Have you ever dreamed of being able to work from anywhere in today’s world? The idea of working remotely and traveling simultaneously has become increasingly popular. If you look for #digitalnomad on Instagram, you can see various digital nomads posting their travels and adventures while working remotely. Many people seek freedom and flexibility, so they want to become digital nomads. But little did they know that digital nomads grind a lot. Did you know that, on average, digital nomads spend 8–10 hours on their keyboards daily? If you are trying to be a digital nomad to escape work, you better find another career path.
In reality, they climb up the ladder. Before they reach that point, there are a lot of sacrifices, sleepless nights, and long hours of work; the pictures and videos may depict the lifestyle of a digital nomad, but often the natural lifestyle of a digital nomad is far from the instagrammable lifestyle that you saw a lot of on the internet.
In this post, we’ll explore what it means to be a digital nomad, and let’s know if you are ready for this kind of lifestyle; here are some criteria I observed that successful digital nomads have.
I. Wanderlust
Are you ready to become a digital nomad officially? You are excited and have been dreaming of it for a long time. While the idea of working and traveling may sound like a dream come true, the reality is that it can be quite different from what you might expect.
As a digital nomad, you often have to figure out how to get around and explore cities you don’t know, as well as deal with many challenges and situations along the way. There will be days when you are exhausted, sweaty,and stinky, and so lost that you are still trying to figure out how to reach your next location.
If you enjoy adventure and can handle the challenges and uncertainty of traveling, then becoming a digital nomad might be the right path for you. But if you are not ready and expect the luxurious life you saw on Instagram, you may quickly become anxious and frustrated.
It is also crucial to remember that while you are traveling, work is still your top priority. This means that you’ll need to be willing to make a lot of sacrifices to ensure that you have a reliable internet connection and can stay on top of your workload.
II. Dedication
Dedication is the key to the long-term sustainability of being a digital nomad. At the same time, a love for travel and adventure may initially draw you to this lifestyle, but it won’t sustain you in the long run.
Sure, you may have spent your teenage life exploring your local cities or even your own country, but do you have the pure dedication to balance work and travel as a digital nomad?
It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you’re on vacation and don’t have to work. But the reality is that you need to be able to motivate yourself to work and grind and avoid procrastination.
And you need to set your schedules and be flexible and adaptable to them. Yet, you must be determined to face many challenges because sometimes the schedule you selected may not happen due to various circumstances. Sometimes you will drop everything you need to do because of short-term pleasures like skydiving or enjoying the sunset while surfing.
But it’s important to remember that your finances fuel your lifestyle. If you don’t keep an eye on your finances, you could quickly find yourself running on empty and heading back to your home.
This will bring you to the next point. That you must have…
III. Financial Literacy
Can you imagine this: You are lounging on a tropical beach, laptop open, and enjoying the sunset and pineapple juice? Sounds like the ideal life of a digital nomad, doesn’t it? But wait a minute before you jump into this lifestyle; let’s talk about the crucial aspect of becoming a successful digital nomad: financial literacy.
Digital nomads should be financially literate, or else they will need to struggle on this path because, as a digital nomad, you can design your lifestyle. But still, handling your finances wisely and making them sustainable in the long run is crucial.
Think of it like building a house. The foundation is crucial; the structure will stay intact with a strong foundation. One way to increase your financial literacy is to learn basic accounting. You don’t have to be an accounting expert. It would help to have a simple profit and loss statement and a tracker for your income and expenses.
Financial literacy is essential for a successful digital nomad journey. So, take time to learn how to manage your finances, build assets, and create sustainable and long-term income streams that allow you to continue your digital nomad adventures.
IV. Outgoing or Self-Starter
Being outgoing and a self-starter is crucial to your digital nomad journey. As a digital nomad, you will explore many cities and countries that are unfamiliar to you. There are also a lot of foreign cultures, people, and ways of living in the U.S. That’s why being outgoing will help you quickly connect and build relationships with other digital nomads, potential clients, and potential business partners.
Moreover, being a self-starter means you are highly motivated, can manage your schedules and deadlines, and can work efficiently without a boss around you. That’s why you must be self-motivated and disciplined to complete the work on time.
V. Hustle and Grind Mentality
Living as a digital nomad is not all about fancy vacations and adventures. The road can be tricky and unpredictable, with many challenges testing your determination. But if you are determined and passionate enough, the fruit can be immeasurable.
You’ll experience life in such a way that there’s no specific guidebook at all. No online course or mentor could teach you how to prepare for this path. But your experiences will teach you a lot; you’ll learn about different cultures and gain experiences that will last a lifetime.
Sometimes you might find yourself working long hours, sacrificing sleep, sleeping on couches, or even learning to sail across the oceans. But these experiences will equip you and make you more resilient.
If you have a hustler mentality and are willing to put in real work, the rewards are limitless. It won’t always be an easy path. There are a lot of ups and downs along the road, but keep going because a nomadic lifestyle will teach you valuable lessons and the best experiences.