How To Become A Digital Nomad

What is a Digital Nomad, and why is it a lifestyle, not a job? Plus what tools does a digital nomad need to get work done while on the move? These questions and more are answered in this blog article.

Digital Nomad Explained

To answer the question: ‘what is a digital nomad? We look a the last word: ‘Nomad’ and its definition. To be a nomad, you’re a person who moves from location to location, i.e. you’re never residing in one location for long.

Most humans today prefer the opposite lifestyle to that of a wanderer. Most people choose an area to live in, and either buy or rent a house and stay there for some time. If we really enjoy the area we might remain there for years.

A nomad, on the other hand, finds that lifestyle boring and restrictive. They prefer no fixed abode and love travelling to different locations. They love to explore. Their movements are also driven by another purpose – work. Some examples of nomadic people in the trust or earliest sense of the word are pastoral farmers, hunters and gatherers.

Modern-day wanderers are known as digital nomads. They take the tools of their trade or job with them while they travel by car, plane, boat or other means of transport all in the name of an interesting lifestyle.

Who Are The Digital Nomads?

Combining travel and work is a young person’s ultimate state of being. The need to ‘settle down’ with a full-time job and occupying the same four walls depresses them. What these people seek from life are days that are not routine. They seek flexibility, uncertainty, variety and the unknown. It’s a kind of ‘flight or fight’ state of being that keeps them energised and ready for just about anything. So how do these people fund their lifestyle?

Digital Nomads Jobs

Anyone can become a digital nomad, and support their lifestyle with work. Here’s a list of freelance job types, that are popular with hundreds of thousands of people who prefer to be on the move:

• Computer Programmer
• Copywriter
• Translator
• Social Media Influencer
• Researcher
• Accountant
• Marketer
• Journalist
• Graphic Artist

There are many more jobs that suit the mobile worker and they’re found on job listing sites. With the popularity of this lifestyle, particularly among millennials, there are job listing sites targeting digital nomads and it’s big business as The Guardian found out.

By 2035 there will be over a billion people living this lifestyle.

So what do tools do they need to make it happen, wherever they choose to be at any given time? Let’s look at their usual tools of the trade.

Digital Nomad’s Tools Of The Trade

If you’re thinking about the life of a digital nomad, you’ll need to invest in the tools of the trade. The items we present below will require quite an investment however without them you’d find it hard to work online. Plus your new roaming life will save you a fortune on consumer items everyone else has to buy, like smart TV, sofas, the latest fashion in shoes and clothes.

Here is a shortlist of what you’ll need to travel and work on the go.

Laptop/Tablet Computer

For the computer, choose a tablet, or laptop and of course team it up with a smartphone. All your computer hardware will need good quality, reliable, resilient, lightweight, have Bluetooth and wifi connectivity plus good battery life.

Smartphone

A smartphone is a prerequisite to success as a working wanderer. 🙂 Make sure you choose your smartphone wisely. It will need all the essential features including; camera, SMS messaging. Load Apps, too, including free messaging and phone calls.

Global SIM card

With the help of a global SIM card, your costs are kept to a minimum. There are several Global SIM cards options so you can get online in multiple countries. Do your research as it too is a competitive market, and some providers may offer text messages and incoming calls free of charge.

Back-up battery pack

A back-up battery pack is a good investment for workers on the move. These devices provide flexibility to work anywhere without needing to power up, and they may be able to charge up your devices too. Of course, like all your devices, your external battery will need to be recharged when it runs out of juice.

Computer accessories

Invest in water-resistant and hard-shell covers for your laptop, tablet and smartphone. Also choose well, when it comes to a day bag and travel bag for your most precious cargo – your tools of the trade.

Some jobs will require additional hardware, e.g. if you’re a journalist you may need a printer or a portable scanner. If you’re travelling in areas without these services readily available you will need your own. Noise-cancelling headphones, and maybe a headset is recommended too.

Summary

As technology has evolved, it has presented new work and lifestyle choices. Being a digital nomad will not be for everyone, but it works for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. You too may choose the digital nomad lifestyle, if not all the time, definitely for some of the time and why not, what a great way to travel the world!