How to Become a Full-Time Digital Nomad
Always dreamed of being your own boss? Then you’re in luck — thanks to the internet, turning that dream into a reality has never been easier. In the past few years, there’s been a significant increase in the number of people who earn a living exclusively via the World Wide Web.
Once you have a location-independent income, the whole world — or a large chunk of it, at least — becomes your oyster. When all you need to earn money is your laptop and an internet connection, you can steer yourself in any direction you please, confident that you can take care of business regardless of where you end up.
Of course, while today it’s easier to become a digital nomad, it’s not exactly easy. Getting there will, in most cases, be a challenge. In this post, we’ll run through some handy tips that’ll push you in the right direction.
Table of contents
Identify Your Options
It’s true that there’s a near-endless number of ways to become a digital nomad. However, the number of ways that are available to you will be much smaller. Some people have the skills and mindset to become a professional poker player; others will be better suited towards writing, or becoming a graphic designer.
A good starting point is to figure out where your existing skills and experience lie. If you’ve been playing poker for years, then turning professional could be an achievable aspiration. If you’ve been writing as a hobby for years, then copywriting could be a viable option with a little training.
Understanding Your Level
You might be eager to launch into this fun and exciting phase of your life, but it’s a good idea to show a little patience. You’ll be more likely to succeed if you’re completely ready to meet the high standards that living a digital nomad life demands.
In some instances, knowing that you’re ‘ready’ might be obvious. If you’ve been getting more and more writing work, for instance, then committing to it full-time will be a no-brainer. Others, such as becoming a professional poker player, require a little more thought since you won’t have the hard data of billed hours to influence your decision. Rather, you’ll need to make your judgment on mostly non-data-driven factors, such as whether you can commit to studying the game and other indicators that you should turn professional. Ultimately, whether it’s writing, poker, or anything else, you’ll need to be operating at a decent level — after all, at professional levels, standards are high.
Gain as Much Experience as Possible
In the early days of your digital nomad adventure, it’s recommended to pick up as much experience as possible in your chosen field. For instance, to again use writing as an example, you may try out a range of different writing styles and projects until you find the one that works best for you. If you’re an aspiring poker professional, then playing a mix of games (cash games, tournaments) will help to improve your overall play. As with most things, the more you know, the better you’ll be able to navigate the world in which you now find yourself.
Invest in Overall Wellness
There’s much to love about being a digital nomad, but there are some downsides. For instance, when you’re continually traveling and having fun, it can be difficult to stay on top of your overall wellness. And that can have a subtly corrosive impact on your capacity to do your job.
The best writers, poker players, video animators, and other professionals invest in their overall well-being, including taking care of their bodies, meditating, and avoiding bad habits. These things require effort, and they’re not always fun. However, they’ll ensure that you can deliver your best on a consistent basis.
Essential Traits: Discipline and Positivity
As the old saying goes, ‘whether you believe you can or cannot, you are correct.’ You’ll need to truly believe that you can make this new life work for you. Combine that positivity with discipline and hard work, and everything will be within reach.
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