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 once I left my job as a lawyer in London.
Total, it was an incredible resolution 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 occasions, however finally, I feel the challenges are definitely worth the large upsides.
Listed below are the steps that helped me go from office-bound and depressing to location-independent and free. The following pointers all come from my very own private expertise. I hope they’re helpful and enable you to pull off your personal 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 suggest you do first. It will assist set your self up for achievement, earlier than taking the plunge.
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Replicate on Your Why and Targets
Earlier than you write your resignation letter, take a step again and ask your self why you need to turn out to be 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 today, and helps me keep centered when occasions get robust.
Write down your objectives – each private {and professional}. Do you need to see particular nations? Be taught new expertise? A brand new language? Create a sustainable revenue 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 components of being a freelancer. That’s why making a strong monetary security web is important earlier than you hand in your discover. You’ll want financial savings to cowl at the very least 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 begin 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, minimize 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 is going to be.
Develop Distant Work Abilities
One of many issues I really 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 in all probability have to spend a big chunk of your time working – even in case you can nip off for a cheeky surf between conferences.
As many people discovered in the course of the pandemic, remote work requires fairly a special mindset than working within the workplace. You want private self-discipline, strong communication expertise, and the power to handle your time successfully with out having a boss trying over your shoulder.
I discover this a lot simpler working by myself enterprise that I care deeply about. However, don’t underestimate how totally different the expertise is. Should you aren’t already, get conversant in instruments corresponding 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 residing, lightning-fast web, welcoming perspective to nomads, and thriving communities of distant employees. Different locations are tougher.
Choosing the right vacation spot in your life-style and price range could make or break your expertise. Take into accout your personal priorities. Would you like year-round sunshine? Easy accessibility 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 beautiful place, nevertheless it wasn’t best 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 give up your job and absolutely 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 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 previous job. My work was wonderful with me doing it (it was the summer time of 2020, so distant work was the norm anyway), and I acquired a style of what digital nomadism can be like earlier than going all in.
This might not be potential in your present circumstances, however, in case you do get the chance to do a trial run like this, I’d extremely suggest 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 atmosphere.
Plan Your Tech and Instruments
Having the precise 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 comfy) irrespective of the place you might be on this planet.
My tech stack contains 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 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 personal checklist as wanted.
Construct a Help Community
Being a digital nomad might be isolating at occasions, particularly in case you’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my associate, however nonetheless, it may be robust typically. Most of our mates are 1,000s of miles away, they usually usually don’t relate to issues we wrestle 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 individuals. I’ve made mates 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, suggest instruments that work for them, and even collaborate with you on tasks. It’s additionally nice to have the ability to share your experiences with individuals who “get” it, as your pals from residence won’t.
Additionally: Dariece and Nick’s “Distant Goats” teaching 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 form of help once 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 can assist you keep centered and offer you one thing to work towards. And not using a clear timeline, it’s simple to get caught within the “planning” part endlessly.
It would 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 might be a far worse final 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 in case 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 an enormous resolution, however with the precise 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, nevertheless it’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 among the finest selections I’ve ever made. It would simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you attempt.