A No-Nonsense Guide on How to Become a Digital Nomad
7 steps to building your ideal remote working lifestyle
In 2007, Tim Ferriss called digital nomads the “New Rich.”
In this context, remote work, financial freedom, and purpose-driven activities are key to becoming part of this select group of “21st-century rockstars.”
On paper, it sounds like the real deal.
Many people, however, question the practical feasibility.
How can an unfulfilled cubicle employee achieve location-independence, travel full-time, and work from anywhere?
In short, how can the average Joe become a digital nomad?
In 2016, I started my first online business — a now obsolete travel blog. Two years later, I was making good money through the blog, freelance writing, and investments I had made.
In 2019, I quit my corporate job, sold all of my stuff, and set off to travel the world full-time. Through a lot of trial and error, I made the lifestyle work.
I started several other businesses, became financially independent, and visited over 50 countries.
That’s the short version.
In truth, my digital nomad lifestyle was years in the making before taking shape.
It took several years of preparation, hard work, and persistence until digital nomadism became a viable option.
During that process, I implemented seven essential steps. Those steps were the prerequisites for full-time travel, and they ensured the lifestyle’s continuous success.
On this basis, here is a no-nonsense guide on how to become a digital nomad.
7 steps to building your ideal remote working lifestyle
If you are serious about working remotely, you can’t just travel to Tulum and expect everything to work out.
A successful digital nomad lifestyle takes preparation, the right attitude, and smart decisions.
The following are seven steps to building a successful remote working lifestyle.
Step 1: Have the right attitude
First and foremost, remote work requires a certain mindset.
You need to identify your goals, reasons for becoming a digital nomad, and risks.
Digital nomadism is not a gap year or a backpacking adventure. It is an alternative lifestyle that combines work with traveling and demands certain sacrifices.
Before envisioning yourself sipping cocktails on a beach in Bali, assess your priorities.
Is traveling the world your sole goal? Are you trying to escape problems at home? Or do you have a professional project that you could easily do remotely?
To become a successful digital nomad, you need to plan your lifestyle around remote work, not the other way around.
Consequently, the attitude you need is the following: I want a job/business/professional project that excites me. After succeeding in that professional context, I want to travel full-time and work remotely.
As such, a digital nomad lifestyle is the result of remote professional success.
Professional success precedes the lifestyle and renders it viable. That’s what many people get wrong about digital nomadism.
You don’t start traveling the world, and then professional success magically appears.
You earn professional prosperity — on the road or at home — and build your lifestyle around it.
Step 2: Find a job that you can do remotely
For many aspiring nomads, finding remote work is the greatest challenge.
There are two possibilities.
You can either start a business that you can manage remotely or become a remote employee.
Both options allow you to travel full-time, but their feasibility depends on several factors.
I took the entrepreneurial route. Many of my digital nomad friends, however, work remotely for large corporations.
In this day and age, remote working arrangements are highly prevalent, and the trend is here to stay.
According to a recent Business Insider survey, most tech giants are planning to make their current remote work arrangements permanent, and lots of other industries are following suit.
To clarify your options, here are a few qualities you need to become a remote entrepreneur:
- an already flourishing business that you can manage remotely; or
- a promising business idea and a willingness to take the risk;
- flexibility in terms of hours and commitments. Sometimes, you will miss travel opportunities because your business requires urgent action; and
- frugality and financial foresight.
Running a business remotely — like entrepreneurship in general — is not for everyone.
Luckily, you don’t have to be a fully-fledged entrepreneur to become a digital nomad today.
In this context, the following are some conditions to travel full-time as an employee:
- your employer allows remote working arrangements;
- you’re responsible and diligent enough to stay productive on the road;
- your communication skills are on point;
- you’re ready to work flexible hours because of varying time zones; and
- you can deal with travel hiccups so that they don’t interfere with work.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to your current professional situation, entrepreneurial ambitions, and personality.
You don’t need to master all these skills in your first year as a nomad, but they are critical to thriving in the long haul.
Step 3: Reduce location-reliant commitments and ties
Now that you’ve decided to become a digital nomad — with the right attitude, and found a remote working arrangement, it’s time to minimize location ties.
Location ties are all the commitments and activities that you cannot perform remotely.
As an example, you might be a member of sports clubs, charities, and professional organizations that require physical presence.
In every scenario, you have to assess which ones would prevent you from traveling full-time.
Personally, two out of three charities I was a member of didn’t allow remote administration. I had to give up my position in the first two, but I kept working in the third. Luckily, I was able to find suitable replacements.
It’s here where you’ll first encounter the sacrifices and prioritization needed to become a digital nomad.
Step 4: Plan your work routine and finances
The next step is to come up with a work routine that you can sustain on the road.
In practice, you need work systems that function anywhere in the world. They also have to account for inevitable travel setbacks.
It takes a lot of time and practice to come up with a productive remote working routine. That’s why you should establish your systems before setting off.
Identify essential activities that secure your output no matter the location. Automate as much as possible. And most importantly, separate your productivity-furthering habits from your current office or working environment.
A great way to test your routine for travel suitability is to work remotely from a neighboring city for a month.
The second part of this step concerns your finances.
When I tell people about my travels and working arrangements, they always ask how much my lifestyle costs.
The answer isn’t straightforward. It depends on my travel activities, current nomad base, and general consumption.
As a minimalist, I don’t buy a lot of material stuff, and most of my expenses come from Airbnbs and transport.
As such, I don’t spend more than 1,500 dollars during most months.
It’s a variable figure, but it’s what a digital nomad lifestyle without too many sacrifices but little luxury costs in Asia or Latin America.
In more expensive regions, I would budget at least 2,000–2,500 dollars a month.
Now, that’s my budget. Yours could be more or less, and you could have different priorities.
The main point is to find out how much your nomadism will cost and set your budget accordingly before committing to the lifestyle.
Step 5: Sort out administrative problems
Much like organizing your work and finances, resolving administrative hurdles is a critical step to becoming a digital nomad.
To travel full-time, you need the proper administrative framework in place.
Sort out future tax statuses, healthcare plans, and residency commitments.
Check the laws on remote work in your country and organize travel-related necessities like a passport and vaccinations.
In practice, the easiest way to clear out these administrative hurdles is to retain a primary residence in your current location and keep an administrative link.
It naturally depends on the laws, but in my case, I officially live, pay taxes, and enjoy universal healthcare in Luxembourg, my country of origin. I own a room in a shared house and rent it out during my travels.
However, my business doesn’t require an office or employees in Luxembourg, making remote management a piece of cake.
In terms of healthcare, I contribute to the local health system and pay extra travel insurance.
That way, the insurance covers my costs anywhere in the world without changing my home country status.
All of these administrative specificities differ from country to country. It is, therefore, critical to get everything sorted before setting off.
Step 6: Minimalize your possessions and get the right digital nomad gear
Administrative obstacles out of the way, it’s time to declutter your possessions.
Digital nomadism doesn’t equal hardcore minimalism, but most remote workers don’t want a ton of useless stuff lying around somewhere in their home town.
Before starting my digital nomad odyssey, I got rid of around 70% of my possessions. I donated and sold most of my clothes, electronics, and other items that I didn’t need.
I now travel full-time with two 45L bags.
Everything that I don’t take with me stays in a closet back home. Those things include winter clothes (because I mostly travel in warm regions), my collection of books, and a few sentimental items.
Aside from decluttering your current possessions, this step also includes getting the right digital nomad gear.
You may not have traveled much before. In this case, getting the right travel essentials like bags, electronics, and versatile clothes is crucial before setting off.
Step 7: Research potential first bases
Congratulations, you’re very close to achieving your ideal travel lifestyle.
Before booking the first one-way ticket, however, you need to do your research.
Choosing the right nomad base is paramount, especially for first-timers.
Start with a city that fulfills the following criteria:
- connectivity and infrastructure;
- safety and livability;
- cost of living for nomads;
- suitable visa requirements;
- tourist sights and culinary appeal; and
- presence of remote workers.
The main point is that you are looking for a nomad base, not a holiday destination.
Don’t choose your first nomad base because it looks great on Instagram. Don’t book flights to your favorite surfing town. And don’t just opt for the cheapest destination.
Once you’ve decided on your first nomad base, it’s time to take on this incredible adventure.
Book your flights and start a new lifestyle — you earned it!
