Over 4.8 million American workers are self-described digital nomads— workers who travel and work remotely using digital tools.
While this position seems too good to be true, there are steps one can take in order to become a digital nomad themselves.
First, negotiate with an employer and make the case for your professional value. Suggest that working from home can boost your productivity and provide proof.
Your remote office should have the essentials. For example, have reliant Wi-Fi, earbuds with a mic, a meeting app, or collaborative app like Slack.
Also make sure your documents are in order and up to date, such as your passport or visa.
It is also necessary for digital nomads to have a home base for mail, bills, banking and employer records. This can be done by either using a parent/friend’s house or renting out a physical mailing address that can forward your mail to you.
One of the most important tasks when prepping to be a digital nomad is picking out your destination and budgeting for it. Some apps like Destigogo can help you build a budget depending on where you’re traveling to.
Then, find a long-term lodging option with Wi-Fi access, close proximity to work spaces and other factors using Airbnb or Innclusive.
Getting insured is also very important when traveling overseas.
“The easiest option for digital nomads is to maintain a home base somewhere in the States and keep an address where they’re registered to,” said Chad Rixse, a financial planner. “That way they can continue to use their personal health insurance, which often covers health care abroad to a certain extent.”
Finally, hiring someone that can help you manage your taxes can help with the heavy lifting that comes with working in one place and living in another.
