Do you dream of giving up your day job and traveling the world? It sounds ideal, especially after two years of travel restrictions – but such dreams are unrealistic unless you land the payday of a lifetime. The good news is that it’s possible to see the world while continuing to work, otherwise known as becoming a digital nomad.
These individuals travel to different locations and work on their laptops and smartphones in coffee shops, co-working spaces, or wherever they can find (or create) a Wi-Fi connection. The appeal is clear – and while the majority of digital nomads hail from the United States, Australians are also helping shape this new way of life.
Get a feel for whether it’s right for you by reading up on the pros, cons, and potential professions below.
The pros and cons of being a digital nomad
So why become a digital nomad? Let’s start with the obvious: you can travel more often and experience more countries and cultures than you would in a regular job. Your work will also be much more flexible, as you’ll be able to set your own schedule and work anywhere, anytime.
It’s a growing community too. Many nomads set up support groups in different locations, providing help with work and accommodation as well as organizing social events. You could also enjoy a lower cost of living than where you are right now – like in Australia, where most things are getting more expensive.
There are drawbacks to be aware of too though. Firstly, you’ll be leaving your loved ones behind and entering uncharted territory. You might enjoy the new lifestyle at first – but one bad travel experience is all it takes to throw some people off.
You may also increase your overall spending on things like travel and activities while lacking the structure or motivation to earn more money in the long term. There’s lots of admin involved with this way of life too, as different countries have different regulations for foreign visitors and workers.
The jobs you could do on the move
The best digital nomad jobs have little to no restrictions on location or schedule, relying instead on your skillset and a stable internet connection.
Ideal options include freelancing jobs such as writing, graphic designing, and software development. Or you could go it alone and monetize your own content through tactics like travel vlogging on YouTube.
Another viable route is investing. By becoming an expert forex trader, you’ll make money by tracking global trends and events and predicting how they’ll impact different economies. Other routes include offering customer or technical support to businesses, or teaching languages to foreign students.
Can you see yourself taking on any of these roles and thriving as a fully-fledged digital nomad?
