What Is What is a Digital Nomad? A Complete Guide + Careers Options (2023) |

If you're considering becoming a digital nomad, you're in good company. A report from MBO Partners found that 17 million Americans became digital nomads in 2023. It also showed that 80percent of digital nomads said they were very satisfied with their work, while 24% of them say they travel with children! AND the report found that 70 % of Americans are looking to become digital nomads - and there's a similar interest level across the globe.

In this article, we'll give you the definition of digital nomad. Then, we'll go through some possible pros and cons of a nomadic lifestyle and explore some careers for digital nomads. Then we'll give you an overview of what you need to know and some tried-and-true tips for making your dreams of a nomadic life a reality.

((toc))

What is a digital nomad?

Digital nomads are people who lives all over the world when working remotely. Digital nomads take advantage of the new possibilities of digital technology, and usually require only a laptop in order for earning a livelihood. It allows them to move around, using technologies to run an enterprise or at a firm that offers the policy of remote working.

It's unclear who came up with the concept of digital nomads, however it became popularized by the 1997 publication written by Tsugio Makimoto, and David Manners, who argued that new technology would allow people to return to a nomadic state and work from anywhere. By 2023, there would be 17 million Americans who were digital nomads.

Many popular destination countries have a strong love-hate relationship with digital nomads. Digital nomads have earned a reputation for ruining landscapes and displacing locals. Many countries see nomads as an opportunity to boost tourism dollars in the country as well as help with labor shortages. It became more appealing when short-term tourism declined due to the outbreak. Many nations are offering "digital nomadic visas", encouraging nomads to visit and stay.

How do you became an online nomad?

There are some great reasons to consider being a digital nomad. The first is travel! If you've ever wanted to see the world and experience different cultures, becoming digital nomads allows you to go on a journey.

Many digital nomads also profit from the costs of living differences between countries. A high income from their home country, and observing a reduced price of living within their host country/ies means that they can have more free cash.

There are some challenges for those who travel digitally. Many of them do not realize the strain can be incurred when you live abroad for long durations, being cut away from the home community of friends and family, as well as with a different society. It is possible to estimate the cost as well. While the cost of living might be lower in a country of the host however, they have to take into flights, health insurance, and sightseeing.

The pros and cons of being a digital nomad

    Pros

• Get to work from amazing, inspiring places that you love.        
  
• You can save money by visiting places that have a cheaper cost of living than your home country (your dollars go further).        
  
• Make new friends around the globe.        
  
• Design the life you want and live where you'd like to live.        
  
• It's possible to feel a sense of personal growth and inspire that you would never experience when you were at home.        
  
• You get amazing learning opportunities by being exposed to various languages, cultures and more.        
  
• Profit from the time difference (e.g. working later during the day as well as allowing mornings to be free ).    
  
• Earn by renting out your house or apartment (if applicable).        
  

    Cons

• Loneliness and isolation as it's difficult to meet new people in unfamiliar locations.        
  
• If you lose the source of income, it could be hard to find another. And you might not be eligible to work in a hosting country.      
  
• The process of moving can be challenging when it comes to relationships. Numerous nomads struggle with dating and romance.        
  
• The unexpected expenses could eat away at the savings you get by living in a less expensive location.        
  
• Time zone variations can be challenging too-especially if you're trying to work while your team sleeps and reverse.        
  
• Visas and legal problems can cause a lot of stress and extra expenses.        
  
• You must ensure that you're legal with regards to tax law for both your home and the host country (some nations require nomads to be tax payers! ).    
  
• Your job prospects are restricted by distance.        
  
• If you aren't able to access the internet at a high speed, it may hinder your productivity.        
  
• There's an environmental impact to travel, and in some instances, nomads can negatively impact local communities (e.g. housing markets ).    
  

Careers for digital nomads

There are literally a multitude of jobs for digital nomads. By 2025, 32.6 million Americans will be working remotely, and 16% of businesses already being totally remote. This means the possibilities for careers as digital nomads will only get better and better. If you work in the office, and you use a computer or phone to work, there's a good likelihood that the job you are working on can be done via remote access.

Here are some ideas:

• Community Manager: A community manager is one who manages the online community and is the ideal job for remote working. Community platforms on the internet make it easy to run a thriving community. Whether you 're working for the brand or a business or you manage your own private community, it's a great job for travelers!    
  

• Freelance Writing Writers who are freelance write for newspapers and magazines. They also write novels for CEOs, or create blogs for companies. And since writing is mostly accomplished on their own and on their own, it's an ideal job for digital nomads.    
  
• Graphic Design Graphic design professionals can design the world's greatest brands from the comfort of a laptop. This makes it a great digital nomad career.      
  
• Teaching or online tutoring: The rise of e-learning makes online teaching or tutoring possible for those who are digital nomads, regardless of whether teaching at a virtual college or running your own online class.    
  

• Digital Marketing: No matter if you're making Facebook ads or doing SEO, marketing in the digital age is... the digital. This makes it a great job choice for digital nomads.    
  
• Software Development: Software developers create software and tools, either on their own or with a company. It's all done on the internet and therefore it's an excellent choice for remote work.    
  
• Web development: Creating web pages is a lucrative career for digital nomads.      
  
• Virtual Assistants: Usually help leaders with administrative tasks, replying to emails, posting to social networks, scheduling appointments, and so on. It's a perfect role to work remotely.    
  
• Remote Customer Support: When companies do customer service online or via telephone, it does not usually matter where the customer service representative is located. It could be a good career option for a digital nomad.    
  

• Telemedicine: Not all health treatment can be performed online, but an astonishing amount is. From counseling and psychiatry expert consultations and nursing assessments, remote healthcare positions are growing.    
  
• Market Researcher: If you're in the business of conducting market research for a business or other organizations might be remote.      
  
• Content Creator: Content creators are all in, and people are creating podcasts, social media posts, YouTube videos and much more. If you earn your livelihood by creating content, whether for a company or for you-you're probably able to do it remotely.    
  
• Consultant: Consulting can be an enormous field, however it's basically about establishing an own service company in addition to advising companies on a piecemeal basis. This is a fantastic career option for remote work.    
  
• Professional Services: Bookkeepers attorneys, accountants, HR. There are a ton of professional services that work easily to the digital nomadic lifestyle.      
  
• Service-based businesses: The final point is that companies that provide services are ideal for digital nomads. Engineers, conservation scientists, engineers and so on. are all suitable to work remotely, based on your duties.    
  

How do you be an online nomad

1. Find a job or earn money which allows you to travel. The movement to become a digital nomad was primarily focused on digital entrepreneurs. Tim Ferriss' famous book-The 4-Hour Workweek-stressed using technology to expand flexible business as well as the ability to travel (if you wish). The rise of remote work has meant you can become a digital nomad can be feasible with a 9-to-5 work schedule.    
   
2. Make the necessary preparations: it's becoming easier every day However, becoming digital nomads is difficult. You have to think about finding accommodation in another country as well as managing visas, filing taxes, accessing your bank account via a foreign location, along with a host of additional things (we've added a checklist below). Do not be afraid-people are doing this all the time. However, you must get going on your planning.    
   
3. Try a test run: Before you commit to becoming a full-time nomad, you can take a test drive. Take a couple of weeks on a working holiday and test whether it's possible to like. Although the idea of becoming a digital nomad sounds beautiful, many find negativity means they're not suitable for it.    
   
4. Pick your style of travel: Do you want to have your next year entirely scheduled out? Or do you want to move from month to month whatever the winds take you? It's not a bad choice. Planning far in advance gives the benefit that you have more accommodation options to choose from and cheaper flights, but it limits the possibility of being spontaneous. Without a plan, you're that you are being unplanned, and some of your options will be limited by your flights as well as the accommodations readily available. The majority of nomads are better off by keeping a basic schedule, and planning is part of the enjoyment!    
   
5. Pack and go! While becoming a digital nomad seems daunting, at the end of the day you're just making a decision and preparing to live your life somewhere else. Beware of the temptation to pack too much (you'll be thankful you don't take on too much). Begin your journey!    
   

Digital nomad checklist

There are plenty of aspects to consider when you decide to become a digital nomad. Here are a few advice we've received from others who've tried it:

• Check your tech and software Make sure you have your laptop with the necessary tech for your work Also, don't forget your electric adapters to the countries you'll go to. Keep in mind that you can purchase or rent technical equipment across the world. For example, if you like to work using a different monitor you might find it an item you are able to find when you arrive.    
  
• Backups of 2-factor identifications In the past 5 years, 2-factor identifications have come to be required for logging into every system. If you typically receive an SMS on your mobile-and you don't own it, things get more complicated. Create backups of each of your crucial logons. For anything Google-related, you can use Google authenticator app. Otherwise, think about the ways you'll log in to your bank accounts, tax software, etc.    
  
• Figure out taxes: Plan on how you will pay and report taxes from outside the country (if applicable).      
  
• Make sure you have a current passport. Make sure you have your passport as well as the other documents you'll require. Remember that some countries can deny a visa if you have a passport that expires after 6 months, so ensure you have plenty of room for your calendar.    
  
• Medical insurance is essential: Accidents can happen. Be sure to have insurance. The insurance you already have might provide some coverage However, the majority of digital travelers require an additional medical travel insurance.    
  
• Check your visa requirements: If you are from the US and you are a resident of the US, you're able to travel anywhere in the world without needing to apply for a visa unless you're going to be staying for an extended time. If you're planning a long-stay it is possible that you need to apply for the right visa at an embassy or consulate prior to you go. If that's the case you should start earlier to allow your self plenty of time.    
  
• Examine the work-related requirements to determine if you permitted to work in your nomad country? Will they try to tax your income? Each nation has their own laws which can be tricky to navigate. Be sure to check out digital nomad blog and forums, aswell as official government websites. There are some who will allow you earning income but only if it's within the borders of your country. If you're working for an organization that has office locations in different countries and you are able to arrange a working experience with them    
  
• Get train tickets or plane tickets, and also an accommodation option platforms like Airbnb could be useful for this. However, they are constantly updated with new options the time. Like, for instance, Berlin startup Habyt promises monthly rentals. Applications like Hopper can track airfare as well as give advice on when to make reservations for the lowest prices.    
  

How to become an internet nomad

• Be patient: Having to jump between places every other day makes it really hard to be productive-not to mention is a strain on your financial situation. Experienced nomads know that it's worthwhile to stay in one place for weeks and even months at a time in order to build a routine and also save the cost of living. In particular, Airbnb has discounts for month-long bookings which could put the cost of nomad living at or lower than renting in any other city in the U.S.    
  
• Find a work schedule which works for you: It could be difficult to stay productive on the road. Be sure to create a work schedule that works for you.    
  
• Be in tune with the cultural difference: Nomads face lots of unexpected surprises when trying to follow the same rules as they do in their native country. As an example, a lot of places won't let you use your laptop at an office or cafe (or in the event that they do, they don't have internet access). It is necessary to adjust your life in some ways to the culture you're located in.    
  

• Discover community: Ask digital nomads what gets to them and they'll share with you the feeling of loneliness. Look for ways to join communities where ever you go and whether that's a local nomad gathering or an online community. (Staying at one location for a longer period of time will help to make more meaningful connections ).    
  
• Begin small: Prior to committing to an entire three years trip across the globe, begin small. Start with a couple of weeks, or a month working at a different place. There is a chance that you do not like it, or maybe it will become more difficult to work remotely than you think. Ease yourself in.    
  

Get going!

These tips should have given you the confidence to embark on your own journey as a digital nomad! While it can be daunting but the increasing popularity of being a digital nomad and the stories from numerous nomads who love the experience is a good indication that it's definitely worth a try!

If you're in search of a successful venture for digital nomads come build upon Mighty! It is possible to start a member-driven business made up of classes, community and coaching as well as live events and premium groups.

This is the ideal place to build a business flexible enough to travel along with you! Try it at no cost for 14 days with no credit card required.

 Get Free Trial Free Trial

Now Read: How to Take Your Business Online in Three Steps