How to Become a Digital Nomad & Work Anywhere
Posted by Holly in Blogging, Interesting, Travel
Have you ever wanted the freedom to work online while exploring the world?
Making money online, and living as a “digital nomad,” is increasing in popularity in 2009. Social media, marketing, and online opportunities are increasing like never before. Working remotely (while traveling the world or living anywhere on the globe) is lucrative, and feasible if you deeply desire to have that lifestyle. 
There’s nothing more refreshing than waking up to the sound of waves crashing against the sandy shore of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Imagine being there, pulling out the laptop and working from the beach. It sounds incredible, but how is it possible?
I found a great article from Almost Fearless, a blog about quitting your job and traveling the world. Click to read the full article on Becoming a Digital Nomad: Options for Working Remotely and Living Anywhere.
14 Responses to “How to Become a Digital Nomad & Work Anywhere”
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Anna
08. Jun, 2009
I think its a great idea and great to provide resources for others on this subject. Ironically my strictly nomadic days ended in early 1994, around the birth of the Internet. I had to use telegrams sometimes to communicate at all with family, and sometimes even that was not an option for weeks/months. So I have often imagined what it would be like now …
But even if you are not a full-time nomad, working online does open a lot of doors and gives you the opportunity to be a lot more mobile. Just knowing that you can plan your time as you see fit, jump in the car at the last minute with your laptop and drive a few hundred or a couple thousand miles and keep track of your business on the way, is a big step forward. Not that you want to be working online full time, but you can set some of your projects up ahead of time so you just need an hour or two a day (or week) to keep up with things.
There is another thing though – working online also gives you more freedom of location even when you are not traveling. For example, I am only able to live where I do, in the forest away from civilization, because I work online. Otherwise I would have to move.
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Jason
09. Jun, 2009
It’s strangely ironic that I’ve been thinking about this very topic lately. I was laid off from my job and now I’m considering trying to work for myself. But I have a question (doesn’t seem to covered in the article link) about forming a business if you have no permanent residence. I’m currently renting a room in Arizona and don’t plan on staying here much longer, not positive but I may be leaving the state. Is there a way I can still create a an online business in a situation like this?
Sorry if this seems like a very newb question, just trying to start somewhere…
Thanks for any advice,
Jason
Holly
09. Jun, 2009
Hi Jason. That is a great question actually. If you think you may be moving – you might want to get an address from a service like: http://www.usa2me.com/site/default.aspx – I used to use this one when I was traveling a lot. If you use their services, you will have a normal address (in a state that you choose) and you will be able to access mail and have it sent to you whenever you like. I hope this helps!
Irish Tom
09. Jun, 2009
Hi Holly
This was quite an interesting article.
With todays technology, there is no reason not to be able to become a Digital Nomad. A word of caution though would be to set up your internet business at home first and once you were getting a decent income then away you go.
When I travel home to Ireland for a visit, I take my laptop and it leaves me in constant contact whereever I stop.
A colleague of mine on line, Mark Evans, is more in to property, but he has recently completed a two year “holiday” travelling all over the world. Mark has a well established business with an office in Ohio, but he run the show with his laptop and his Blackberry on the road.
So, yes it can be done, but I bet it would get boring after a while?
Btw, thats a great address service you listed.I didn’t know something like this existed.
Have a great day and Thanks again.
Tom
Holly
10. Jun, 2009
Hi Tom!
I definitely agree with you fully. Do not take off on your around-the-world adventure until you have a decent income or a nice amount of money saved. ALTHOUGH, I must say that when I initially started online marketing, and Josh was 4 months old – we moved to Thailand with no savings and hardly an income. So that was a gamble, especially with a child. People should use their judgment – but your advise really is useful.
What your friend Mark just did is awesome – with his 2 year holiday. I am so tempted to do an extended holiday with Josh because he is not yet of school age and has the time now. I need to get all my things in order first though. We’ll see what happens. If anyone is interested in doing something like that, the absolute best website to buy cheap multi-stop, around the world airline tickets is http://www.AIRTREKS.com – and you can follow http://twitter.com/justinkorn who works in management for the company – if you have any inquiries or need to contact someone about it just send him a tweet.
Anna
10. Jun, 2009
Speaking of gambling … it just reminds me. When I was 17 I was in Europe for a bit ,and then came back to the US for a few months. I was trying to save money to travel in Europe but somehow I kept making stupid mistakes so that I spent all the money I saved. In the end I was not willing to wait any longer, because I wanted to go back to Eastern Europe. I had a flight ticket and I had exactly $10.00. I bought some paperback books from the Salvation Army in DC, for 10 cents each. I flew to Frankfurt on “Air Hitch” hitch hiked to Prague, stayed with a friend there, survived for several weeks by selling my paperback books to English-speaking ex-pats in Prague, for 100 Czech crowns each. Then I hitch hiked to Munich, where I got about 6 different jobs and thus saved the money I needed to get to Asia.
But some people are not really into that kind of thing, and some have children or other obligations. I agree with Holly that its safest to have a steady income or savings before you go.
HOWEVER, if you are the adventurous type and can take the risk, the truth is that people have been working their way from country to country for decades, long before the Internet existed. When I was doing that, my biggest frustration was my age (16/17) because the best jobs for foreigners were in bars and I had to be 18 for that. So if you are over 18 it should be easier
.
My point is really just that people have been doing it for a long time – working in everything from vineyards to banana boats. Its a matter of how adventurous you feel
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Holly
10. Jun, 2009
Anna you are so funny! Do you still recommend “hitching”?
It sounds rather dangerous – I am happy you’re alive! You are so adventurous that is awesome. Since I have a child, I wouldn’t really do that – but when I was 17 I did a lot of traveling in S.E. Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Borneo and Thailand) with VERY LITTLE money. At that time I would have hitched,I stayed at very cheap places and even at the homes of the locals who took me in. I was just backpacking around – with one single Lonely Planet Guidebook. It was the most freeing experience – to have no belongings or anything to tie me down.
Also, Anna you are right that if you are adventurous – you can find a way to survive. There are a handful of these people just traveling and exploring the world – blogging along the way. There is also a great website that I am a part of – but have not yet “hosted” anyone on – it is: Couchsurfing. If you need a free place to stay at while visiting a certain city, you can search for an open “couch” or home that is offering the space. I know people in Las Vegas who do this all the time – and they meet a lot of incredible people who are traveling around. It is cheap (free) and fun – as long as you are safe. The people participating need to go through being reviewed a bit and “vouched” for. It’s a great site. I am going to write another post about what you have to do to be a nomad marketer – some steps and things to consider. I’m excited for whoever does this – as it is a great way to live and explore.
Jason
10. Jun, 2009
Thanks Holly, I’ll check that one out.
Appreciated,
Jason
Anna
10. Jun, 2009
Lol I don’t really recommend hitch hiking actually! That was ’91-’93 in Europe, and at that time it was still relatively safe in Europe, but not in the US. Now I don’t think its safe in Europe either. Actually back then I had some close calls. But I had a special method of hitch hiking from strategic locations, like border controls or gas stations so that I could pick out who I was going to ask for a ride – families and stuff. Or the border control police would sometimes have me sit down inside and they would find the rides for me! In South America I had to hitch-hike but only because of floods and Indian protests … okay I am SO going off topic. But I am definitely a Lonely Planet fan as well! I would love to hear more of your stories some time
I would probably still be traveling around right now, except that I am trying to handle some things and help some people with certain things, and for that I need to basically stay put. We actually are planning on eventually having a completely self-sufficient off-grid living set up here, so we will be prepared for everything. That’s also a kind of fun and adventurous idea, which you can’t do while being a nomad, but is also a lot easier if you work online.
But also I was thinking that later when I have more money, maybe I could take 3 months out of the year (when the weather is bad here) and take my blogs on the road. Like, stay in warmer places for a couple weeks here, and there, so that I can still get lots of work done but also get around a bit. I really want to go to Panama! I wanted to go to India for a long time but I think it’s wearing off from over-wanting lol. Sometimes I think it would be a lot of fun to wander around again … oh speaking of kids, my Czech friend and I traveled a lot with her 5-year old. We even had to hitch hike a couple of times with the 5-year-old! But it wasn’t exactly planned that way.
For you … maybe you could at least spend the summers being nomadic with Josh so you don’t get too bored even after he’s in school. Actually when I traveled with kids in the past I sometimes had them work on their school materials in the train – we called it “train school” …
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Holly
10. Jun, 2009
That’s awesome Anna! I think most backpacking travelers know this – but it is hard to travel with someone. You either love or despise them at the end of the trip. With Josh though (my 4 yr old) – he really comes alive when we travel. It’s awesome to let him thrive, live and experience things that are so foreign and new. It is exciting for me as well – I love it! I think summer travels are great – you can learn a lot more first hand traveling than in school (I think anyway).
And about your travels Anna – that sounds really adventurous – I’m curious to hear more about your travels too. I also had some close calls on my trip when I was 17 – I am actually very grateful to be alive. Things are not getting any safer.
Well anyway, hopefully when you get things taken care of Anna and do a little traveling we can meet.
We can blog about the adventures!: )
Anna
10. Jun, 2009
You are right about traveling with people. I tried it a couple of times and it was a disaster. One girl – well we never spoke to each other again. Another was a good friend and we are still in touch but she was the only person I could travel with, and even with her, if we did it for too long, we almost killed each other. I mean for Christ sake we were adults arguing over who rides the horse first in Texas …
Otherwise, sounds good Holly. Have you heard of “The Wave” on the Utah Arizona border? If not, Google it, its amazing. I want to go some time! Maybe we can pass through LV and take you out for coffee
Jess
11. Jun, 2009
http://www.BongoUS.com is also good for a permanent US address to set up and deliver purchases or correspondence to. Bongo will fwd your goods anywhere in the world
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Cash
16. Jun, 2009
Hi Holly
I really like the fact that you are honest.I think honesty is really underrated these days and its really hard to find people on the internet who are not trying to ripp you off.
When i find websites like yours its a breath of fresh air.
Keep up the good work
Cash x
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