Leaving the consolation and wage of a gradual 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 determination and I’m infinitely happier than I used to be earlier than. However, it’s not all roses and sunshine. It may be laborious at occasions, however in the end, I believe 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 make it easier to pull off your personal 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 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 out to be 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 career. I spotted I needed a way of life that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless offers me readability and motivation to at the present time, and helps me keep centered when occasions get powerful.
Write down your targets – each private {and professional}. Do you wish to see particular nations? Be taught new abilities? A brand new language? Create a sustainable revenue on-line? Construct a mighty enterprise empire? Having clear aims will assist information your selections and maintain you motivated.
Construct Monetary Stability and Safety
Cash stress is among the worst elements 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 least a couple 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 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 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 have to have already constructed up a enterprise to the purpose of profitability earlier than you hit the street, 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 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 have to spend a big chunk of your time working – even in the event you can nip off for a cheeky surf between conferences.
As many people realized through 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 trying 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. Should you aren’t already, get accustomed to instruments equivalent 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 price of dwelling, lightning-fast web, welcoming perspective to nomads, and thriving communities of distant staff. Different locations are tougher.
Selecting the correct vacation spot on your life-style and finances could make or break your expertise. Have in mind your personal 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 need to be excellent. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico after 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 the flu on the similar time – tough.
Begin With a Trial Run
Earlier than you stop 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 constructing every part excellent right away.
I did this by spending a few weeks in Portugal whereas I used to be nonetheless working at my outdated job. My work was fantastic with me doing it (it was the summer season 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 is probably not potential in your present circumstances, however, in the event 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 equipment 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 appropriate tech setup is vital in the case of engaged on the street. You’ll want a setup that’s dependable, transportable, and retains you productive (and cozy) irrespective of the place you might be on this planet.
My tech stack consists of my MacBook Professional, wi-fi keyboard and mouse, foldable laptop computer stand, noise-canceling headphones, exterior laborious 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 optimization and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your personal checklist as wanted.
Construct a Assist Community
Being a digital nomad will be isolating at occasions, particularly in the event you’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my companion, however nonetheless, it may be powerful typically. Most of our pals 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 assist community is so vital. Coworking areas will be nice locations to fulfill different like-minded folks. I’ve made pals 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, 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 may not.
Additionally: Dariece and Nick’s “Creator Kickstarter Program” is designed to information you thru the method of turning into an internet entrepreneur and making a location-independent life-style. I want I’d had that form of assist after I began!
Take the Leap
Planning and preparation are important, however sooner or later, you’ve simply received to go for it. Setting a agency exit date can assist you keep centered and provide you with one thing to work towards. And not using a clear timeline, it’s simple to get caught within the “planning” section ceaselessly.
It can possible really feel like an amazing leap of religion. And it’ll most likely 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 end result than my enterprise not figuring out.
Belief in your planning, but additionally settle for that not every part 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 the event 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 determination, however with the appropriate 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 all the time simple, nevertheless it’s so price it. Leaving the conformist, hierarchical workplaces and fits of the company world to create a lifetime of freedom and journey was probably the greatest selections I’ve ever made. It’d simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you attempt.
