Leaving the consolation and wage of a gentle workplace job for the uncertainty of life as a self-employed digital nomad is a big 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 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 instances, however finally, I believe the challenges are well worth the big 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 assist you pull off your personal escape.
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 suggest you do first. This can assist set your self up for achievement, earlier than taking the plunge.
Are you able to stay a distant way of life?
Take the quiz and see if we might help.
Our Creator Kickstarter Teaching Program might be accepting a most of 10 individuals to begin constructing their dream distant way of life. Study extra & see if we might help you obtain your objectives!
Replicate on Your Why and Targets
Earlier than you write your resignation letter, take a step again and ask your self why you wish to change into 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 noticed I needed a way of life that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless offers me readability and motivation to today, and helps me keep targeted when instances get robust.
Write down your objectives – 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 business empire? Having clear aims will assist information your choices 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 very least just a few months of residing bills, plus an emergency fund, and a plan for regular earnings going ahead.
My enterprise took almost a year to begin making any cash. Being in Central America for the primary few months of my nomad life definitely 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 doable. 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’re 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 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 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. For those who aren’t already, get acquainted with instruments resembling Slack and Groups, and think about taking online courses or enrolling in a coaching 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 identified for his or her low price of residing, lightning-fast internet, welcoming angle to nomads, and thriving communities of distant staff. Different locations are more difficult.
Choosing the right vacation spot on your way of life and finances could make or break your expertise. Remember your personal priorities. Would you like year-round sunshine? Quick access to coworking spaces? A low-key vibe or a busy social scene? Rural or city? Is the time zone more likely to be a difficulty?
Your first vacation spot doesn’t need to be excellent. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico once I first began out. It’s a completely gorgeous place, however it wasn’t very best for distant working, with common energy cuts and ropey web. I additionally managed to catch dengue and the flu on the identical time – tough.
Begin With a Trial Run
Earlier than you stop your job and totally decide to the digital nomad way of life, strive dipping your toes within the water. A brief-term trial run may give you a style of what it’s wish to work remotely whereas touring, with out the strain of creating every thing excellent immediately.
I did this by spending a few weeks in Portugal whereas I used to be nonetheless working at my outdated job. My work was high quality with me doing it (it was the summer time of 2020, so distant work was the norm anyway), and I obtained a style of what digital nomadism could be like earlier than going all in.
This is probably not doable in your present circumstances, however, in the event 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’re to working in a non-traditional setting.
Plan Your Tech and Instruments
Having the appropriate tech setup is crucial with regards to engaged on the highway. You’ll want a setup that’s dependable, transportable, and retains you productive (and cozy) irrespective of the place you’re on the planet.
My tech stack contains 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 exploit Google Drive, Zoom, Microsoft Workplace, and varied SEO and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your personal listing as wanted.
Construct a Help Community
Being a digital nomad may be isolating at instances, particularly in the event you’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my associate, however nonetheless, it may be robust generally. Most of our associates are 1,000s of miles away, they usually typically don’t relate to issues we wrestle with on a day-to-day foundation.
That’s why constructing a assist community is so necessary. Coworking areas may be nice locations to fulfill different like-minded individuals. 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 so far.
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 folks from residence may not.
Additionally: Dariece and Nick’s “Creator Kickstarter Program” is designed to information you thru the method of turning into a web-based entrepreneur and making a location-independent way of life. I want I’d had that sort of assist once I began!
Take the Leap
Planning and preparation are important, however in some unspecified time in the future, you’ve simply obtained to go for it. Setting a agency exit date might help you keep targeted and offer you one thing to work towards. With no clear timeline, it’s simple to get caught within the “planning” part ceaselessly.
It’s going to possible really feel like an incredible 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 will be a far worse consequence than my enterprise not understanding.
Belief in your planning, but in addition settle for that not every thing will go completely. And that’s okay – each nomad’s journey is exclusive. Embrace the uncertainty. And keep 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 yourself up for success.
It’s not all the time simple, however 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 the most effective selections I’ve ever made. It’d simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you strive.
