.
If you want a location-independent lifestyle, connectivity isn’t just a convenience. You need connectivity to upload your latest blog post or attend a virtual meeting from a mountain lodge in Peru.
While you need to stay connected, the last thing you want is to go back to expensive data roaming at home. That’s where eSIM with global connection is a must-have before you start your digital nomad lifestyle.
When you have an eSIM, you don’t need to worry about data roaming charges or missing a virtual meeting since you will always be connected irrespective of the country you’re visiting.
Social media gives us the joys and thrills of being a digital nomad but not the struggles. Travel bloggers and freelancers make it look easy. The truth is, living a location-independent life isn’t a walk in the park.
Being a digital nomad doesn’t happen overnight. You need to plan, and it requires a lot of work. Here are some of the things to keep in mind when you are preparing for a location-independent life.
If you have a travel bug, the first thing you should do to actualize your dream is to build a location-independent career. Start by accessing your interests and skills to discover your areas of expertise.
Whether it’s graphic design, marketing or writing, consider tasks that you enjoy and build your remote career around your interests.
Build your skills in your areas of interest and start looking for remote gigs and jobs or start a business. You may need to upskill often to keep up with the changing digital landscape.
Your travel adventures will be fun if you don’t have to worry about your living expenses and leisure costs. That’s why you need a steady income before you start your location-independent lifestyle.
Save some cash before you get on a plane that can last you three months. That way, you won’t have to worry about going broke in a foreign country. It does help to live on a shoestring budget and keep your monthly expenses to a minimum.
Remember, you have monthly expenses like:
Essentially, you need a budget of between $1,000 and $2,000 monthly for living expenses. However, depending on the economy of the region, some countries can be a little expensive or cheaper for nomads.
In some countries, you can get away with living on a tourist visa, but it’s illegal in some countries. You should look into long-term digital nomad visas, which allow you to stay longer than a tourist visa and work remotely.
You’ll want to keep tax implications in mind and follow each country’s entry and exit rules to avoid trouble with immigration. While you can country-hop to your heart’s content, keep the logistical considerations in mind to avoid unwarranted penalties.
With your remote career flourishing, it’s time to start your location-independent lifestyle. The trick is to sustain the lifestyle long-term and enjoy the freedom that comes with it. Some of the practical considerations for global living, include:
When you live a stone’s throw from the beach, the temptation to go for an early morning dip will always win over attending a work meeting. Since you need a steady income, it may be wise to establish a productive remote work routine.
To maintain a healthy routine, you need to wake up consistently despite the time zone changes. Using time planners, it’s also a good idea to designate work blocks for focused effort. Since you are working in a vacation destination, set aside time for adventures.
Whether you take an evening stroll at the food market or spend the day hiking a mountain, the downtime from your work boosts your productivity.
If you’re a solo traveler, some destinations are friendly to remote workers and could be a great place to start your new lifestyle. All you need to do is book long-term housing, which you can easily find on Airbnb before you travel or find a place when you get there.
If you don’t have a budget, it’s easy to splurge when you’re on the road, especially on accommodation and utilities. Always live within or below your means to ensure you save enough money for your next travel adventure.
It is crucial to guarantee your health and well-being on your remote work journey. Traveling to foreign countries can be scary, especially if it’s your first time.
Hence, you need to take steps to stay safe, such as keeping your belongings safe and having health and safety resources at your fingertips. For instance, get travel health insurance and read about potential scams in the area.
You’re probably itching to start your remote work journey already, but here are a few things to note when you move to a new country.
Life as a solo traveler can be boring, and you will sometimes feel lonely and isolated from the rest of the world. If you live in a digital nomad city, you have numerous opportunities to network, but it can be scary to walk up to strangers to introduce yourself.
However, if you focus on the amazing friendships that you’ll develop, it’s much easier than you thought.
Of course, let’s discuss financial management as a remote worker and nomad. Affording your living expenses is not enough; you must also save money and invest.
Start with building an emergency fund for your living and travel expenses. When you have enough savings, you can start investing the money to grow your finances.
A location-independent lifestyle seems luxurious, but you’ll find yourself in various situations that throw you off balance.
It will test your patience and emotional resilience, and without a positive mindset, you’ll be tempted to go back home. The lifestyle isn’t for the faint-hearted, but you will grow into a better version of yourself.
When you have everything on hand, from visas to accommodation and a remote career, it’s time for your adventure. Aside from the physical preparations, you need to prepare yourself mentally for the lifestyle.
