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The Mighty Boom In Remote Working Nomads
Digital nomads popularized the concept of remote working way before the pandemic. They’re constantly on the go. They travel to different territories while continuing to earn a living online. According to Forbes, almost 5 million Americans identified as “digital nomads” pre-pandemic.
Needless to say, the figure has since grown a lot.
Increasing numbers of people have started embracing remote working and the nomadic lifestyle after realizing the benefits that come with it.
Remote working is more possible than ever before
Google senior manager Arthur Deane had his first taste of remote working back in 2020. After 4 months of working from his Washington, D.C. apartment, he decided to travel abroad.
Deane ended up staying for a week in Aruba. It was an eye-opening experience.
The idea that he could spend time away from his home country while making a living proved extremely attractive.
“I don’t see returning to an office full-time being the way of the future,” Deane told National Geographic. “The pandemic has taught us that we can be productive without being in the office.”
Where can you find digital nomads?
The short answer: Everywhere!
They usually do not settle in a single place but they’re found in large numbers across a growing number of nomad-friendly destinations.
Estonia, for example, became one of the first countries in the world to introduce the digital nomad visa.
The Ministry of the Interior said the visa allows qualified tourists to stay in Estonia for a year. While there, they can legally work “for a foreign employer or as a freelancer, independent of location.”
By comparison, tourist visa holders only have permission to stay for up to 3 months.
Other areas with similarly favorable policies include:
Meanwhile, EuroNews tells us that these are the 10 best countries for digital nomads:
- Portugal
- Spain
- Romania
- Mauritius
- Japan
- Malta
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Czech Republic
- Germany
In any case, remember that different countries have different requirements for remote working nomads. It’s always best to do some research to obtain area-specific information.
What remote working nomads do
Highly-skilled and tech-savvy professionals, digital nomads vary in the ways they make money online. Some run their own businesses while others provide freelance services for a number of clients.
Common remote nomad jobs include graphic design, online tutoring, transcription, translation, writing, and virtual assistant.
A Harvard article said digital nomads “report remarkably high levels of job satisfaction (90%) and income satisfaction (76%).”
Best practices for those who want to explore the lifestyle
We recently published a short guide for those who want to become digital nomads on a tight budget. In addition to the pointers we’ve shared there about remote working, allow us to add a few more.
First, it’s important to remember the time zone differences. A newbie digital nomad should always keep this in mind to ensure smooth workflow and communication with international clients. That way, missed online meetings and failure to meet deadlines can be avoided.
Along with that, mastering time management skills is a must. Discipline is necessary when you can work anytime, anywhere. You want to schedule specific working hours daily to achieve productivity.
Also, make sure to have a virtual mailbox subscription. This service will allow you to simplify mail management while you’re always on the go.
Lastly, stay for a while. Don’t rush off without enjoying whatever far-flung and exotic place you find yourself in.
As business strategist Ashleigh Ramshaw shared with CNBC:
“I find it the easiest to work when I’m in flow and have stability.”
According to the feature, Ramshaw spends up to six months at a time in certain locations. She said having “somewhere to call home for a little while before you move on” is a good idea.
And finally, an inspirational quote from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Bottom Line
Remote working nomads are digital nomads who often work remotely, either online or offline. They may work in various industries, including online marketing, web design, and software development. Many remote working nomads frequently travel to different countries to experience new cultures and lifestyles. At times, they book a coworking space for a day or for a week, depending on how long they will stay in an area.
Some remote working nomads choose to work for themselves, while others work for companies that allow them to telecommute. There are several advantages to being a remote working nomad, including the ability to live and work in different places, the freedom to set your hours, and the opportunity to meet new people worldwide.
Of course, there are some challenges to being a remote working nomad, such as the need to be disciplined and organized, the lack of face-to-face interaction with colleagues, and the difficulty of staying connected to friends and family. However, for many people, the benefits of being a remote working nomad far outweigh the challenges.
Mark Rosario is a musician, a movie enthusiast, and a proud father of two. He’s been working as a professional writer since 2007 and currently blogs for TheFarmSoHo, a leading coworking space based in New York City.
