In recent years, the digital nomad lifestyle has been on the up and up. The increasingly popular remote/hybrid workplace trends have helped allow people to work wherever they want. It can help people create a flexible work/life balance for themselves by traveling and working digitally from their laptops. Digital nomads work online from their computer in various locations of their choice. They are not necessarily tied down to living in a specific city where their business is located. The digital nomad lifestyle can be an exciting possibility for those who may have caught the travel bug and might want to take advantage of more flexibility in their work-life balance. Here are some tips that we recommend to anyone wanting to start living the digital nomad lifestyle.

Getting Your Gadgets Sorted

First things first: technology. If you’re aspiring to be a digital nomad, then having the right technology can be critical to achieving the digital nomad lifestyle. Having the right laptop for your digital needs, such as a laptop or desktop, and the right amount of storage space can be important. Consider backing up all your files both locally and in the cloud. That way if you happen to lose your laptop, you can still access files until you get a new one.

As a digital nomad traveling internationally, it’s important to note that not all electrical outlets are the same around the world. In the event your phone or laptop battery dies, consider carrying a universal travel adapter with you that can help make your charger plugs fit any outlet you come across during your travels. Also, if you find yourself without an outlet anywhere nearby, then consider traveling with rechargeable power packs. This can help you stay connected even when you’re out and on the road!

Setting Up an International Phone Plan

When traveling country to country, it can be important to figure out an international plan with your phone provider. Some digital nomads have tried to rely on only Wi-Fi with their phone and ended up with the cost of paying international roaming fees if they were not near a Wi-Fi connection. To avoid the fees and not rely on areas with Wi-Fi, you may want to opt for an international phone plan with your primary phone carrier or look into purchasing a local SIM card. Many phone carriers have international plans that can be beneficial if you plan on traveling between countries and want to keep your current phone number. If you plan on staying in one country for a longer period, then purchasing a local SIM card that is compatible with your phone may be the best option. You can get fairly quick cell service and it’s often an inexpensive way to secure cellular data.

Checking the Time

For many digital nomad jobs, it is possible that you might be working in a different time zone from where your client or employer is located. If you have regular meetings, try making sure you plan a suitable meeting time for both you and your client or employer. You most likely won’t want to get up at 4am to hop on a call with your client all the way across the world, and vice versa.  In some parts of the world, you may even be an entire day ahead of or behind your client. Consider the time differences and communicate with your team or clients, so they know when you are available and can expect to hear from you.

Finding Balance

Finding balance between work and travel might be one of the most difficult things about remote work abroad. When you are in a new country, it can be easy to spend a chunk of your time traveling and being focused on leisure activities, and not spending enough time working. Don’t get us wrong, traveling to a new place can be full of exciting food, attractions, and people, but making time for work is important to achieve the digital nomad lifestyle. Consider setting clear boundaries and plan your days out based on the hours you want to work and hours you want to set aside for exploring. After all, you are in a new country, so consider making plans to be a tourist in the place you are visiting. Whether it’s visiting popular tourist attractions or places off the beaten path, try planning some time in your work schedule for exploring.

Learning the Language

Working remotely as a digital nomad can get lonely, especially in a country where you don’t speak the native language. Try learning a few phrases in the local language. A simple “Hello”, “please”, “thank you”, or “I’m sorry” can go a long way if you are living in a foreign country. It can be very useful to download apps such as Google Translate for translating sentences, reading signs, or understanding food menus. Once you feel comfortable, you can venture out to coworking spaces that cater to digital nomads or spark up a conversation with someone at a local coffee shop. Getting to know the language and meeting locals may be a great way to network and embed yourself into a community.

Considering Travel Protection

Whenever traveling, whether it’s in your home country or abroad, the unexpected can happen. For example, it’s possible your electronics and luggage can get stolen or lost. You can protect yourself by investing in a travel protection plan that can refund part or all the cost of your lost or stolen items. Travel Insured International offers plans that can cover all the basics and more with optional benefit upgrades. Whether you’re just getting started on your digital nomad journey or are an experienced digital nomad, consider protecting yourself with a travel protection plan from mishaps that can happen along the way. Visit our website or talk to your travel advisor to learn more.

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