So you’re thinking of
Leaving the office lifestyle to travel the world with a like-minded group was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Do I plan to go back to the office life? No way!
Life is too short to give up your freedoms, and the freedom of being where you want, when you want, with whom you want, is one most people don’t have when working a job.
Over a year and a half ago I made the leap, and I don’t plan on going back. Here’s a list of the ducks I got in a row before I became a digital nomad.
An unwavering reason to go and not look back.
First, you have to want it.
You have to want it so bad that you know the moment you step on that airplane you wont regret it. This lifestyle is not for everyone.
You have to leave your friends behind, you leave behind your routine, maybe you even have to end a relationship. For me, I left behind the only state I ever lived. I left behind friends, favorite restaurants, great salsa dancing spots and events, the comfort and security of the life I had built myself.
So why did I go?
I was putting distance between me and an ex where things didn’t work out. Personal growth was a big one on my list. Traveling the world was another big one, as well as finding a group of like-minded people.
A means to sustain yourself. Travel isn’t cheap!
Let’s face is, traveling on a budget isn’t easy. Not only do you have to pay for rent, food, transportation, but flights as well! And if you’re planning to join one of the AWESOME digital nomad groups like WiFi Tribe or Hacker Paradise, then your rent might be just as much if not more than what you’re already paying.
So unless you plan on burning through your savings, you’ll want to have an income. Now, notice I did say “a job”, I said “an income.”
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since traveling is there are so many other ways to make money than having a traditional job. If you quit your job today, what could you do? You have skills, which you could freelance. You have knowledge, which you could sell. You know of problems in your field of work, you could build your own product and sell it.
Or heck, maybe you are really good at online poker and can sustain yourself that way. I’ve met people who do!
A minimalistic life (especially when it comes to clothes)
From personal experience, I can say its best to carry all your belongs when you’re a digital nomad.
This means backpacks, not suitcases. It also means only bringing with you the very minimum you need. Choosing between comfort and portability is a decision you’ll face over and over.
How many pairs of socks do you take? What about underwear? Shrits? Pants? How often are you okay doing laundry?
Personally I do laundry once a week if not more, and carry just enough clothes to get me through a week. In the past, I’ve worn some clothes twice before washing them, or even washed clothes in the shower if I needed them sooner rather than later. You do what you have to do.
And that’s just clothes…then there’s any equipment you need for work and/or fun. For example I carry some tech gear for work but ask for as little as possible. Some friends pack drones for fun or cameras for photography.
Whatever you want to do while traveling, make sure you can carry all the things needed to do all the things you want. If you can’t, it’d be a good idea to leave some behind and re-think your hobbies while abroad.
Bags to carry everything.
Expanding on #3 above, you want to be able to CARRY everything.
In Ecuador, the town we stayed in didn’t have paved roads. They were dirt roads, and when it rained, they were mud roads. Not to mention the potholes all over the place.
Would you want to wheel your luggage from one place to the next through muddy roads while its raining? I didn’t think so. Carrying them through that weather though, isn’t so bad.
Also think about carrying your gear around cities, up and down stairs, through crowded airports. Its much better to carry.
Even better than simply being able to carry all your gear is being able to carry-on your gear when you fly. NO MORE waiting to drop off or pick up check bags! When you travel often this saves you a ton of time. Plus, no more worrying about if YOUR bag got on YOUR plane and if it’ll be in there when you get off.
Its so nice to not have to worry. Carry your bags, and better yet, carry on your bags.
A destination with WiFi.
As a digital nomad, the “digial” part is key. In the US, we’re used to having good wifi in most places. We definitely have strong wifi at home so we can watch our favorite shows on Netflix, and we even enjoy fast wifi at our local coffee shop.
Findind good, reliable, wifi isn’t so easy when you’re abroad. In order to ensure you have a seemless move from one place to the next, do some research on wifi speeds in that area. See where others go and where they stay.
You can use a site like nomadlist.com when looking at ciites, or if you’re renting an AirBnb, ask your host to run a speed test and if internet speeds can be upgraded.
A plane ticket.
You’re almsot ready to go!
Buying this plane ticket is a committment that your life will never be the same again. Traveling internationally, heck even traveling nationally, while still supporting yourself is an AWESOME feeling. Its even better when you’re surrounded by others all doing the same.
There are many different websites for looking at plane tickets. Choose a few favorites for comparison and start looking at what’s available.
It helps to know what days of the week and times of day you can travel. When I started, still working a 9-5, I only traveled on the weekends. (Note that its more expensive to fly on weekends.)
If you have more flexibility, you can just jump on the cheapest flight. Though MANY cheap flights have more stops and long layovers. I’d recommend finding the best flight that balances price, total travel duration, and departure/arrival time.
Bonus Tip: Three Months Planned
You know the best part of being a digital nomad? Being in a completely different country with other like-minded people, enjoying what the city has to offer. The more time you spend enjoying yourself the better.
That’s why I recommend planning your trips a few months at a time.
The less time you spend planning in paradise, the better 🙂
It takes a lot of time and energy to choose where to go, how you’re going to get there, where you’re going to stay, etc, every single month. A month goes by FAST. Trust me.
You’ll have to find a balance between planning and spontanaity.
Do you want to move every month for the next three months? Or do you want to be in one spot for three months? Think about it and make your plans.
