Many workers dream of quitting their 9-to-5 office jobs and becoming digital nomads. If you want to take the leap and work remotely, the LMF Network shares how you can transition to this lifestyle.
Digital Nomad Job Opportunities
Surveys show that the number of digital nomads has sharply increased by more than 50% since 2019. The first step of joining the digital nomad workforce is finding an opportunity to work remotely. You may be able to negotiate a remote schedule with your current job, or you could find a new position. Some of the most common digital nomad jobs include web development, content writing, business, and graphic design.
Freelance Work
Another idea is to start your own freelance business. When you form your business entity, you’ll also need an EIN (US’s Employer Identification Number) or a tax ID number. For businesses, the EIN is how the IRS (US’s Internal Revenue Service) identifies your company and tracks your payroll taxes when you have employees.
An EIN makes it much easier to file state and federal taxes and process your tax payments quarterly or annually. You can get EIN online through a reputable formation service.
Remote Pay Tips
Next, you’ll need a strategy to support yourself. If you work for a company, you can negotiate a fair salary appropriate for your experience and skills. For freelancers, you may work as an independent contractor and have to cover self-employment taxes.
Freelance workers can also set their own hourly or project rates for clients, depending on their talent and industry experience.
Money-Saving Tactics
Remote workers can take advantage of their location flexibility and save on travel and living expenses. Consider working in countries with a low cost of living, such as Southeast Asia or Central America. Cut out unnecessary expenses like owning a car or eating at restaurants. Stay at least a month in each destination to save money.
Tech-Friendly Rentals
When looking for rental lodging for each destination, aim to find tech-friendly apartments and rentals. Ask potential landlords about Wi-Fi availability and speed. Make sure there are plenty of outlets for your tech so you can stay productive.
Device and Equipment Ideas
Digital nomads may also need to upgrade their devices and equipment before diving into this lifestyle. For example, you may need to change your cellphone plan to an international package. Also, invest in an external hard drive to save your important documents and cloud storage as a backup.
Client Communication Advice
Freelancers and workers who deal with clients need to have a solid communication strategy. You may want to invest in a work cellphone that allows clients to access you no matter where you are. Hold virtual meetings via video conference to get face-to-face time with your clients. Additionally, make yourself unavailable for a few hours each day to get some time to recharge and enjoy your destinations.
Relocation Strategies
When you’re ready to take the plunge into the digital nomad world, you’ll need to plan out your relocation strategy. If you own a home, you can either sell it or rent it out through a property management company. Before venturing out, consider selling your furniture, car, and other belongings or putting them in storage.
Becoming a digital nomad is a goal that you can make happen. Make a plan to have an easy transition to this way of life and enjoy your new freedom and exciting adventures around the world.
This blog contribution was made by Lance Cody-Valdez.
A few years ago, burned out and miserable from his job in corporate marketing, Lance Cody-Valdez decided it was time to invest in himself. He quit his job the following day and used his meager savings to stay afloat as he built a career as a freelance writer and content marketer. He created free-lance-now.com to help others use freelancing to escape the 9 to 5 daily grind.
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The LMF Network is an education careers platform bridging skills and the gender gap. In just five years, we’ve worked with 100s of companies on policy and people development worldwide, launched the UK's largest mentorship programme with a 90% goal success rate, and built a knowledge and networking platform where individuals can find friends, have career conversations, learn from e-courses, and connect with mentors. We’ve been the foundation of the book Unprepared to Entrepreneur and shared our mission on international stages. Our community trust us to support their development needs, build their confidence and align ourselves with trusted, inclusive partners who can nurture and grow talent to progress in their careers. We’ve upskilled 20,000 people in 3 years — we know what we are fighting for and need your help to make it happen.