What Does It Mean To Be A Digital Nomad?

If there's one thing the COVID-19 global pandemic taught us about our jobs, it's that almost all of them can be done remotely. While some people are trickling back slowly into the office, many are choosing to remain work-from-home employees. A recent MBO Partners study found that remote worker numbers were up 26% in 2022 compared with 2021, and that is directly due to business models shifting their attitudes around remote work. If these trends continue, 22% of the American workforce in its entirety will be remote by 2025, per Upwork. Do you want to be one of them? And better yet, would you prefer to do your remote work from, say, a beachside bar in Bali? Or a rooftop terrace overlooking the ocean in Bermuda? If you've got a laptop, a cup of coffee, and a great WiFi connection, then you can call yourself a digital nomad.

Being a digital nomad differs from being a work-from-home employee in that nomads frequently change their locations while working, per Expert Vagabond. The outlet stresses that nomads can work anywhere in the world, utilizing every technological advantage at their disposal, like co-working spaces and even libraries. Do you have a side hustle that you could conceivably turn into a full-time remote job? How might you even begin making the shift to a nomadic worker? We've got the tea, prepare for the spillage. 

Being a digital nomad means you can perform your employment duties with the same efficiency and flair from any location around the world rather than being stuck in the office. A job that allows you to be location-independent is key to making it work long-term. So you're probably wondering if your job could fit that mold. Of course, being a freelance or contract worker might be the first job that comes to mind, but Lonely Planet reports that 84% of workers suspect their current role could be modified to suit a digital nomad format. The outlet says that "digital-based industries" are best suited. So if you work as a consultant, in IT, interior design, or even in public relations, you could probably make the switch. 

The great news is that, even if you don't have a fancy degree, you can still transition to the digital nomad lifestyle. Some remote jobs don't require much schooling or training, like transcriptionist or virtual assistant, while others can easily be finessed to the remote life, like an accountant, per Monster. In addition, Forbes reports that jobs like digital marketer or bilingual translator are some of the most in-demand roles for digital nomads. Lonely Planet says a large number of digital nomads earn somewhere around $2000 a month too, so if you're living in Bangkok, where the cost of living is only around $900 a month, that's a lot of savings in your pocket.

As we all know, you can't just pick up and move to a new country without a work visa. Fear not, because if your main source of employment is based in your home country, many countries are now offering digital nomad visas to encourage foreigners to try the local lifestyle. Forbes reports that both Brazil and Indonesia have introduced new visas for immigrants with foreign employers that would allow them to stay for years. The outlet says that a whopping 46 countries are offering digital nomad visas. So which countries are they, and how can you apply? Expert Vagabond lists some of the hottest new digital nomad visas now available with easy-to-follow application instructions. Raise your hand if you'd like to work remotely in Bali? Bermuda? Costa Rica? Caymen Islands? *Raises all the hands* 

And if you're too intimidated to take the plunge overseas alone, there are companies that can facilitate fun and friendly digital nomad tours, where you end up working and interacting with other nomads from around the world. Companies like Remote Year offer accommodations, transportation, city tours, and the opportunity to work alongside other nomads for a range of prices and durations.

Just don't forget rule number one of being a digital nomad: know your time zones! If it's 8:00 AM in New York, it's 2:00 PM in Paris. So don't be late for your shift!