So, you’re tired of your 9-5pm. You catch glimpses of your friends or Instagrammers globetrotting the world and working in cafes on the beach and you wonder to yourself, “What the heck am I doing here, in this ugly cubicle?”
1. Secure a job or finances before traveling.
Do some budget forecasting to see how much you need to earn or how much you have saved. Ask your employer if you can work remotely. If not, like me, check out these websites to find freelance and independent contractor work.
2. Decide if you want to do it solo or with a group.
A major benefit of joining a digital nomad community is I don’t have to worry about my safety as much because I have companions to go to and from places with. This was a major sell for me to join a group to travel. You also get the benefit of growing with a community. You can either put as little or as much as you want into the community. In my program, there were local culture events like cooking classes, as well as Positive impact events like building houses for low-income communities. You benefit from not having to do the research but joining in on the fun.
Almost everyone by the end surprised themselves with how much they appreciated each other. I don’t mean to sound so kumbayah here but there is something about going through the discomfort of a new place with others that brings you together and makes you appreciate each other.
You also spend a lot of time with these people, so you get to know them at a deeper level. I have been lucky enough to find career opportunities from my fellow remotes! The networking aspect is much greater than I could have imagined.
To travel with the group I did, follow this link for Remote Year.
(Please mention my name if you talk to the team, and contact me for any questions 🙂
They have programs for as short as 4-months and as long as 1 year and you have access to the whole community that is growing 1,000+. They do NOT provide you with employment.
They DO provide you with:
- A place to stay (like Airbnb accommodations)
- Flights in between cities,
- 2-3 local cultural events each month,
- Access to nice coworking spaces open 24/7 with GREAT internet
- Communication on Slack with the whole RY nation, and
- Support 24/7 for any questions/concerns etc.
You pay monthly, like paying rent for any apartment.
I haven’t been a digital nomad on my own so I can’t speak to that, but there are plenty of other bloggers out there.
I like to keep it simply. There are tons of other things you should do before choosing to do the remote thing like get a passport, shots, storage unit, but you can figure that out fast when you have these two things set. I did it in a month or so. It was definitely rushed, but when you want it, you find a way.
All the best on your journey, whatever you decide.
Follow the thing that makes the corners of you mouth curve up.
-Rumi
