More and more people want to work from anywhere. Thanks to the internet, it is increasingly possible to become a digital nomad, but for working professionals in particular, it is important to manage the upheaval and uncertainty that can be associated with that lifestyle.
The digital nomad lifestyle is often relegated to daydreams: something you wish you could do but seems complicated and fraught with risk to actually do it. However, a growing number of professionals are taking the plunge and travelling farther and wider than ever before.
The Information Age has brought so many opportunities, one of which is the ability to work from any location. However, to do so well requires more than having a laptop and a Wi-Fi connection. We outline some important steps to take should you wish to have the digital nomad experience.
1. Determine whether your job will allow you to work remotely
The first matter of business is to determine whether your employer or your role allows you to work remotely. If you are a frontline worker and a key aspect of your role is engaging directly with the clients in person, it may be difficult to. Operate remotely when this is key to your to your role. On the other hand, if you are ensconced at the office and interacting primarily with your colleagues, it may be possible to justify being out of the office for a stint as a digital nomad.
In many instances, it may be possible to negotiate or rearrange your schedule to allow you to be absent from the office for an extended period. However, it is also going to be important to determine and agree with your superiors or team members about possible interim arrangements or contingencies that may need to be put in place.
2. Determine your requirements
Although your bucket list of locations you might wish to visit or work from may be long, the constraints or requirements of your work may have some impact on the locations you can realistically consider. Matters related to internet availability, quality, speed and cost, as well as other factors, such as the availability of co-working spaces, may be important criteria when evaluating one location against another.
Another factor that may narrow down your choice is time zone considerations. For example, if you need to interact with your office or with clients at specific or regular times, you may wish to limit the time zone difference you would have to juggle so that you can establish a workable routine in your remote location.
Further, also consider your personal requirements to feel comfortable and safe in your new location, which may include any specific amenities or services that are essential versus those that might be desirable. For example, if you are not someone who cooks often or does not like to cook, it may be crucial that eating out is affordable and that several options are available.
In summary, determine your non-negotiables as these will need to be prioritised and should influence the shortlist of countries from which your final selection will be made.
3. Consider your at-home commitments
If you are working as a digital nomad for the first time or intermittently, the odds are that you will have a home base to which you will be returning. In your absence from that home base, there may still be commitments that you need to fulfil, such as paying your car note, paying your mortgage or rent, paying taxes or making suitable arrangements for the care of a pet.
In considering your at-home commitments, you are trying to ensure that there is some continuity to things that need to be attended to in your absence so that you will not necessarily be unduly disadvantaged upon your return. In the Caribbean region, where it still may not be possible to conduct all business online or remotely, it may be prudent to also have a family member or trusted friend to help when you are away.
4. Decide your budget
Deciding your budget is going to be critical because often, are will not be allowed to be employed locally in your destination country. Generally, as a digital nomad, you are expected to be employed and/or able to support yourself financially whilst working remotely from the destination country.
Further, travel costs also need to be considered and budgeted for. In anticipation of the move, visas, travel insurance, and flights will need to be funded in addition to the expenses that will be incurred on the ground.
However, if you have at-home commitments that are financial, it may mean that you are unable to allocate your full income to support your life and lifestyle whilst based remotely. It is thus a good idea to know how much funds you may have available to finance your experience, as this may also affect the list of countries or your options going forward.
In understanding your budget, you may also be able to identify and implement options to either supplement your income or free up additional funds that can go towards your trip. For example, you may sub-let your home or rent out your vehicle whilst you are away, which would free up more funds to use when away from base.
5. Research destination options and associated logistics
Although your initial list of destinations may be long, the requirements and constraints you previously identified should provide some criteria against which to assess the suitability of cities or countries on your list. It would now be time to fine-tune your shortlist and delve more deeply into what it would take to relocate. For example,
- Do the immigration requirements seem unduly onerous or lengthy?
- How plentiful are accommodations?
- Would suitable accommodations be within your budget?
- What is the cost of living?
- Are the desirable amenities and services available at reasonable prices?
- How easy or expensive is it to move around?
- How easy would it be to use your existing credit (or debit) cards when living remotely?
- Do you need a (separate) travel credit (or debit) card?
- What is there to do during my downtime?
Ultimately, it is about understanding not only the budget that might be necessary but also trying to understand the logistical and other factors that will contribute to you having an enjoyable and stress-free experience.
6. Decide on the likely length of your stay
Deciding on the length of your stay abroad will most likely depend on several factors, such as the immigration requirements and cost, your own finances and budget, and whatever commitments you have at home. Generally, and from an immigration perspective, the shortest digital nomad visa or permit is around 30 days, whilst some countries offer visas for up to 10 years.
7. Make a plan
Finally, adopting a digital nomad lifestyle, certainly initially, requires lots of preparation and planning, as you will need to organise your at-home, travel and on-the-ground remote arrangements. Typically, you may start organising and making the necessary arrangements at least three to six months prior to when you intend to travel to ensure that all of the arrangements are in place to facilitate a smooth and seamless experience.
Image credit: Freepik
I think that connectivity is critically important for a digital nomad, that it requires it’s own section (maybe #8).
This would include research on the availability of Internet in the target areas in sufficient bandwidth, the reliability of the service and associated costs, alternatives such as mobile data, WiFi hotspots, terrestrial broadband (cable, fibre, etc), and also possible cafes, libraries and office locations where one could also get access of needed, or if ones primary location or base becomes unavailable or problematic.
Also don’t forget related critical issues such as reliable power, and related to this, the ability to get service for damaged equipment, replacement power bricks for laptops, for instance.