Digital Nomads For Dummies

Kristin M. Wilson has travelled to over 60 countries during her 20 years as a digital nomad. She reaches 130,000 subscribers on her “Traveling with Kristin” YouTube channel. She’s also host of the “Badass Digital Nomads” podcast, recorded weekly from wherever in the world Kristin currently calls home.

• Introduction 1About This Book 2Foolish Assumptions 2Icons Used in This Book 3Beyond the Book 3Where to Go from Here 4Part 1: Getting Started as a Digital Nomad 5Chapter 1: Getting a Taste of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle 7Defining the Digital Nomad 9Seeing Who’s Adopting the Nomad Lifestyle 11Generations: Z, Millennials, X, Baby Boomers 11People from many parts of the world 12Meandering men and wandering women 13Folks at every career stage 13Employees from an assortment of industries 13The have-lots-of-money, the have-some-money, and the have-little-money sets 14Why roam? 14Why now? 15Busting Common Myths and Assumptions 17Nomading isn’t a job 18Age is just a number 18No tech skills necessary 19Nomads aren’t backpackers 19Nomads aren’t travel bloggers 20Nomads aren’t tourists, either 20Nomads aren’t always traveling 20Traveling is more affordable than you think 21Deciding Whether the Digital Nomad Lifestyle Is Right for You 21Exploring the potential benefits 21Recognizing the potential drawbacks 23Chapter 2: Seeing Yourself as a Digital Nomad 25Defining Your Passion and Purpose: Establishing Your Why 26Envisioning Your Future as a Digital Nomad 27Full-time nomads 28Part-time nomads 28Expats and settlers 29Your type of nomad 30Evaluating Solo versus Group Travel 30Traveling with Kids 31Discussing Your Vision with Family, Friends, and Colleagues 34Breaking the news that you’re pursuing your wanderlust 35Addressing common concerns 36Facing the Fear of Failure as a Nomad 37Fear of failure is healthy (and normal) 38When in doubt, start small 39Picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and regrouping 40Chapter 3: Setting a Realistic Budget 41Considering Expenses and Income Needs When You’re a Nomad 41Calculating Your Cost of Living 42Analyzing Digital Nomad Switching Costs 45Time-related costs 46Money-related costs 47Creating a Digital Nomad Budget 48Pre-departure budget 48Monthly cost-of-living budget 48Chapter 4: Keeping or Quitting Your Day Job 51Deciding Whether You Should Keep or Quit Your Job 52Evaluating the pros and cons of keeping your job 52Considering the pros and cons of quitting 54Approaching Your Boss About Becoming a Digital Nomad 55Gathering your research 55Preparing your case 57Presenting your case 57Negotiating rebuttals 58Knowing when to walk away 58Part 2: Making Money as a Digital Nomad 61Chapter 5: Have Laptop, Will Travel (and Work, of Course) 63Previewing the Routes to Becoming a Digital Nomad 64Becoming a remote employee 65Freelancing your way to freedom 67Becoming an online business owner 69Earning passive income 70Combining multiple income streams 71Considering Popular Digital Nomad Jobs 72Accounting and finance 72Affiliate marketing 73Blogging and writing 73Coaching, consulting, and teaching 75Computer and information technology 76Creating a personal brand as an influencer 77Creative and design work 78Customer service and virtual assistance 79Digital marketing 80Dropshipping and ecommerce 80Medical and health 81Project management 81Sales 82Social media management 82Using Online Platforms to Find Work 83Navigating the top remote jobs boards 83Exploring remote jobs forums and Slack communities 86Checking out Facebook groups 87Attending virtual job fairs 87Reaching Out to Real People 88Going old school with cold outreach 88Leveraging LinkedIn 89Attracting employers through social media and content 89Networking at conferences and events 90Chapter 6: Creating Your Own Remote Job 93Turning a Traditional Job into a Remote Job 94Finding examples in your field 95Mapping your job 96Analyzing Your Skills and Expertise 97What you think you’re good at 98What other people think you’re good at 99What people pay you for 99Bridging a skills gap 100Evaluating Your Passions 101Leveraging what you love to do 101Finding the limits of your passion’s potential 102Designing a New Job 103Giving This Remote Thing a Try and Telling the World What You Do 104Communicating your core offer 104Updating social media profiles 105Finding Your First Clients 106Your personal network 106Posting on online platforms 106Gathering Proof of Concept 107Collecting case studies 107Getting testimonials and referrals 108Chapter 7: Adopting Best Practices for Success 109Creating Your Work-From-Home Plan 110Maximizing your peak hours of the day 110Mixing up your work environment 112Exploring Co-Working Spaces and Alternate Workspaces 114Choosing a co-working space (what to look for) 114Booking shared and remote offices abroad 115Ensuring Smooth Cross-Border Communication 117Finding your communication style 117Becoming an expert in converting times across time zones 119Collaborating on Remote Teams 120Clarifying communication expectations 121Remaining accessible (or not) 122Staying visible and bonding with your remote team members 122Sourcing Contractors and Virtual Assistants 124Deciding whether you need support 124Knowing where to find contractors and administrative help 125Choosing Between Remote Work Tools 126Part 3: Traveling and Living Abroad as a Digital Nomad 129Chapter 8: Choosing a Destination 131Dreaming of the Ideal Destination 131Considering Key Factors 133Border control 134Climate and seasonality 134Cost of living 136Safety and security 136Bucket list 136Community 137Lifestyle 137Work environment 138Scoping Out Regions of the World 138Africa 139Asia 140Caribbean and North Atlantic 141Central and South America 141Middle East 142North America 142Europe 143Oceania 145Deciding Where to Go and When 146Chapter 9: Creating Your Digital Nomad Relocation Plan 149Finding Your Travel Flow 150Batching your travel 150Planning your travel in advance 152Getting Your Finances in Order 153Updating your banking services 153Accessing your money with money transfer apps 154Getting paid remotely 155Applying for travel rewards cards 156Accounting for Taxes at Home and Abroad 157Deciding What to Do with Your Stuff 158What can you trash? 159What can you sell? 159What to do with your house 160What to do with your car 160What can you donate? 160What should you keep? 160Getting Your Affairs in Order 161Checking your health 161Getting insured 162Changing your mailing address 162Choosing an international phone plan 163Bringing your Internet with you 164Tying up loose ends 164Applying for Travel Documents, Visas, and Permits 165Obtaining your passport 165Knowing if you need a visa for travel 166Applying for visas 169Extending your stay 170Golden visas 172Digital nomad visas 173Chapter 10: Finding Housing Abroad 175Checking Out the Different Housing Types 176Short term: Just a few weeks or months 176Long term: Settling in for a few months or longer 177Private: Having the place all to yourself 178Shared: Back to college dorm life 178Co-living: Living in a community 179Travel retreats: Joining a travel tribe 180Alternative housing: Boats, treehouses, and beyond 181House-swapping: The modern take on trading places 182House-sitting: Taking care of someone else’s place 183Pet-sitting: Loving someone else’s fur baby 183Homestays 184Planning Your Housing Search 184Knowing what to look for in a rental property 185Learning about a location 187Searching for Housing 188Short-term vacation rentals websites 188Finding long-term housing 190Facebook groups and forums 191Local classifieds listings 193Search engine strategies 193Property management companies 194Real estate offices 195In-person searching 195Reserving and Booking Your Housing 195Negotiating the best price 196Paying for housing 196Avoiding scams 197Getting your security deposit refunded 197Chapter 11: Managing Travel Logistics 199Making Your Adventure a Reality 199Purchasing travel and health insurance 200Joining travel rewards programs 200Checking health requirements 201Booking your flight 202Packing your bags 204Traveling with pets 208Preparing for Departure and Arrival 209Downloading Digital Nomad-Friendly Travel Apps 210Lining Up Essential Services in Your Destination 211Buying a SIM card 211Exchanging money 212Part 4: Living a Full and Healthy Life as a Digital Nomad 213Chapter 12: Maintaining Your Health and Wellness 215Staying Healthy on the Road 216Being insured 216Practicing good hygiene 216Using protection 217Drinking the water (or not) 217Minimizing jet lag 218Maintaining Your Physical Health 219Eating healthy 219Sleeping well 220Exercising your way around the world 221Getting sufficient sunshine and vitamin D 222Reducing your alcohol intake 223Maintaining Your Mental Health 223Staying mindful 224Embracing human connection 224Talking it out 224Taking time off for rest and self-care 224Cheering yourself up 225Comparing and Contrasting Health and Medical Insurance 226International emergency travel medical insurance 226International health insurance 228Local tourist insurance for foreigners 230Keeping your home country health insurance 231Travel medical and health insurance for seniors 232Best practices for purchasing insurance 232Navigating Healthcare Systems in Foreign Lands 233Finding medical care abroad 233Chapter 13: Finding a Productivity and Work Life Balance 235Achieving Peak Productivity as a Digital Nomad 235Determining how much to work 236Planning your remote workday and daily routine 237Designating a workspace 238Optimizing your productivity 239Avoiding common productivity mistakes 240Establishing a Healthy Work-Life Balance 241Avoiding and recovering from remote work burnout 242Combining work sprints with sabbaticals 244Chapter 14: Meeting People and Making Friends 247Meeting People In Real Life 247Daily life abroad 248Finding local events and things to do 248Joining expat organizations 249Meeting fellow travelers 250Volunteering 251Meeting the locals 251Meeting People on the Job 253Networking abroad 253Finding a mentor 254Cold contacting people 254Joining a mastermind 254Growing your own network 255Meeting people through content creation 256Becoming a Part of the Digital Nomad Community 256Digital nomad conferences and events 257Digital nomad Facebook groups 258Digital nomad membership sites and forums 259Virtual summits 259Co-living arrangements 259Dating as a Digital Nomad 260Dating as a “settler” 260Dating as a perpetual traveler 261Staying Connected with Friends and Family 263Chapter 15: Adapting to Life in a Foreign Country 265Getting Settled In-Country 265First things, first 266Scoping out the neighborhood 266Getting around 267Receiving mail 268Finding Internet anywhere 268Riding the Cultural Adaptation Curve 269Coping with culture shock 269Learning a new language 272Handling homesickness and loneliness 274Ensuring Your Personal Safety and Security 275Taking precautions 276Planning for emergencies 278Chapter 16: Succeeding Long Term in the Digital Nomad Lifestyle 281Improving Your Odds of Success 281Measuring what success means to you 282Understanding why some digital nomads fail 283Brushing up on the secrets to success 285Developing Your Digital Nomad Exit Strategy 287Remaining nomadic 288Settling abroad 288Returning home and experiencing reverse culture shock 288Predicting Digital Nomad Migration Patterns and the Future of Work 290Part 5: The Part of Tens 293Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Success as a Digital Nomad 295Getting Clarity on Why You Want to Become a Digital Nomad 295Having a Reliable Source of Income 296Taking Action on Your Career and Personal Goals 296Achieving Work-Life Balance 297Traveling at a Sustainable Pace 297Creating a Daily Routine 297Staying Open-Minded and Maintaining a Flexible and Resilient Attitude 298Integrating with New Cultures 298Finding a Community and Relying on Your Support System 299Being Honest with Yourself and Reflecting Regularly 299Chapter 18: Avoiding Ten Common Mistakes New Digital Nomads Make 301Lacking Clarity on Goals and Your Why 302Planning Too Much or Not Enough 302Failing to Budget Accurately 303Spending Too Much Time SightSeeing and Socializing 303Traveling Too Fast 304Struggling to Adjust to Different Cultures 304Remaining Close-Minded and Inflexible 305Being Unable to Cope with Occasional Loneliness 305Inconsistent Daily Habits and Routines 306Putting Others’ Opinions Ahead of Your Own 306Chapter 19: More Than Ten Popular Destinations for Work and Play 307Argentina 308Bulgaria 308Canary Islands, Spain 309Croatia 309Indonesia 309Mexico 310Portugal 310Taiwan 311Thailand 311Van Life 312Vietnam 312United Arab Emirates 313United States of America 313Chapter 20: Ten (or So) Digital Nomad Visas 315Bahamas BEATS 316Belize Work Where You Vacation 316Croatia Digital Nomad Visa 316Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa 317Estonia Digital Nomad Visa 317Greece Digital Nomad Visa 317Hungary White Card 318Iceland Remote Work Visa 318Malta Nomad Residence Permit 318Mauritius Premium Visa 319Romania Digital Nomad Visa 319Index 321