Travelling and Working: The Keys to Becoming a Digital Nomad.
Do you work to live or live to work? This dilemma, and many others, sprung out of the industrial revolution and globalisation of the last 20 years. For those of us who think travelling is an essential part of living, the question is: Travel or work? The dependence on presence and the structure of the work calendar is, in many cases, what makes it hard to find the time for travelling, at least not while we’re working.
In the past, in order to combine travelling and working, you would have to take on specific professions that didn’t require a knowledge of the local marketplace, but a deep knowledge of the profession, no matter where you would do your work. Bartender, waiter, cabin crew, tourist guide, plantations or other types of workaway jobs are some good examples. These are opportunities where the task is fixed and it’s what attracts workers, allowing them to move to different places.
Currently, the instances in which work is part of our luggage and we can take it with us, are more abundant. This is thanks to different remote work tools and platforms and to team management based on sprints or specific tasks. Thanks to this, discovering the world and offering your services without having a specific location has become a reality.
Some examples of new professions that easily adapt to this paradigm are content creators, community managers, copywriters, photographers, programmers, graphic designers, etc.
Digital Nomads
Professionals who travel around freely while working are known today as ‘digital nomads’. This alternative is not for everyone, though — while it has its benefits, it also comes with having to leave behind some of your usual comforts.
These are some of the benefits:
Breaking Patterns | Leaving your comfort zone behind while challenging yourself and developing as professional and/or as a person.
Living Wherever You Want | Many seek to improve their quality of life by going to places that offer just that.
Quality Time | For many, it can be an opportunity to spend more time with friends or family.
The World Is Your Oyster! | Travelling and moving around the world is a great way to discover new dishes, places, cultures and traditions.
Enjoying Specific Landscape and Weathers | Are you Team Cold or Team Heat? You could be living in a place that best adapts to what you want. Beach 5 minutes away from your house or something in the mountains? You choose!
Choosing | For many people, it’s important to have the feeling that they own their own time. This may be one of the most interesting features to develop.
These are some of the complex situations and sacrifices that come with being a digital nomad:
You Are Not A Tourist | Being in a new place invites you to go out and discover new things. But that isn’t in line with the time you need to move forwards with work and deadlines. It’s important to balance work, personal life and leisure.
Always Connected | The Internet is your main tool. We’re dependent on a good connection in order to be able to work. Remember to bear in mind not only the quality of the connection, but also its price and access security.
Mind Your Posture; Work Comfortably | It’s crucial to think about where and how we are going to spend those long hours in front of the computer. It’s not the same to spend the day sitting down on a comfy chair than doing the same in a bar, on the beach, an aeroplane or in a coworking space.
Pay Attention to Changes | Whether it’s routine, new food, weather, insects, tensions or homesickness, they can all have a negative effect on your health. It’s fundamental that you take care of yourself and also have a good traveller’s insurance.
What Time Is It? Where? | While on the topic of health, you need to take into account sleeping and resting routines. Having to work from and for everywhere in the world means you have to be able to handle different time zones depending on the project you work with.
The Legal Side; Always Up to Date | Having your documents well organised — visas, work documentation, taxes, and a ‘fund’ in case anything goes wrong… add them all to your “must” list.
Security Fund | Maybe things won’t go as you expected them to. You have to bear in mind that, even if it’s just because your payment has been delayed, it’s important to have money that you can use in case of any unforeseen circumstance.
Are You Ready To Do This?
Are you thinking about doing it? Do you think you’re ready? Let’s reflect together about it:
Adapting to the Distance
Si no teletrabajas de manera continua, es importante que reflexiones si tienes habilidades y capacidades para trabajar inicialmente desde casa, sin depender del “contacto humano” con tu equipo o compañeros. ¡Puedes desarrollarlas!
Can Your Current Profession Adapt or Should You Change Your Profile?
Es importante definir si la formación o profesión que tienes te permite insertarse rápidamente en un mercado externo.
Start Small. Step by Step
A good way to start and try it out is to do some small projects as a freelancer in your free time.
Another option would be starting to work remotely (changing your place of residence) for the company you’re already working for, in order to see if the distance has an effect or not in your performance, commitment and productivity.
The next step could be taking a trip in which your journey falls in line with your work schedule.
Is Your Project Compatible?
If you have a physical business or a business that demands your presence, you can change your business model and management in order for processes and interactions to become digital.
Planning
It will be crucial to define the most amount of movements beforehand. Not just flights and trains, but also where you will stay.
Some good advice: Have a good economic plan that reflects the need of income to keep up your project and your personal life. It’s also important to know the average cost of living of the places you want to visit.
Watch your Watch
Remember that the time in which things move, whether transportation or that of the culture itself, can be very different to what you’re used to. Develop a positive attitude, open to solving setbacks and finding your way back quickly, and you will be better suited to this life.
Pick the Place
If you’re going to go through the trouble of moving, changing your personal ecosystem and your habits, do it in a place that motivates you with its culture, weather and general vibe.
Be Prepared to Spend Time Alone
There may be times in which being alone and in silence can take a toll on you. Doubt can make you overthink things. Make it all worthwhile. Let it help you grow as a professional, but mostly as a person. Try to align your thoughts to what you really want.