Are you ready to become a digital nomad?

Oftentimes, friends and even family ask me about what I do. How am I able to travel frequently (once a month for over a week or sometimes 2 short trips) without a job? How do I finance my trips? Why am I so rich? (I wish.)

A few years ago I decided to quit my corporate job not because I’ve decided to travel full time but because I wanted to work from home. My goal was to have complete control over my time so that I can do the things that I want and eventually travel but I didn’t find quitting my job to travel at that time was possible. It would be impractical and irresponsible if I did that.  I knew that if I were to pursue becoming a freelancer or a digital nomad, I had to carefully plan my steps.

For those who find the term unfamiliar, let me share Wikipedia’s definition here:

Digital nomads are a type of people who use telecommunications technologies to earn a living and, more generally, conduct their life in a nomadic manner. Such workers often work remotely from foreign countries, coffee shops, public libraries, co-working spaces, or recreational vehicles. This is often accomplished through the use of devices that have wireless Internet capabilities such as smartphones or mobile hotspots.

To put it simply, digital nomads are those people who are able to take their jobs anywhere and earn money even while on the road as long as they’re “connected.” A good working laptop, strong internet connection and a quiet workplace are what digital nomads need and luckily for us, it is easy to find those in this day and age. 

I made my decision in 2017, then quit my corporate job a year later. It was not an easy start but if you prepare well and ahead, it should help lessen the struggle. 

Steps to become a digital nomad

Here are a few pointers on how I prepared myself for the jump as well as other tips that I wish I have done too.

Prepare your devices. Invest in tools.

I’m talking about the most important ones- a laptop, an internet connection, and a good headset. Maybe throw in a smartphone too. 

I first bought a laptop, a headset with a noise cancellation feature, then a pocket Wi-Fi. Although in case of lost internet connection, you can already use your smartphone for a mobile hotspot.

Maybe you’ll find some items here expensive or unnecessary since you are just starting out, but if you want to become a digital nomad and are determined to become one, it is best to invest in the essentials while you still have a stable income. Assuming that you are employed right now.

Save up before you resign.

Save up for several months worth of expenses. Ideally, this should be for at least 6 months. Add up all your expenses in a month, this includes your bills, rent, food, and other personal expense. Of course it is easier to save this while you are still working in your corporate job, so while you are still employed do your best to save the total amount that you need. You also have to add in here your emergency fund.

Start a second job or take freelance gigs.

While you’re still employed, try to take part-time or freelance work. Ask for referrals from friends and colleagues or better yet, start applying online. Think of it as a trial period, starting a part time job online while you are still employed at a corporate office can give you a big boost. You’ll have an idea how things work, at the same time, you’ll build your presence and experience online. Give your best at any task and ask your client for a review/recommendation if you can.

Here are some online job platforms that you can try: Upwork, Onlinejobs.ph, Freelancer

Pick a skill or set of skills that you’re best at and publish it online.

Then build your online resume around it. When you apply and use the online job platforms I mentioned above, you are required to create a profile (in most of them) before you can apply for jobs. Creating an online portfolio is also a good idea. But if you don’t know how to do that, you can utilize your social media accounts.

I know of some people who were able to get work contracts because of their Instagram profiles. Either they were good at editing photos and planning social content, or were good photographers. Are you skilled in design? Post your works on Facebook, Instagram or Behance. If you write well, you can post your stories too or start a blog. My point here is, whatever skill you have, get it published online. Showcase your works in the right platform, include the link in your applications then allow people to contact you.

But “I don’t have any skills. I’m not a techie.”

I am sure you have at least one skill that you are proud of/good at. Second, one does not need to be technologically savvy to find work online. 

Look into the things that you do on a daily basis. What do you do at work? What do you do in your free time? If you really find this part difficult, I suggest writing down the applications, programs, software, that you know how to use. I’m sure you use Facebook and Instagram or even Pinterest, and yes, you can get jobs if you are good at those. Still not sure? Ask your friends where you’re good at.

Don’t worry about the stuff you don’t know yet. Just focus on selling your strengths. 

If you need to learn anything, know that information is readily available online. Nowadays it is easy to find courses and tutorials on any topic, simply search for it online. But if you find yourself overwhelmed with all the information it might be better to enroll in an online course to help you prepare. 

I enrolled in an online course before I actually quit my job. Aside from social media, blogging, and marketing that I am already familiar with, the course has taught me the basics of virtual assistance and ecommerce.

State your reason and be clear of it.

You need this when the going gets tough. You should know your WHY. Sounds simple but being clear of this can help you when you find yourself losing motivation or giving up. I know I’m making it sound so scary, but it is really difficult. Or maybe uncertain is the more appropriate term. When you’re so used to the stability of working in the corporate world, you receive your paychecks on time and you know your company takes care of your government benefits and all, you should know that you won’t have that when you begin freelancing. You are on your own and the reality is, you can have a client today but you aren’t certain that will still be the case tomorrow.

Happiness comes from what we do. Fulfillment comes from why we do it.” 

– Simon Sinek, Find Your Why

Be mentally prepared.

Freelancing or working from home is a lonely path to take. Well, except if you are giving up your day job to stay at home with your family. But mostly for singles, you’ll find that it can get lonely sometimes. You have no workmates beside you, no afternoon break with your peers or after work social drinking. That already sounded lonely, right? Interaction and social events might get rare but with the right attitude and outlook in any situation, you can manage this. 

Apply for Visa.

If your plan is to become a digital nomad, I would suggest you to apply for various Visas while still employed. I refer to Visas that may be difficult for you to get once you become a freelancer. Say for example, a US Visa and Schengen Visa requires a Certificate of Employment, Bank Statements along with other documents that may be easier for you to get when you’re still employed. Some freelancers get through these requirements and get approved but it might take long especially for new freelancers like us. So it all depends on your goals. Of course, if you do this, you should aim to get the multiple entry type so before applying for these, you need to build up your travel history too.

Join groups, online communities.

You can find these by doing a simple search on Facebook. Groups have helped me a lot in looking for a job and it’s also a good source of information for things that you are still learning. I found one of my current jobs from a group on Facebook. The key here is to look for groups with “real” people (not dummy accounts) in their member list. Also you should observe at first if it is a community that really helps their members. Be wary though of sending your personal information to anybody. 

Get two or more jobs.

Remember when you were working 40 – 50 hours per week on your corporate job? Well, expect to work more than that when you start freelancing. Also do not expect to get the same salary from your corporate job with one freelance gig. (Unless, you have a rare, super in demand skill.) Think of it as going back to square one. Of course you can use your corporate skills and experiences but most clients will still look at how long you’ve worked online. If you don’t have at least 6 months to one year of experience yet, then expect that your per hour rate will be lower than your rate in your corporate job. So it is always a good idea to take 2 or more clients and begin early, take part time gigs while you’re still employed.

Never stop learning.

Expect to continuously learn new stuff when you work online. Since the whole work setup is remote, it’s common to encounter tasks that will require you to do research and learn things on your own. Google and Youtube are your go-tos for quick tutorials.

Work smart and believe in yourself.

There’s still a majority that does not understand how remote work works and so, some people may not understand what you’re doing. You might experience this from friends and even family. At some point maybe you’ll find the important people in your life questioning your decision and doubting you, but again, remember your why. At times like these it is important to be patient with yourself especially when you’re just starting out. You need time to adjust and that’s normal. Some things take time. Just stay determined and positive, do what you can, and believe in yourself.

I’ve worked from home since I quit my job in 2018 and I never regret my decision. As I see more possibilities and opportunities that open up for me, the more I am convinced that I did the right thing.