Getting paid to travel — sounds like the life, right? What if we told you it was possible? Working as a digital nomad has become a popular thing among many young individuals due to social media. If you go on Instagram today versus a year ago you will see more people sharing photos of their incredible journeys around the world rather than their everyday lives. You’re probably wondering how did they get there and what does it take to be a digital nomad? It isn’t impossible, but it also isn’t easy. If you are a traveler at heart and you are always down for adventures, then this is for you. However, you have to comfortable with living on the edge, without a normal schedule and most of being in unfamiliar places. Is this sounds like something you would love to be doing then we have everything you need to learn how?
Here are the steps to traveling the world and becoming a digital nomad:
What Is a Digital Nomad?
First, it is important to have a clear understanding as to what a digital nomad is and what they do. A digital nomad is an individual who gets paid through social media to travel the world and share their experiences. However, you are not always paid in the beginning, you may have to travel at your own expense before gaining any attention. Digital Nomads explore cities and share adventurous experiences with the online world through photos and videos. Sounds fun, right? Here is how you can become one:
1. You Have to Be Desperate to Get Away.
First, before anything, you need to be so desperate to get away that you are willing to quit your job and leave your friends, family, and the comfort of sleeping on a luxury mattress. You will have to give up luxury items like a sanitary environment cleaned by a professional office cleaning company. Instead, you have to accept that sometimes, your office might just be a bunk at a hostel or another place that may not be as clean as you prefer.
To be a digital nomad you have to be okay with leaving your life behind. For some people that is exactly what they need. In order to be a “successful” nomad, you need to have no attachments and have a free spirit in order to move around from place to place. During the process of being a digital nomad, you will not really have a place to call home. Before you embark on this journey, ensure you are ready emotionally and mentally because it is not suited for everyone!
2. Prepare for a Nomadic Lifestyle.
The journey to becoming a digital nomad can be long and hard and it will require a lot of effort at first. However, the experience and journey are well worth the sacrifices. Before you set off on your adventures you need to prepare for the “nomadic” lifestyle.
As a digital nomad, you will frequently be crossing multiple time zones. To keep your productivity on track and to keep up with the time zone you’re in, make sure to invest in a reliable watch from Tissot or another established brand known for time accuracy. If you’re a man, you also want to shop for a travel-ready beard trimmer — after all, you can’t carry on a razor, and you don’t want to keep spending money and time buying a new razor at each new destination.
You will also want to research health services, such as the nearest gastroenterologist if you see one regularly, or the closest STD testing lab. These kinds of things don’t seem essential until it’s an emergency. It’s best to be prepared by researching the healthcare options available in whatever area you’re headed to before you get there.
When you live a nomadic life for a digital career, loneliness will creep up on you once in awhile. For some people, these situations can be maddening. It’s a good idea to be aware of this potential loneliness and to think ahead of things you can do to while away your time when on the road, such as playing fun games online or reading a book.
3. Get Exposure.
It is important to understand that when you start off your digital nomad career you won’t have any sponsors or ways to get paid just yet. It is completely out of pocket in the beginning, so it is in your hands to get enough exposure. This means traveling to places that already receive large amounts of exposure, using correct hashtags, tag your locations, reach out to brands or photographers, and post your experiences on every social media platform. It is also important to make relationships with other digital nomads while you are traveling because that is how you will gain most of your exposure. Reach out to people who are in the same city as you and meet up! It is always nice to make new and exciting relationships. Everyone is different in timing when it comes to being a paid digital nomad, however, it usually takes anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, so be patient!
4. Learn Video and Drone Skills.
Digital Nomads today are utilizing video and drones more than ever before. They use high-end cameras such as the GoPro and drone devices to record their adventures. If you want to have good content and keep up with trends it might be a good idea to invest in some video equipment and learn how to use them efficiently!
