How to become a digital nomad (and work remotely from anywhere!)

There are already 35 million digital nomads worldwide, and according to the International Accounting Bulletin, a billion people could be living this lifestyle by 2035. As the remote work culture arose, almost everyone wondered about the possibility of working and living anywhere in the world. It must feel like a dream to develop your working skills while visiting different places, right? 

As we genuinely believe you deserve the freedom to live and work anywhere, we created a guide to help you find ways to be a digital nomad. Check it out:

What is a digital nomad?

Digital nomads, or location independents, are remote workers who travel to different locations regularly. Unlike people who only work from home, digital nomads aim to travel the world - they can be in Indonesia one day and Spain the next. Not having a fixed residence in one place allows them to discover new cultures and places from time to time.

There are different digital nomads: some travel around their own country by motorhomes or campervans; some stay in hostels or rent Airbnb apartments while flying from country to country; and others live on sailboats, working from various ports of call. 

This lifestyle can be summarized as living with complete freedom of movement while working online. To be able to do their jobs, digital nomads only need a laptop and a good internet connection, usually available at coffee shops, hotels, co-working spaces, or libraries with WiFi. This professional is becoming so common that countries have created specific visas for them. Brazil is one of them since having digital nomads here also helps to stimulate our tourism.

Pros and cons of digital nomadism

While being able to work as a digital nomad is a dream for many people and comes with many perks, there are downsides that some may need to keep in mind. As you probably already know, being a digital nomad requires stepping outside your comfort zone and sacrificing a few things to gain others. So let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of this lifestyle:

The benefits of being a digital nomad

• Freedom of working from anywhere and being able to choose where you live;

• Opportunities to meet other inspiring like-minded people, experience new cultures, and make new friends;

• Ability to save money by living in a low-cost living area;

• Chances of ditching the office environment (that sometimes can be toxic); 

• Possibility of learning new skills or languages;

• Ability to broaden your mind through travel experiences, becoming more open-minded and breaking biases/stereotypes;

• Freedom to set your schedule and take time off when you want to;

• Spend winters on the beach and summers in the mountains!

The downsides of the digital nomadism

• Constantly moving can be exhausting;

• Challenges with visas;

• Your productivity and social life can suffer;

• Routinely getting thrown into unfamiliar places and leaving right after you're comfortable;

• Finding stability can be difficult;

• General lack of private space;

• Planning your travels, handling work logistics, and even learning a new language can be challenging (but well worth it!).

Still onboard? Awesome, now let's see how to become a digital nomad

If you surpass the downsides, you can succeed as a digital nomad. As you probably expect, there is no blueprint for becoming a digital nomad that will work for everyone. Everyone has a slightly different set of skills and interests, so many paths exist. With that in mind, we've written this guide focusing on people just starting to get interested in the digital nomadism lifestyle.

1 - Start to reduce location ties and expenses 

The first step is to start recognizing which things in your life are tying you to one specific location. For instance, long-term leases on apartments or vehicles, gym memberships, and subscription services can make your traveling plans harder than they are supposed to be. Also, you need to take time to pay down any debts you may have (or at least reduce them to a manageable amount), like credit cards or student loans.

It's also a good idea to build safety-net savings before leaping into the lifestyle. This can be a small sum: having savings to sustain yourself for four to six months without work is a good start. This will ensure you have enough to pay for any emergencies or unexpected expenses that may come up during your trip (e.g., medical bills, flight delays, or cancellations).

A final thing you can start doing is getting rid of your items. Embrace minimalism, and sell your belongings until you get only the essentials. You can keep sentimental photos, important papers, or unique heirlooms with family members or rent a small storage unit.

2 - Identify your skill sets and strengthen them

Some skills are essential to prosper in a digital nomad lifestyle: self-discipline, organization, good written and verbal communication, budgeting, decision-making, and digital hard skills are the most important ones. You will need those to ensure you can succeed at remote work.

3 - Join a digital nomad community

Joining a digital nomad community means you'll have a built-in support group and a wealth of knowledge as you navigate this lifestyle. For example, you can gather information from community members, get tips for working online or select a new country as your home base. Besides, social forums make it easy to contact groups of nomads or specific ones that you may admire to get advice or feedback. 

4 - Give this lifestyle a test run

We know we've told you you could start selling your belongings, but before actually doing that and booking a one-way ticket to Europe, you should test the digital nomad lifestyle for a bit. If you can work remotely for a few weeks in a different city than the one you currently live in, grab your laptop and do so. The goal is to understand if you have enough self-discipline to stay productive and comfortable and if this kind of work is something you could thoroughly enjoy. But, of course, you never know if, after two weeks, you realize that you hate working away from your house.

5 - Determine your budget and decide on your locations

Most digital nomads start by finding remote jobs that allow them to have a regular income. Once they secure their first source of income, they can decide whether they will find similar jobs to cobble together to make more money or if having only a source of funds can budget their whole lifestyle.

Consider the remote job you currently have and its possibilities for growth. Then, adopt a budget-minded mindset considering the quality of living in each place you're interested in. Then, with that in mind, pick a place that fits your lifestyle goals and budget.

6 - Pick a global bank account to manage your money

Managing your money while traveling can also be a challenging task. For example, many digital nomads get their credit cards canceled when using them in foreign countries, and other nomads still need to learn how to get paid while living overseas.

You may have to rely on online payment platforms like PayPal, Wise, Huksy, and Deel to get paid while working remotely from different countries. Most of these options allow you to withdraw your funds easily — though some will charge you more than others. Having a good travel credit card is also very helpful — some don't have foreign transaction fees and will ultimately help you score free flights the more you use it through collecting miles.

7- Choose a digital nomad insurance

Having reliable travel or international health care insurance can give you the safety you need in case of accidents. Two big market companies specialize in digital nomadism: World Nomads and SafetyWing. They also cover expensive electronics, like professional camera equipment or a high-quality laptop.

8 - Learn how to receive mail and packages

You may not have considered this when you started searching more about the nomad lifestyle: how to receive physical mail. Receiving mail when traveling is not a problem when you sign up for a virtual mail service like Earth Class Mail, Anytime Mailbox, or Post Scan Mail. They give you a physical address to send important mail, allowing you to read your mail online and get it forwarded anywhere you want.

9 - Get used to working on your visas and taxes

As you may know, leaving Brazil or your home country does not mean you automatically don't have to pay income taxes there anymore. The truth is that every country has different rules, and it's essential for you to find out what applies to you.

Also, depending on the country you are moving to, and how long you are going to stay, you might become a resident for tax purposes there and hence, have to pay income taxes. Many digital nomads who get a 30- or 60-day visa do "visa runs." That means they leave the country when their time is up for a few days (sometimes just a few hours) and enter the country again. This renews their visa, and they get another 30 or 60 days to stay. However, be aware that lately, border patrol seems to get stricter with that and sometimes denies a re-entry.

10 - Have your documents on you

Get your documents in order and make copies of everything. You'll have copies available if your passport, credit card, or other vital information gets lost or stolen. Here are some of the most important documents:

• A least 6-month valid passport;

• Any necessary visas or travel permits;

• Driver's license;

• Social security card;

• Medical records;

• Insurance documents: including health, flight coverage, and others you deem relevant to your personal situations;

• Documents about vaccination requirements; and

• Anything else you find essential.

11 - Gather your digital nomad gear

As a remote worker, you won't need to worry too much about what kind of gear you'll need. Of course, there are plenty of other things that you could bring to your trips to make your life easier, but here are the basics:

• Backpack or suitcase: Pick a bag that fits your body type and your traveling style;

• Laptop: Buy one that works for your needs, no matter the brand;

• Internet Hotspot: Although you will find WiFi in most places today, it's always a good idea to have a backup solution, like a mobile hotspot.

Also, plenty of apps out there help you become a digital nomad. Some will help you organize your daily tasks (like Trello or Notion), and other apps will help you stay productive, like Rescue Time. To remain fit and healthy, both physically and mentally, use apps like All Out Studio or Headspace. And finally, some apps support you in handling your budget and finances, creating invoices, and such. But we have to mention here that if you're part of Olby, you won't need to worry about any of this because we create invoices and have a time-tracking system tool to help you get organized.

Fasten your seatbelts; you're almost ready for launch

The digital nomad lifestyle might not be the right thing for everyone, so if you want to be a digital nomad or become location independent, you first need to start working toward that goal. However, if you can live with the downsides and are willing to work to make it happen, you can start working on the tips we shared here and give the first steps to the adventure of your life.

You can join Olby today and get closer to the digital nomad lifestyle. At Olby, we connect people to international remote jobs, allowing them to work from anywhere.