Easy methods to Plan Your Exit: Going From Workplace Desk to Digital Nomad

Leaving the consolation and wage of a gentle workplace job for the uncertainty of life as a self-employed digital nomad is a big change, each personally and professionally. I did it myself in 2021 after I left my job as a lawyer in London.

General, it was a tremendous determination and I’m infinitely happier than I used to be earlier than. However, it’s not all roses and sunshine. It may be onerous at instances, however finally, I believe the challenges are definitely worth the big upsides.

Listed here are the steps that helped me go from office-bound and depressing to location-independent and free. The following tips all come from my very own private expertise. I hope they’re helpful and make it easier to pull off your personal escape.

Easy methods to Plan Your Exit: Going From Workplace Desk to Digital Nomad

Whether or not you’re craving freedom, journey, limitless journey, higher climate, or just a life exterior the company field (for me, it was all of these issues), right here are some things I extremely advocate you do first. This can assist set your self up for achievement, earlier than taking the plunge.

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Mirror on Your Why and Objectives

Earlier than you write your resignation letter, take a step again and ask your self why you need to turn into a digital nomad. What’s driving this determination? Whether or not it’s the liberty to discover new locations, the prospect to work by yourself phrases, or simply wanting to flee workplace life, understanding your motivation is essential.

For me, it was the frustration of being caught in a inflexible routine, and the stuffiness of the authorized career. I spotted I needed a way of life that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless offers me readability and motivation to today, and helps me keep centered when instances get powerful.

Write down your objectives – each private {and professional}. Do you need to see particular international locations? Be taught new expertise? A brand new language? Create a sustainable revenue on-line? Construct a mighty enterprise empire? Having clear aims will assist information your selections and maintain you motivated.

Construct Monetary Stability and Safety

Cash stress is without doubt one of the worst elements of being a freelancer. That’s why making a stable monetary security web is crucial earlier than you hand in your discover. You’ll want financial savings to cowl no less than a couple of months of residing bills, plus an emergency fund, and a plan for regular revenue going ahead.

My enterprise took virtually a 12 months to start out making any cash. Being in Central America for the primary few months of my nomad life definitely helped make the cash I had saved go additional. However, if I hadn’t constructed up a pot of financial savings earlier than I give up my job, I might’ve quickly run out.

Earlier than leaving your job, make a price range, reduce pointless bills, and attempt to save as a lot cash as attainable. You don’t must have already constructed up a enterprise to the purpose of profitability earlier than you hit the street, however the nearer you’re to this stage, the much less dangerous will probably be.

Develop Distant Work Expertise

One of many issues I really like most about being a digital nomad is the flexibility to journey as a lot as you want. However, prefer it or not, you’ll nonetheless in all probability must spend a big chunk of your time working – even in case you can nip off for a cheeky surf between conferences.

As many people realized through the pandemic, distant work requires fairly a unique mindset than working within the workplace. You want private self-discipline, stable communication expertise, and the flexibility to handle your time successfully with out having a boss trying over your shoulder.

I discover this a lot simpler working by myself enterprise that I care deeply about. However, don’t underestimate how totally different the expertise is. In the event you aren’t already, get accustomed to instruments resembling Slack and Groups, and think about taking on-line programs or enrolling in a training program that will help you upskill.

Analysis Potential Locations

Not all locations are created equal for digital nomads. Some locations (like Thailand and Portugal) are identified for his or her low price of residing, lightning-fast web, welcoming angle to nomads, and thriving communities of distant staff. Different locations are tougher.

Choosing the right vacation spot in your life-style and price range could make or break your expertise. Remember your personal priorities. Would you like year-round sunshine? Easy accessibility to coworking areas? A low-key vibe or a busy social scene? Rural or city? Is the time zone prone to be a problem?

Your first vacation spot doesn’t must be good. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico after I first began out. It’s a completely gorgeous place, but it surely wasn’t splendid for distant working, with common energy cuts and ropey web. I additionally managed to catch dengue and the flu on the identical time – tough.

Begin With a Trial Run

Earlier than you give up your job and absolutely decide to the digital nomad life-style, strive dipping your toes within the water. A brief-term trial run may give you a style of what it’s prefer to work remotely whereas touring, with out the stress of constructing all the pieces good immediately.

I did this by spending a couple of weeks in Portugal whereas I used to be nonetheless working at my previous job. My work was superb with me doing it (it was the summer season of 2020, so distant work was the norm anyway), and I bought a style of what digital nomadism could be like earlier than going all in.

This is probably not attainable in your present circumstances, however, in case you do get the chance to do a trial run like this, I’d extremely advocate it. It’ll assist you determine what works (and what doesn’t), what tech and equipment you do (and don’t) want, and the way well-suited you’re to working in a non-traditional atmosphere.

Plan Your Tech and Instruments

Having the proper tech setup is vital in the case of engaged on the street. You’ll want a setup that’s dependable, moveable, and retains you productive (and cozy) regardless of the place you’re on the planet.

My tech stack contains my MacBook Professional, wi-fi keyboard and mouse, foldable laptop computer stand, noise-canceling headphones, exterior onerous drive (for backups), common energy adapter, extension cable, and my iPhone (with an eSIM for whichever nation I’m in).

Don’t overlook software program subscriptions, too. I exploit Google Drive, Zoom, Microsoft Workplace, and varied website positioning and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your personal listing as wanted.

Construct a Assist Community

Being a digital nomad might be isolating at instances, particularly in case you’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my accomplice, however nonetheless, it may be powerful typically. Most of our pals are 1,000s of miles away, they usually usually don’t relate to issues we battle with on a day-to-day foundation.

That’s why constructing a assist community is so vital. Coworking areas might be nice locations to fulfill different like-minded folks. I’ve made pals at social occasions organized at coworking areas, each in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, and I’m nonetheless in contact with a number of of them up to now.

Don’t underestimate the worth of those relationships. Fellow nomads can share insights about locations they’ve been, advocate instruments that work for them, and even collaborate with you on initiatives. It’s additionally nice to have the ability to share your experiences with individuals who “get” it, as your pals from dwelling may not.

Additionally: Dariece and Nick’s “Creator Kickstarter Program” is designed to information you thru the method of turning into an internet entrepreneur and making a location-independent life-style. I want I’d had that sort of assist after I began!

Take the Leap

Planning and preparation are important, however sooner or later, you’ve simply bought to go for it. Setting a agency exit date can assist you keep centered and provide you with one thing to work towards. With out a clear timeline, it’s straightforward to get caught within the “planning” section endlessly.

It would seemingly really feel like an incredible leap of religion. And it’ll in all probability be riskier than staying in a secure salaried job. However, there’s additionally the danger of trying again in your life and regretting not having tried one thing like this. For me, that will be a far worse end result than my enterprise not figuring out.

Belief in your planning, but in addition settle for that not all the pieces will go completely. And that’s okay – each nomad’s journey is exclusive. Embrace the uncertainty. And keep in mind, if it doesn’t work out, or in case you change your thoughts about what you need, the choice to return to a extra “conventional” life will nonetheless be there.

In Conclusion

Changing into a digital nomad is a giant determination, however with the proper planning and mindset, it’s completely achievable. By breaking the method into manageable steps, and following the ideas I’ve shared right here, you’ll be setting your self up for achievement.

It’s not at all times straightforward, but it surely’s so value it. Leaving the conformist, hierarchical workplaces and fits of the company world to create a lifetime of freedom and journey was among the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’d simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you strive.