Collection: Digital Nomad – Making the World Your Office Digital Nomad - Making the World Your OfficeUltimate Considerations Before Becoming a Digital Nomad in 2023December 17, 2022The term “digital nomad” has gone mainstream in the past couple of years with people dreaming of travelling the world, working as they go. It’s a fantastic idea and if you work in a field that can be performed remotely it is certainly possible. Before you pack your bags read on – this article covers what you may want to consider before becoming a digital nomad in 2023. by Jessica Dale Reading Time: 5 minutes Ensure you can Actually Generate Money Remotely as a Digital Nomad Whilst this may seem fairly obvious it is also the key principle on what separates a digital nomad to your average traveller. The ability to make money remotely will allow you to travel for much longer. If you are going to be employed by a company that is fine with you working remotely then great – be sure that your company allows location independent working though as the term “remote working” has become broadly used these days and the company may not be set up for network access from certain continents or countries. It may not want to navigate the potential tax issues. It is always a good idea to check with them beforehand. If you are going to be generating your own income ensure your skills can be performed remotely from anywhere and that you are not not going to trigger any tax residency laws. Websites like Fiver and Upwork are considered a good source of income for freelancers but can be oversaturated with competition. Do your research if this is how you plan to earn. Have an Rough Idea For Your Journey Duration OK so this is one of those things that may need a little context. Having a rough idea on how long you will be travelling does not necessarily mean a specific time. I merely mean if you plan to travel for under a year your plans, budget, ideas etc would be vastly different to travelling for potentially multiple years. As an example when I was preparing to leave the UK I planned to be away for a long amount of time and as such I knew to prepare a large bag to accommodate a variety of clothes, tech, essentials etc whilst leaving room for potential future purchases I would pick up along the way. Having an idea means you can pack and organise appropriately. Choose Where You Want to go and Research This one closely relates to the previous point, choosing the location(s) where you want to go must be a decision based on the proposed duration of travel, budget and personal interests. Next step research the following areas: Country/Area stability How safe is the area potentially going to be for foreigners? Is there political unrest? Individual Safety Look at yourself as an individual and research any potential factors in that location that may contribute to an unsafe environment? For example if you are a solo female traveller is the area safe for women? Culture What is the local culture and how would you respect it? The last thing you would want to do is offend somebody in their country. Certain cultures find various everyday gestures rude such as pointing in the direction or shaking hands using the left hand are just some examples of this. Cost of Living This is a fairly obvious one but it always pays to double check. Just because somewhere is in a country that has a reputation for being does not mean that every area is cheap. Local Applications Think about the applications you use currently in your home country. Taxi applications, food delivery apps and loyalty apps can vary across the world. Research these and if possible have them downloaded and set up ready for when you arrive. Local scams Unfortunately in most countries there is petty crime, scams and cons can vary from country to country. Researching the country and potential common scams in the area you are staying in can help you maintain a positive experience. As you can see performing a bit of research can greatly benefit you on the small things and help you avoid certain negative experiences. This step should be an essential part of anybody’s preparation. Research and Embrace the Downsides of the Digital Nomad Life Travelling the world, seeing the sights and experiencing other cultures sounds amazing doesn’t it? Whilst there are certainly the positives to travelling the world as a digital nomad it does not come without its downsides. For example, did you know that loneliness is one of the most commonly stated downsides among travelers? To be well prepared before starting your journey be sure to read our article about the downsides of digital nomad life and be aware of them. If possible make plans to negate these as much as possible to give you the best experience on your journey. Save, Save, Save Again I am not trying to state the obvious here but going with a reasonable amount of savings that you can access creates a good safety net should anything go wrong. Savings ensure that you can always get back to your home country where you may have additional support should the worst case scenario hit. Fan only rooms can have free standing fans or ceiling ones which (we have found out from experience) are manageable for a couple of days but any longer and you can become somewhat sticky to say the least. Even if the aircon is listed in the description of the room you’re looking at, it’s always good practice to inspect the room photos to get an idea of the age of the unit just in case. Required Vaccinations Parts of the world are more prone to various diseases and viruses than others and if the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us anything then checking the vaccinations you require should be of a priority. If you are heading to less developed parts of the world than the chances are it is a wise idea to know what shots to get. Depending on your country’s health care system you may not even have to pay for a lot of them if at all but they come in very handy in generally staying healthy abroad.... Seeking Accommodation – Basic Checks and Best Advice For Warm ClimatesDecember 17, 2022It’s easy to jump onto any old booking site and go for the cheap and cheerful option but when it comes to seeking accommodation in a warmer climate, it’s worth taking a moment to consider a few factors that could make your stay a lot more comfortable. Below we have highlighted some of the most important things we have learned in our reservation and accommodation experience. by Jake Roswell Reading Time: 6 minutes Filters are your friend When Seeking Accommodation Most if not all of the big name booking sites have a comprehensive filter selection that can help you tailor your perfect trip, but some options you may take for granted are in there too and should not be neglected. If you’re not one to share bathroom facilities this is a key one to look out for, as the descriptions can be missing these nuggets of information. Important ones to keep in mind are ‘free Wi-Fi’, some establishments offer this in communal spaces only. ‘Facilities for disabled guests’, not always a given around the world and the older the hotel the more chance you have of running into problems. If the room you are booking is in a shared property, this is largely a concern to be found on Airbnb but always worth thinking of, if a room looks a little too cheap to believe (even with great reviews) this could be the case. Reviews Be them comprehensive, one worded or just a thumbs up. User reviews are the main weapon of choice when it comes to picking your abode abroad, and some sites also enable reviewers to upload their own photos which can tell the story of a thousand words. Something to consider while getting a consensus from the masses is that the dark times of Covid 19 have left a black spot in the running narrative of user reviews. If you like to base your choice on not just the first one or two. If you’re looking to see what people are saying about something specific such as the quality of the Wifi, reviews can suddenly jump from the present to way back in 2019 and further. What was offered then may not be anymore and lots of places have yet to fully recover and or will have undergone remedial works in the meantime, so before you disappear down the rabbit hole of reviews keep one eye on the date posted. When Seeking Accommodation always Inspect the Room Photos Aside from the general look and feel of the hotel, the photos are a fantastic tool to inspect the details of the room but it is always wise to double check the validity of the photo. Is there a photo filter applied to make the pool look that bit bluer? Is the brightness pushed up to make the dim room look bright? Has the photo been taken with a fish eye lens? As well as the booking sites it is good practice to check Google reviews and photos from real people. They tell a better story of the real world experience than somebody with a fancy camera and a good photo editor. Next check the contents of the room photos and use them. They may mention a TV in the description but is it a modern one or a classic CRT? Is the air conditioning unit right above your bed? Why is the mini fridge doubling up as the bedside table? As most hotels now offer a plethora of photo documentation of what they have to offer, you can get as good a scoop on the facilities as much as the reviews and see for yourself if things are up to date. Location, Location, Location You’ve found the ideal hotel with a cheap room and all the extras you could ever want! But on arrival you have the unpleasant surprise of it being next to a nuclear fallout zone. A bit extreme but the point is if you do set your heart on a hotel do some extra research outside of the booking site on the area in which it is located, local history and current affairs. There may be a Facebook page for the area or even just throwing the name into google and seeing what info comes up in the news feed is a good shout. Some types of accommodation can be miles from anywhere, they can be in the middle of a field and therefore more prone to bugs and insects, the location of accommodation is definitely something you need to be aware of when booking. Air Conditioning Quite possibly the number one thing to look for when seeking accommodation in a warm climate. As a rule, you will find a good amount of places will have air conditioning units installed and listed in the amenities but there are a fair amount that still operate with just fans only. Fan only rooms can have free standing fans or ceiling ones which (we have found out from experience) are manageable for a couple of days but any longer and you can become somewhat sticky to say the least. Even if the aircon is listed in the description of the room you’re looking at, it’s always good practice to inspect the room photos to get an idea of the age of the unit just in case. Amenities When Seeking Accommodation Other than the basics, ask yourself: What is it that I want from the room?What are my daily habits and does the accommodation include the amenities I need? As an example you may like to make yourself a morning coffee – In our experience not every room comes with a kettle. It’s such a small thing but can be super inconvenient to have to run to the nearest coffee shop every morning just for the sake of a kettle. These little things are very easy to miss. Even with glowing reviews, if people do not have the same requirements as you – you can find yourself coming up short. Common amenities I would personally suggest looking for when seeking accommodation: Kettle – For the morning coffeePower outlets by the bed – To charge phones, tablets and other devicesNumber if power outlets in generalAdditional seating in the room or outsideThe presence of a window and/or view- This is not always stated or guaranteed. (As we found out one time in Phuket, Thailand where the curtain opened to view a solid concrete wall). Bugs By their nature, warmer climate countries have an abundance of creepy crawlies that will be delightful for you to meet when making your morning coffee. One to look out for in south east Asia especially are ants, both small and large. If you are keeping food or tea and coffee in your room we strongly recommend keeping these in air tight sealed bags and off any surfaces in the open as these pesky critters are extremely resourceful when it comes to getting into anything they want. I still mourn a pack of noodles I was looking forward to before discovering it had become an ant farm. Encounters with bugs are almost inevitable but the amount can be down to luck, we have stayed in bungalows with a garden in a semi rural environment and seen few then been on the third floor of a hotel and seen many. Type of Accommodation Accommodation types vary wildly. Some are little more than somebody’s house where others can be glitzy resorts with pools and gyms. Some can be treehouses and others are basically an amusement park with noise 24/7. The point I am making is that before hitting that book it now button always check who the main audience is in the hotel. An example of the importance of this would be:You like to swim and you book a hotel with a pool and you prefer a quieter environment. On arrival it looks more like a water park, there’s a constant noise of people and the pools are always crowded. The moral of the story is that It’s advisable to double check what kind of hotel you’re going to be stopping in, user reviews are always a good indicator for this as you may not always tell from the booking site description.... 7 Downsides of Digital Nomad Life – Here’s What You Need to KnowJanuary 3, 2023You have no doubt seen articles on the digital nomad life. Sitting by a pool – laptop in one hand and cocktail in the other certainly looks like the dream life but there can be downsides of digital nomad life. Of course these may not apply to everybody but read on to get an insight into what these could be. by Jessica Dale Reading Time: 6 minutes The Downsides of Digital Nomad Life I love to sit by a pool working like anyone else and take it easy but this can quite often not be the case. The life of a digital nomad can be more stressful than what the social media accounts project. 1. Digital Nomad Life can be Stressful No matter how good an area, accommodation or country is there is always that flurry of thought that spring to mind every time a journey leg is coming to an end and you have to move. Every time you move to a new country there are several stressful factors to consider: Losing 1-2+ days to travel time Depending on how far we travel we can lose a number of days just to travel time alone. The requirement of getting to airports 3 hours early, potential delays and cancellations can really affect plans. Money can be lost and it’s all time that could be dedicated to earning the money required to survive. Sim Cards This may seem like a silly cause of stress but getting to a new country and having to immediately source a sim card can be a nightmare! Some airports have vendors that sell sim cards whilst others don’t. Without a good sim card there’s no 4G / 5G data which means relying on WiFi to get to the hotel of which is not always guaranteed. Then there is the process of re-registering to any services that require the use of a contactable number. Personally I use a dual sim phone and a Skype secondary number but this requires an active internet connection to operate. Getting Used to a Totally New Environment Constantly adjusting to a new environment can be a pain, as creatures of habit we tend to visit the same grocery stores, petrol stations and other amenities in our daily routine but first arriving at a new area disrupts this. Whilst it can be exciting to see the landscape or restaurants of an area it can be stressful when you need some milk and you have no idea where the nearest shop is. The Time Zone Adjustment When I first started travelling I headed to Asia and one of the main adjustments I had to get used to was the time difference. Between Thailand and the United Kingdom there was a 7 hour time difference. This meant that for a good amount of the day friends and family would be asleep. When working with colleagues and clients there is this constant fact you need to consider. These several causes of stress are on top of any other stresses you would likely find in day to day life and this is something that is often missed when looking on the Instagram of a digital nomad and seeing the perceived image. 2. Loneliness is a Real Issue of Digital Nomad Life Leaving your home country quite often means leaving family and long term friends. Quite often when travelling abroad you are sure to bump into people who are like minded and friendly enough, maybe you will even hang out several times but then comes the often asked question: How long are you here? Then the familiar realization returns that in a short time it will be one or both (or all) of you that will be moving on somewhere else. Short term interactions are valuable and I have met some amazing people on my journey, hopefully I see them again but you kind of see my point. Long term friendships where we see each other on a regular basis are very few and far between. This can create the void of loneliness that can be a very real downside to life as a digital nomad. Travelling with a partner can help with this issue but everybody’s situation and preferences are different. Not every partner may want to travel and not every couple can thrive in a close quarters accommodation situation, navigating these challenges is a whole other can of worms. 3. Stable Internet Becomes a Crucial Necessity Depending on your home country you may be used to a stable internet connection, this can often be taken for granted and quickly becomes apparent when you arrive in some countries where a reliable internet connection cannot always be guaranteed. Internet can be slow or expensive in certain parts of the world and when your job relies completely on a good connection this can cause a lot of frustration and issues so it becomes a vital necessity to research prior to moving or choosing a new area. 4. Finding that Perfect Work Environment When travelling and working remotely it is very important to have a good work environment. This can make a huge difference to your productivity, stress levels and job satisfaction. As a digital nomad you may not always have a dedicated workspace to operate from. I have tried working from the hotel room and whilst this can be achieved to a degree it quickly becomes apparent that separating the work/life balance becomes more difficult. It is also not always possible, especially in smaller rooms. Cabin fever is real folks! It is possible to find spaces outside of the accommodation, for me like others coffee shops are an option when available however these can be noisy, crowded or just not sustainable long term. It is hard to stay focused in a loud environment. 5. Managing your Expenses I have personally found this to be one of the biggest challenges. Sustaining the lifestyle of a digital nomad is perfectly possible but it is also important to note that there is a lot of managing of expenses to facilitate this. I found when I was back in the UK, it was much easier to manage my expenses, direct debits make things easy and paying the same amount for rent, bills, internet etc made savings easy to maintain and track. When in another country I have found myself paying more than I am used to because I am a short term customer but I have also found some bills are no longer in existence, this changes whenever I move country so recognising and managing this can become a real hassle. Recurring costs are easy to manage as you know the amount and when it is leaving your bank account but the challenge is to be able to know when you can spend money on yourself. Those cheeky drinks at the bar or slightly more expensive food are easy to buy into but these small amounts quickly add up and reflect in your savings. 6. The Culture Shock No matter how much you think you have seen it all, some customs and traditions can completely take you off guard. Travelling to new countries is exciting and these differences are exactly what make the world unique but it is not always positive depending on your previous experiences. Adjusting to local cultures and customs is a great amount of fun and I always love learning the basics of a new language or trying something for the first time but it can sometimes impact productivity if you are trying to work remotely and outside of your comfort zone. 7. Trying to Manage your Time Effectively Working fully remotely can be done in several ways and this issue may not affect everybody but I believe that managing your time effectively can be quite difficult if you are in a role that is perhaps freelance or working to vastly different time zones. Using myself as an example: I write and manage Backpacks and Memories but ultimately I am in control of my own schedule. The hardest part about this is that it can be so easy to become distracted or on the other side of the spectrum – lose track of time and overwork myself. Keeping a schedule is incredibly important and can help with this issue as it sets boundaries. A routine is the best thing to keep the perfect work life balance whilst maintaining focus and productivity. Conclusion In this article I have listed the downsides of digital nomad life but despite these challenges I (and certainly many others) would personally say they are well worth it. By acknowledging these we can navigate the issues in this article the best we can. With careful planning, maintaining a positive attitude and a good level of understanding then we can look past these difficulties and enjoy a fulfilling digital nomad lifestyle. The rewards far outweigh the negatives. Now that you have an understanding of the downsides of digital nomad life, check out the upsides to it in our article here:... 7 Amazing Advantages of Digital Nomad Life: Here’s All You Need to KnowJanuary 3, 2023A digital nomad is defined as a person who earns a living working online in a variety of locations of their own choosing. It can be an exciting lifestyle choice full of wonder, mystery, freedom, and flexibility. Here are the advantages of digital nomad life. by Jessica Dale Reading Time: 6 minutes The Advantages of Digital Nomad Life I love to sit by a pool working like anyone else and take it easy but this can quite often not be the case. The life of a digital nomad can be more stressful than what the social media accounts project. 1. Enjoy Greater Levels of Freedom The ability to choose your own work location is perhaps the best level of freedom I could express. A lot of people spend a large portion of their lives working and the ability to work from a location of your choosing yields a great level of satisfaction. It also comes with the perks of heightening productivity based on work environment satisfaction so is a win-win situation between you and your clients or employer. Some digital nomads can also choose their own schedule which gives a better level of freedom over the work/life balance. For me there is no better feeling than finishing work earlier one day to head to the beach (or bar), sure – I know I will work more on another day to compensate for it but having that freedom over the schedule is perfect. An aerial landscape of Twin Lakes and the surrounding mountains located in Mammoth Lakes, California, USA 2. Flexibility at its Finest The one thing I can say is one of the biggest pros to being a digital nomad is flexibility! The ability to work from anywhere with an internet connection allows you to travel to new places, experience different cultures and pursue your passions and interests. Before travel I lived in the UK for years – Through the months of November to March it can get very cold, personally I used to dread this time of year. People’s moods become low and everything becomes a big shade of bleak. Now I can choose whether to chase the sun or head somewhere to go skiing. I can choose to experience a monsoon or what it is like in a dry desert. Locational flexibility is what you make of it and without sounding too cliché – the world is your oyster. 3. Personal Growth and Discovering Yourself Being a digital nomad requires a high level of adaptability, resourcefulness and self motivation. This can help heighten various personal qualities. In my experience I have become more organised, resilient and open to change than ever before and these are all qualities I deem important to my own personal growth. Travelling the world opens your eyes to so much more and experiencing all that it has to offer can be a very wholesome experience and I love to embed myself into a culture where possible. We are constantly developing through experience and digital nomads have the potential to experience so much. 4. Discover new Cultures Contrary to popular belief digital nomads can often spend large amounts of time in one location. This may of course still only be a month, few months or even past the 1 year mark but my point is that it is often long enough to start building connections with local communities and cultures. Experiencing someone’s culture is perhaps the one of the best things, it not only aids in personal growth but it shows you a world beyond the world you already know. It helps you see things in different ways and perhaps even teaches you new skills. Discovering new cultures can also have professional benefits including the ability to further understand and work with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Understanding someones culture means you can relate to them on a much deeper level which is fantastic for both professional and personal environments. 5. Lower the Cost of Living The cost of living can be a huge factor when considering becoming a digital nomad. A higher cost of living generally means you have less money to spend on things for you. This can lead to a lower level of satisfaction in life. As a digital nomad you can choose where you go, the best thing is that you can go to a country with a lower cost of living which affords you a more expendable income. The benefits of this are that you can have more money for things you want to do or simply grow your savings for that big purchase you have been wanting to make. With a lower cost of living you can focus on doing more of the things you want to! 6. No more Commute to Work Commuting to work can be a real pain. Public transport, car trouble, walking in the rain – however you choose to commute to work can be fraught with annoyances or difficulties. Not as a digital nomad. Becoming a digital nomad means saying goodbye to the commute to work and for most of us that is not a bad thing. Of course you may choose to commute to a co-working space or a coffee shop but for the most part it will be local to you and as I mentioned before, the freedom is all yours to choose where and when to work. 7. Be Part of a Global Community As technology improves so does the potential to work from anywhere. More and more people are taking advantage of that fact meaning even when you are travelling alone, you are quite likely to meet other digital nomads. Obviously this does depend on the location. Meeting Folks With a Similar Mindset Even though you may be travelling solo, with a partner or even with friends, becoming a digital nomad means you are joining a fantastic community that is worldwide. There is something really special about meeting fellow nomads out and about, sharing experiences and interests with people who have a similar mindset. The best thing is speaking to other members of the community and sharing recommendations. Maybe you have been somewhere the other person hasn’t and can give them helpful tips? Or somebody else may give you a recommendation for a wonderful place you may never have even heard of. I love travelling to a new area or location based on recommendations from people I have along the way but always remember to be safe and fact check. Professional Networking On a professional level it can be easier to network with other professionals and entrepreneurs from all over the world which (depending on your situation) can lead to new opportunities or a stronger professional network. Conclusion Being a digital nomad offers many positives and is a fantastic way of life. Of course, it is not for everyone and it certainly has its downsides which you can read in my article: 7 Downsides of Digital Nomad Life. That been said if you are willing to embrace a lifestyle that is independent of location, it can be a very rewarding and fulfilling life packed with fun, relaxation and good vibes!...
