If you're thinking about becoming a digital nomad or are simply curious about digital nomadism and want to learn more, I have good news for you: you're in the right place.
I've been a digital nomad since 2013. After graduating from the University of Bologna in Italy and studying in Lithuania and Turkey, I began working online while living in various countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
In this guide, I'll share my experience as a digital nomad, explain what a digital nomad is, outline the advantages and disadvantages, and help you discover whether your personality is compatible with the digital nomad lifestyle.
What is a digital nomad?
A digital nomad is someone who works from their computer and is not tied to a fixed location. However, this doesn't mean they have an easy life or spend all day working by a pool in some paradise — despite what Instagram might suggest.
First and foremost, a digital nomad is a worker. While it's true they might work from a beach in Bali, they still have to meet their professional responsibilities.
Digital nomads can work for a company as remote employees or as freelancers. They can also own their own business, depending on their personal situation. Although some people travel living off savings, they're a minority. Most digital nomads — like me and probably like you — work.
Like everything in life, being a digital nomad has its advantages and disadvantages. Let's explore them together.
Advantages of being a digital nomad
Let's start with the advantages of being a digital nomad:
- First, flexibility. Being a digital nomad gives you the freedom to set your own working hours, which means you can work when you want and rest when you want (as long as your job allows it).
- Second, freedom. This advantage is closely related to the previous one. Being a digital nomad offers incomparable freedom. You can theoretically work from anywhere, which means your only limitation is your imagination (and your budget, as I'll explain later).
- Additionally, this way of working allows you to discover new places and cultures that you otherwise couldn't experience. In short, personal growth is the greatest advantage.
- Third, lifestyle. Studies indicate that we spend around 4 years of our lives in a car — which is staggering. Working remotely allows you to save that time and, in general, lead a healthier lifestyle if you manage your work and free time well.
- Fourth, economic opportunities. In the beginning it can be tough if you have little experience, but over time and with a quality portfolio of work, you can aspire to higher income than by working your entire life in the same place at the same company.
- Another advantage is networking. Thanks to traveling and meeting people, you can build a network of contacts who share your interests, ambitions, and lifestyle. This network can help you personally as well as professionally — something we should never underestimate.
- Another advantage is low cost of living. Naturally, this depends on the location, but digital nomads tend to go to places where they can enjoy a very favorable ratio between their income and cost of living.
Disadvantages of being a digital nomad
Now let me walk you through the disadvantages of being a digital nomad. It's important to be aware of them, because everything I've described above is wonderful — but you need to know and, above all, be able to handle the downsides in order to enjoy the fruits of the digital nomad life.
- First, irregularity. It's very difficult to maintain a regular lifestyle — regular personal and work schedules — and this can negatively affect our lives, especially at the beginning. Staying organized is both a necessity and a challenge for a digital nomad, and not everyone manages to do it. It's not easy, trust me.
- Second, economic insecurity — that is, limited job security. A digital nomad doesn't have the economic security of, say, a government employee, and this is something you need to keep in mind.
- Third, loneliness. Although you meet many people, you also spend a lot of time alone. The internet lets us stay connected with family and friends, but it's not the same as being there in person.
How to start being a digital nomad
How to become a digital nomad starts with a clear and committed decision to change your lifestyle. As you can imagine, it's a very important choice — which is why it's necessary to follow several steps to do it right. Let's look at each one in detail:
Step 1: Self-analysis
The first step toward becoming a digital nomad is doing an honest and thorough self-assessment, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of this lifestyle.
Digital nomadism can offer incredible freedom and flexibility — working from anywhere and exploring the world at the same time. However, we can't overlook the disadvantages, such as lack of stability and potential loneliness.
Understanding these aspects before jumping in is crucial.
Step 2: Define your goals
Defining your goals is an essential step when beginning to become a digital nomad. This clarity will help you direct your efforts and give you a guide during your transition.
Some people may be drawn to digital nomadism to explore new cultures, while others may be looking for more flexibility in their work life. Regardless of your reasons, having clearly defined goals will allow you to make informed and strategic decisions about things like your remote work choice, managing your finances, and your travel plan.
In short: why do you want to become a digital nomad?
Step 3: Choose your profession
Choosing a profession that allows you to work from anywhere in the world is a crucial aspect of becoming a digital nomad.
To choose the most suitable one for you, you need to consider your current skills and your willingness to learn new ones. It's also useful to identify what you're passionate about and which industries you'd like to work in — while remembering that you need to choose a profession that allows you to work from anywhere in the world.
Step 4: Learn useful skills
Once you've chosen your profession, the next step is to acquire and sharpen the skills that will allow you to stand out in your field. For example, if you've decided to go into web development, you'll need to get familiar with programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Fortunately, there's a wide range of learning resources available online — from free tutorials and blogs to more structured online courses offered by educational institutions.
It's also important to remember that learning is a continuous process — trends and technologies change rapidly, especially in the digital world, so staying current and continuously acquiring new skills is essential as you advance in your digital nomad career.
Step 5: Build an online presence
The next step on your journey to becoming a digital nomad is building a solid and professional online presence. This may involve creating your own website where you can showcase your portfolio and detail your skills and experience. You might also want to consider starting a blog or YouTube channel where you can share your knowledge and experiences.
A well-managed online presence will not only help you attract potential clients or employers, but can also serve as a platform to connect with other digital nomads and build a support and collaboration network.
At this stage, I advise investing your time not only in building your personal brand with an effective value proposition, but also in your community of followers — because it will be an asset that helps you throughout the years in any situation.
Step 6: Find opportunities
The final step in your transition to becoming a digital nomad is finding work opportunities that allow you to start generating the income needed for this lifestyle. Depending on your field, these opportunities can range from freelance projects and long-term contracts to full-time jobs that can be done remotely.
You can find these opportunities on remote work websites, digital nomad forums, and through your network of contacts. It's important to be proactive, be willing to adapt, and have patience — it can take time to find the perfect opportunity that suits your skills and needs.
Remember, the journey to becoming a digital nomad is a marathon, not a sprint.
The most common questions about digital nomads (FAQs)
As with any lifestyle, there are many common questions and doubts that arise. In this section, we'll address some of the most frequent ones about digital nomads.
How much does a digital nomad earn?
The answer can vary enormously, since a digital nomad's income depends on many different factors. Some digital nomads work for companies and earn a regular salary, while others work as freelancers and can set their own prices and earnings.
It's important to understand that being a digital nomad isn't just about how much you earn, but also about the relationship between income and cost of living. A digital nomad can earn a very high salary in an expensive city like San Francisco or London, but due to the high cost of living, may end up with very little money left at the end of the month. On the other hand, a digital nomad earning a more modest salary in a country with a lower cost of living may enjoy a much higher standard of living. It's therefore important to consider the cost of living in different countries when evaluating potential income as a digital nomad.
In general, digital nomads can earn anywhere from a few hundred dollars per month to much higher figures, depending on their skill and dedication to their work, as well as demand in their field. However, for long-term success and a sustainable lifestyle, digital nomads must consider not just their income but its relationship to the cost of living in the places where they choose to work and live — choosing places that offer a good quality of life at a reasonable cost.
Do digital nomads travel every week?
Not necessarily. Being a digital nomad doesn't mean constantly traveling or having a very intense travel itinerary. I myself stayed in South America for almost two years 😊
In fact, many digital nomads prefer to settle in one location for an extended period and work from there. This allows them to explore the local culture more deeply, establish themselves in a community, and work more productively without the constant distraction of packing up and moving.
Of course, there are also digital nomads who prefer to travel constantly and work from different places every week or month. Ultimately, it depends on each individual nomad's preferences and needs.
Can I be a digital nomad without speaking English?
While English is not essential for being a digital nomad, it's important to acknowledge that the language can offer very valuable advantages. English can help you earn more money by working with international clients and collaborators, and can also help you live a better life. That's why I advise new digital nomads to start with an intensive English course in their home country before beginning to travel.
In summary, while it's not essential to be an English expert to become a digital nomad, having skills in this language can help expand your work opportunities and communication ability in the digital world.
Where do digital nomads work?
As you've probably gathered, digital nomads can work from virtually anywhere in the world, as long as they have access to a good internet connection and a suitable work environment. Many digital nomads work from their laptops in cafes, libraries, coworking spaces, or even from the comfort of their own accommodation.
When planning a new destination, it's important for digital nomads to research and verify the internet connection available — for example, by asking the host to show a screenshot of the actual home network speed.
Conclusion
Now that you have a clearer idea of what a digital nomad is and what the advantages and disadvantages are, I invite you to take steps to begin your digital nomad life if you're still interested. Growing and developing professionally gives you opportunities for change and to find the lifestyle you want.
If you're interested in being a digital nomad and are thinking about starting your own online business or working remotely, I invite you to join our online growth club. We offer monthly masterclasses that can help you start your online business or improve the performance of one you already have. You'll also have access to an exclusive community where you can network, look at case studies, and share experiences with remote workers — including some digital nomads.
