Hi lovelies,

If you love traveling, then you should be grateful that you in today’s world, rather than at any other point in history. If you wanted to explore the world even one hundred years ago, then you needed a whole bunch of luck. Today, meanwhile, it couldn’t be easier. Virtually all the barriers that prevented people from traveling have been removed, such as the cost and work factor. Indeed, the last few years have given rise to a whole new way of working: these are the ‘digital nomads,’ people who can work wherever there’s an internet connection, anywhere in the world.

If that sounds good (and how can it not?), then read on. Below, we outline some useful tips that’ll ensure you get the most out of your digital nomad experience.

Find Your Work
A digital nomad without a job is just drifting from place to place. Not a bad way to live, but hard to do when you have no income! So before you make too many plans, you’ll want to find a reliable source of income. What job you choose will depend on your interests, passions, and skills, and, of course, it must be an online job. Most people living the digital nomad lifestyle are involved in software development, web design, writing, and graphic design. 

Jump Into To It
You’ll want to wait until you have an income before you begin your digital nomad lifestyle, but once you’ve sorted that out, jump into it -- there’s little value in waiting and waiting for the perfect opportunity to board that plane and begin your adventure. The more you think about it, the more time you’ll be wasting, and the less likely it is that you’ll eventually go. You can always return home if you find that it’s not for you (though we think it will be), but there’ll come a time when it’s too late to get started. Don’t delay for too long!

Where to Go
In theory, you can be a digital nomad wherever there is internet access. In practice, it’s a little more complicated. There are some parts of the world where you won’t be able to live and work because there’s no applicable visa, for example. And then there will be parts of the world where you just don’t want to live (this will be most places). If you’re leaving behind your home life and going on an awesome adventure, then pick somewhere that’s truly great. There are countries and cities that are better and worse for digital nomads than others, so take a look at the recommended places, and start there. You’ll find that it’s easier to get into the swing of your new lifestyle when you’re in a place that is geared towards digital nomads, and where there’s already an existing community. 

Setting Up a Base
People tend to think that the digital nomad lifestyle involves forever moving from one place to the next, but that’s not really the case. Well, people do it, but it’s not recommended, not in the early days, at least. It’s much better if you stay in one destination for at least a few months, since this will give you the time you need to get to know the destination, make friends, and get into the flow of work. So look at setting up a base in a place that piques your interest. You can do this by renting a house or finding a room in a shared flat. Part of the beauty of the lifestyle is that you can stay there until you feel called to visit somewhere new, at which point you can just pack up your belongings and move on. 

Work Discipline
Digital nomads that are new to the lifestyle often get caught out by a common issue: they find that their work suffers. On the face of it, this should come as no surprise: when you find yourself in a new and exciting destination, all you want to do is explore and have fun. That’s why it’s really important that you cultivate the art of self-discipline both before you set off and when you’re there. You don’t want your new-found lifestyle to come to a premature end because you were not working as well as you could have. There will be plenty of time to have fun...make sure that you get your work done first.

Making Friends
Of all the complaints that digital nomads have, perhaps the most common one is that they feel lonely. This is understandable, since you’ve jetted thousands of miles away from your friends and family, but it shouldn’t be a long-term complaint. There are a million and one ways to make friends when you’re traveling. Look at working at a coworking space, attending meetup events, and just going up to people and introducing yourself. In time, you’ll find that you’ve got a lot of friends around you. 

Connecting With Home
You might be off having the time of your life, but remember to stay in touch with home. It’s easy to lose yourself a little when you’re out exploring the world, but those regular calls can help to keep you grounded. Plus, it’s a little awkward to return home after several years and know that you didn’t do as much to stay in touch as you could have. It’ll be your friends and family who are there for you long-term, don’t forget.

Staying Legal
We tend to think that the internet opens all doors and that we can do whatever we want. But it’s not true. If you’re going to be a digital nomad, then be sure to sort out all the necessary visas beforehand, and have a chat with a tax expert. You may need to pay taxes in the place that you’re temporarily calling home.

Make the Most of It 
Finally, make the most of it! You’ll be on an exciting adventure that won’t last forever. Throw yourself into it, and you will be rewarded with plenty of memories.