avatarSamantha Scott

Summary

The article provides essential tips for individuals embarking on a digital nomad lifestyle, emphasizing minimalism, productivity, and immersive travel experiences.

Abstract

The web content serves as a guide for aspiring digital nomads, offering practical advice to ease the transition into a location-independent lifestyle. It suggests packing lightly to ensure mobility, finding suitable workspaces that balance comfort and productivity, establishing a consistent routine to maintain work-life balance, embracing slow travel to deeply experience new cultures, planning with flexibility to accommodate changes, and living in a way that aligns with personal values and enjoyment. The article also recommends leveraging long-stay discounts through platforms like RemoteBase.co for accommodation, and encourages readers to take the leap into nomadic living by starting with a two-month trial period.

Opinions

  • The author advocates for minimalism in packing, considering a laptop bag and a small suitcase as sufficient for most digital nomads.
  • Workspaces should be chosen based on practicality rather than the glamorous portrayal of remote work on social media; cafes and co-working spaces are preferred over outdoor settings like beaches.
  • Establishing a routine is crucial for productivity, and nomads should work during their most productive hours, whether they are morning people or night owls.
  • Slow travel is endorsed as a means to live like a local, avoid burnout, and fully engage with different cultures.
  • Flexibility in planning is important, and the author suggests booking accommodations two months in advance to benefit from long-stay discounts.
  • The author expresses a personal preference for living in Airbnbs due to convenience and the sense of home it provides.
  • The article encourages readers to embrace the digital nomad lifestyle by taking action and experiencing it firsthand, with the understanding that it may not be for everyone but is worth exploring.

DIGITAL NOMAD | LIFESTYLE

First-Time Digital Nomad? 7 Tips To Succeed At Your New Life.

How to really get going as a Digital Nomad.

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

But where do I even start? What do I need? Where do I book accommodation?

Photo by Jason Strull on Unsplash

So many things to think about.

Don’t panic — It’s easier than you think!

If you’re a remote worker ready to hop from country to country but have no idea where to start, here are 6 of the best tips to help you. Plus a bonus tip if you make it to the bottom.

It’s time to get started on your nomad journey.

1. Pack Light

A laptop bag and a small suitcase are all you really need. Limiting your baggage will make it way easier to move around freely. No waiting around for luggage at the airport.

Whilst some nomads may disagree here, and tell you that you need lots of work equipment, I beg to differ. Your laptop, charger and a good pair of headphones are sufficient to get a good days work, done.

Providing you’ve got good wifi, you’re ready to work from anywhere.

Of course, there are the benefits to having a laptop stand, extra screen, portable keyboard but you can build on that in future months.

For now, just focus on packing light!

2. Find a Workspace

I’m sorry to tell you that travelling the world is not always glamorous. Just because Instagram shows you everyone working from the beach whilst living the life of luxury — this isn’t always possible.

Laptops don’t do too well in the heat. You’ll soon realise how annoying it is to have the sun shining down on your screen and how little work you’re getting done.

A quiet cafe with good coffee is my go-to. Find a workspace that suits you best, this could be a co-work, cafe or your accommodation.

3. Create a Routine

Create a routine that works for you and stick to it.

As great as it sounds to roam around a new city all day every day, you’ve got to pay bills and so, you will actually need to get some work done.

If you manage your own hours or have a flexible working policy, find a routine that works for you. If you’re a night owl then be a tourist during the day and allocate hours in the evening to work.

You’ll create your best work during your most productive hours so find them and make it work for you.

4. Travel Slow

This is the way forward. Spending longer periods of time in various locations allows for your newly created routine to develop into a habit, live like a local and experience what it truly means to live in that place.

Slow Travel is a way of life that gets you thinking of travel differently. It lets you recharge, avoid travel fatigue and just be.

It allows you to dive headfirst into new cultures and meet locals. Travelling slow means you can prioritise experiences over tourist attractions.

5. Plan A Little

You’ll likely have lists and lists of places you want to visit and people to see all over the world but when living nomadically, as much as it would be great to plan every part of the way, you should also leave room for flexibility and changes along your journey.

In terms of booking accommodation, I usually book this 2 months in advance, using platforms like RemoteBase.co to benefit from the long-stay discounts. RemoteBase sources all of the best deals for long term stays, perfect for nomad living.

I find that living out of Airbnbs is the most convenient way for me to live.

6. Live Your Best Life

You do you. Try to understand what you want from this experience but by all means don’t rush. Living nomadically means you get to call anywhere in the world, your home — the world is your oyster!

Appreciate every moment.

Remember if you don’t manage to see everything you want, you can always extend your trip or return, so don’t rush, appreciate all the small things and make your own journey.

Photo by Philipp Kämmerer on Unsplash

For me, the idea of being location independent is freedom. Having the opportunity to roam free in the world with no constraints is truly what makes my life of travel an ongoing, amazing journey and adventure. Through the use of Airbnb, I have the ability to call anywhere, my home.

7. Bonus Tip: Just Do it!

Book somewhere for 2 months and live as a local would. You’ll never know if the lifestyle is for you or not if you don’t make the first move…

So, what are you waiting for?

The world is waiting for you!

If you enjoy reading stories like this and you want to support me, why not consider signing up for a Medium membership? It will only cost you $5 a month — and you’ll get access to all stories on Medium!

If you use this link, I will earn a small part of that, otherwise, if you want to stay updated when I share a new story, you can signup here, for my free newsletter!

If you liked this article, here are some other articles I know you will enjoy:

Lifestyle Design
Life Hacking
Remote Work
Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Mindset
Recommended from ReadMedium