How do you fancy waking up in a trendy downtown apartment?
Where at lunchtime you can explore the local street food hotspots, or what about taking your laptop down to the beach for a session of editing while you sip ice-cold cocktails?
Well, those are just a few of the options available to the digital nomad blogger, a career choice you can find out all about in my post below.
Will I have to do other work?
One of the key questions that most folks that are considering becoming a digital nomad ask is, will my blogging sustain me, or will I have to do other forms of work as well?
Well, the truthful answer to this is maybe, depending on your personal success concerning the question below.
However, even if you do need to generate a little extra cash on your digital nomad adventure, it doesn’t mean you have to go get a job in a beach bar unless you really want to that is.
In fact, there are plenty of other paying gigs that digital nomads can embrace, including offering your skills to others via freelance sites.
After all, there are a plethora of people and businesses out there that need someone to create good content for them.
Alternatively, you could do something else that can be done on your laptop as you are traveling around, including setting up and flipping websites or running digital communities and webinars.
Of course, you could even do some virtual assistant, or data entry work in a push too. Just remember the main thing is to keep your finances ticking over so you can remain a digital nomad for as long as possible.
Can I get my blog to generate enough money?
Another big question that many digital nomads ask is, whether they can get their blog to generate enough money to finance their travels?
Of course, no one can completely predict whether a particular blog will take off or not, but you can certainly begin optimizing your chances of success before you even leave the country.
To do this, remember to create as many revenues stream from your blog or blogs, as possible.
These may include some or all of the options such as paid advertising, hosting paid material to boost SEO, using affiliate marketing, and even offering your own digital products for sale such as worksheets, guides, and eBooks.
The reason being that if you diversify your income stream in this way, you will be in a much more secure financial position while traveling.
In fact, even if one stream all but dries up, you will still have the others to rely upon, which can be a godsend when you are far from home.
What accommodation should I get?
Now, there is no point telling you where in the world to visit, because everyone will have different answers to this question, and part of the fun of being a digital nomad is being able to travel around and explore wherever you like.
However, advice on securing the right type of accommodation is something that is worth discussing here.
Firstly, it’s worth doing some research on the current state of things in the location you’re planning on visiting.
Something that posts like this property market 2018 guide can help you with.
This is because if you have an idea whether it is a buyers or renters market, and the typical costs involved, you will be in a much stronger position to choose the right a type accommodation for your needs.
Secondly, before you commit to anything on a longer-term basis its best to rent an Airbnb style apartment for a few weeks.
Then you can get your bearings, see what areas you like, and not have to rush into any decisions when picking a more extended term rental, or even home purchase.
The latter being an option that can serve your temporary accommodation needs, and then be used as an investment property to rent out, or sell on, when you move to another location.
Remote working hacks.
Apart from finding a suitable place to live, it’s also vital that you get a handle on how to work effectively as a digital nomad if you want to keep going over the long term that is.
In particular, setting a schedule for yourself and sticking to this can make all the difference, even though it seems like getting up and completing work whenever, would be more fun.
In reality, it’s really not, because when working alone it can be effortless to fall into the habit of working all of the time, something that means you won’t get to explore all the beautiful places in the location you are visiting.
It’s also not great for your mental health either, because working with no downtime at all it nearly always a terrible idea.
Next, don’t forget that while your overarching goal is to see the world and experience all the fantastic places you have on your bucket list, the thing that is allowing you to do this is your digital work.
Therefore, prioritizing this over and above anything else will help you to maintain financial stability in the long term.
It’s also something that can keep you motivated as well, because who wouldn’t glide through their work the promise of exploring an ancient temple, exotic rainforest, or bustling city as a reward at the end?
Staying in contact with your network.
It is also crucial to remember that while the life of a digital nomad can be an exciting one, it can also feel a little lonely from time to time as well. In fact, traveling and working entirely on your own while being on the other side of the world from your friends, and family can be quite challenging at times.
To that end, it’s important to stay in contact with people from your own support system at home. Whether this is through social media, phone, or video calling, or a combination of all three.
Staying in regular contact with your support network is an essential, if you want to be a successful digital nomad.
Also, don’t forget that there is now a worldwide network of digital nomads with whom you can connect while you are away from home.
After all, meeting people that are in the same position and location as you, and that can offer advice and companionship is a sure fire way of defeating any homesickness you may experience.
Plan for hard times.
Lastly, because the life of a digital nomad is that much more complicated than someone in a more normal situation, things will go wrong, and it’s important to accept and plan for this.
With that in mind, it’s crucial that you have a plan B for when your accommodation falls through, such as a contact you can bunk with, or a cheap local B&B.
Also, it can be notoriously tough to get customers to pay freelance invoices on time, so have a line of credit ready, just in case your latest paycheck is late, is a smart idea.
Lastly, getting sick in a place where you don’t know anyone and can’t speak the language is certainly not fun, but it can happen.
Therefore it’s wise to have your emergency contact details, as well as information on any medical conditions you have, on your person, and translated into the native language of the place you are traveling in at the time.
OK, so these things aren’t going to happen all of the time, but being ready when they do can make all the difference to your digital nomad experience.
In fact, its something that can help you to stay on the road and make it as a digital nomad over the long term.
