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Writer's pictureThe GotW3 Team

The New Normal: The Life and Times of Digital Nomads

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to work remotely. However, with relaxation on some of the restrictions in different parts of the world, many remote workers have transformed into digital nomads.


Digital nomads are individuals who work remotely while traveling to different places. 70% of digital nomads travel to five or more countries every year. In the current scenario, the digital-nomad revolution is not limited to freelancers. Even employees working remotely are leveraging this time to travel while working.


With the growing support from technology, such as video conferencing solutions and project management software, the digital nomad era is here to stay. We don’t see organizations moving back to their workspaces anytime soon. However, even the moon has a darker side. Therefore, it’s important to know both the advantages and disadvantages of living the life of a digital nomad, before you plan to become one.


Why More and More People Are Turning Into Digital Nomads


With more organizations informing employees that work-from-home policies can extend through the end of 2021, and in some cases, even until summer 2022, or permanently, the digital nomad lifestyle is flourishing.


Many individuals at more progressive organizations were already working remotely from different parts of the world before COVID-19, using homestays, hotels, and Airbnbs as their lodging options. 51% of digital nomads live in a hotel and 16% live in hostels. However, the present pandemic scenarios can turn the digital nomad lifestyle from niche to the new normal.


How Digital Nomads Survive


If you have a paid full-time job and your organization has asked you to work remotely for the next few months, you can easily survive as a digital nomad. All you need is a good-quality device, reliable internet connectivity, and a place to stay. You don’t even need a dedicated vehicle.


Nevertheless, if you are a freelancer, you need a passive income to bear your expenses. Passive income is one of the most useful tools for digital nomads who don’t have a full-time job. Building a source of passive income is definitely not an easy task; it needs a lot of effort and patience. However, once the passive income starts coming your way, you can achieve your work and travel dreams without any hassles.


The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Digital Nomad


Let’s begin with the pros of becoming a digital nomad:

● You get a chance to travel to different parts of the world.

● You can follow your own path.

● You can meet like-minded individuals and share your experiences.

● You can leverage your journey to gain inspiration and reevaluate your goals.

● You get to choose the lifestyle you want.


Cons:

● You can become homesick if you’re spending a lot of time away from your home and family.

● You can find it difficult to acclimatize to some locations.

● You can encounter internet issues at high altitudes and in areas with weak internet connectivity.

● You can feel lonely and isolated if you don’t have people around you.

● You can find it daunting to strike the perfect balance between life and work, especially at the beginning of your journey as a digital nomad.


Useful Advice and Tips for Would-Be Digital Nomads


Motivated to become a digital nomad? Ensure you follow this advice and leverage these tips as you go:


● If you’re a freelancer, don’t limit yourself to one skill or one client. You can find thousands of freelance projects on platforms such as Fiverr and Freelancer.com.

● Don’t take up any job that you don’t like to fund your travel; that’s not a good long-term solution.

● Always have Plan B and Plan C if you don’t have enough savings.

● Prepare for holiday seasons, when work may be slow.

● Kickstart your journey only when you’re 100% ready; even 99% readiness is not a good idea.

● You can go back home and meet your family/friends whenever you like; being a digital nomad doesn’t stop you from taking a break.

● Carry a lightweight device and ensure you have reliable internet. Also, remember to bring multiple travel plugs.


Reliable Internet: One of the Most Critical Aspects of a Digital Nomad’s Life


Internet is a must if you’re planning to become a digital nomad. Since you’ll be traveling to different locations, there’s a high chance that you may not have access to strong internet connectivity wherever you go. If you’re the next digital nomad on the block, you need gotW3.


gotW3 is trustworthy wireless internet on the go with multiple device and plan options. It can provide you with shockingly fast internet speeds in the remotest locations around the world. Learn more about gotW3 here.

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