Remote work may be a relatively new concept but the nomadic lifestyle isn’t. Before the advent of modern civilization, people used to roam freely from one location to the next to survive. We’ve since fallen into the proverbial rat race where we work at least 40 hours a week in the same place.

Are you starting to feel stifled by this typical 9-to-5 routine within the four walls of an office? Perhaps you have the urge to go back to your migratory roots, even for a short while. Being a virtual professional will allow you to work almost anywhere, as long as you can connect to the internet.

Perks of Being a Digital Nomad

Apart from having the freedom to choose where to live and work, there are several other benefits of working on the go, such as:

• Learning new skills.
• Making friends from around the world.
• Achieving better work-life balance.
• Avoiding distractions common in an office.
• Forgoing formal dress codes.
• Skipping the traffic on the daily commute.
• Experiencing other cultures.
• Having lower stress levels.

Working remotely is more than just sitting by the pool with your laptop though. It comes with its fair share of challenges, so it’s understandable why some are hesitant to try it. If you’re determined to start your career as a digital nomad, we offer you a short guide below.

Becoming a Digital Nomad 101

Step 1 – Enter the Ring with Your Eyes Open

Bear in mind that remote work isn’t always sunshine and butterflies. You don’t want to turn it into an emotional crutch or anything. It might provide a temporary means of escape from problems at home but remember that you can’t run away forever.

When you keep moving from place to place, it’s harder to maintain relationships as well. This means you’ll be spending most of your time by yourself unless you have a committed travel partner, platonic or otherwise. This is an introvert’s dream come true but somewhat of a nightmare for an extrovert.

Anticipate for other not-so-happy moments too. For example, you might feel homesick when things aren’t going your way or when you’re stressed out about work. There may also be times when you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Go home if you must and try again when the situation gets better.

Step 2 – Develop the Right Technical Skills

Anyone who wants to make money on the road needs to develop skills that can be used to work remotely. Without them, you’ll be limited to local clients who won’t pay as much as international employers. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it may not be able to fund your lifestyle.

The ideal skills are those that can all be done from a laptop. While any profession can be done online these days, there are certain skills that are more in demand than others. These are what you’ll want to learn to get hired sooner rather than later:

• Graphic design – creating logos, banners, infographics and other illustrations
• Web development – doing any of the front-end or back-end tasks related to building a website
• Virtual assistance – performing data entry, accounting, bookkeeping and different repetitive tasks
• Digital marketing – running ads, optimising for search engines and advertising on social media
• Writing – crafting blog posts, product descriptions, and website copy as well as managing blogs
• Proofreading – checking for spelling and grammar issues on all kinds of content, including novels
• Video or audio editing – trimming footage and podcasts along with adding background music and effects
• Translation – translating copy for websites, marketing materials or even scripts and manuals
• Transcription – viewing videos or listening to recordings then typing out what was said
• Customer service – answering questions, resolving problems and selling services to customers

You can specialise in just one of the above although it never hurts to study more. Pick a job that you think you have a talent in or even an interest in. Travelling is stressful enough so you won’t want to juggle it with a job you hate doing, right?

Step 3 – Work on or Learn Certain Soft Skills

Potential employers don’t just consider technical skills when you apply for a job. They’ll also be examining how you interact with people, solve problems, and manage your schedule. Bosses prefer those who aren’t only knowledgeable but are also able to fit into the company culture.

Here are examples of soft skills you’ll want to develop to show that you’re capable of working anywhere:

• Communication – keeping everyone updated on what you’re doing and what you’ve accomplished
• Planning – plotting out how you’ll be tackling the work and keeping yourself organised
• Marketing – selling yourself to prospective employers shows you’re able to convince their clients
• Strong Work Ethic – staying on task and getting the job done despite being surrounded by distractions
• Time Management – maximizing the time you have while ensuring deadlines are met
• Honesty – making promises that you can keep and giving honest estimates of results
• Self-Sufficiency – working with minimal supervision and handling technical issues yourself

Other soft skills you should work on include: conflict resolution, teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership.

Step 4 – Consider the Financial Constraints

You need money if you want to visit different places, even if you’re only travelling domestically. This is why you should ensure a steady income flow before you decide to go anywhere. Build up your client base first or seek stable remote employment.

Eliminate any expenses that you won’t need, such as gym memberships or cable subscriptions. Sell as much of your stuff as you can too. This will help with your finances and minimise the number of things you need to bring with you or put into storage.

Study up on taxes in the country that you’ll be staying in, especially if you’re thinking of staying there for a while. Consider buying an insurance policy that you can use anywhere in the world and that’ll cover your belongings as well.

Save up more than what you need to travel because you never know what may happen. It’s useful to have emergency funds in case you get sick and need to visit the hospital, or something does wrong with your accommodation or flight bookings.

Step 5 – Test the Waters Rather than Dive In

Don’t be quick to assume that you’re going to enjoy the lifestyle as it’s not for everyone. To know if you’re going to like it or not, do a trial run for around a month. Pick a locale you’ve always wanted to visit and make the necessary travel plans.

Even if it’s only for a few weeks, ensure that any pets or plants will be cared for while you’re away. Also, assign at least one person as your emergency contact then inform them of your plans. Make sure your lodging has a reliable internet connection and a suitable workspace.

Look up events you can join when you reach your destination so you can expand your network. See if there are opportunities on Couch Surfing, Nomad List and Meetup. You might meet your next client or colleague through these channels or gatherings. Plus, you may get tips from veterans in the field.

Once the trial period is over, evaluate how things went and if you think you can sustain it. Be honest with yourself but wait to assess the trip after you’ve returned home. You don’t want your post-trip feelings of relief or excitement to cloud your judgement.

Live the Digital Nomad Life

If you think the digital nomad lifestyle is right for you after careful evaluation of your trial run, consider taking the plunge. You may encounter problems that aren’t covered here, but its sometimes better to learn as you go.

In other words, perhaps the best way to jump-start your career is to simply go for it.

If you’re searching for a remote job opportunity, we at Remote Workmate can give you a hand. Because we’re an offshore staffing agency that caters to clients from Australia and other parts of the globe, you’re likely to receive a higher rate than what you would get from a local employer.

We’ll also provide you with support after you’ve been hired. Furthermore, you can find useful tips on our blog. If you have any questions on remote work in general, ask us.