Over the last two years, millions of workers were able to successfully transition to work from home arrangements in what was previously called “the world’s greatest remote work experiment.”
Now, a new study finds that over 15.5 million workers in the US consider themselves to be “digital nomads,” a 112% increase from the levels seen in 2019.
This newfound freedom has greatly enhanced the lives of workers, but there is more to being a digital nomad than meets the eye. In order to get the most out of this lifestyle, it’s important to first find the best regions that support this way of working and living.
Analyzing remote worker incentives, the company Remote put together their “Best Destinations for Remote Work” report.
The top 10 US cities for digital nomads included:
- Salt Lake City
- Boston
- Denver, Colorado
- Concord, New Hampshire
- Minneapolis
- Miami
- Portland, Maine
- Montpelier, Vermont
- Jackson, Wyoming
- Seattle
The top 10 cities around the world for digital nomads included:
- Toronto, Canada
- Madrid, Spain
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Madeira, Portugal
- Helsinki, Finland
- Svalbard, Norway
- Berlin, Germany
- Valparaiso, Chile
- Dublin, Ireland
- Sydney, Australia
Many of these cities have introduced programs that make moving to the area easier for digital nomads and provide incentives that actively support this lifestyle. For instance, the state of Colorado offers cash awards to employers for every remote worker in a rural county that is outside the area where a project is based.
Peggy Bree, a digital nomad and project manager currently living in Colombia, provides insight into what these workers may want to consider before making the transition to digital nomads.
For starters, Bree emphasizes the importance of knowing that this move is not a vacation. This means meeting locals, making new friends, finding a new community, and learning how to adjust to a new place while still working.
Bree also suggests that instead of plunging into a new area and seeing every attraction within the first week, it’s important for digital nomads to take it slow and soak in what their temporary home has to offer.
Additionally, it’s essential to unplug at the end of the day. Digital nomads typically spend a big portion of their day online, either working or keeping up with the news back home. However, disconnecting from the online world and being present in a new space can build a greater appreciation for this new lifestyle.
