“Work isn’t somewhere you go, it’s something you do.” ~ Spotify

Digital advancement has enabled many people to undertake their jobs at home. But operating at an even greater distance has become increasingly popular. Since the pandemic, a growing number of people have found that not only can they work comfortably from home, but from anywhere in the world. As result, travelling and working remotely has become one of the most popular new trends of the 21st century.

The new worker who travels, lives where he or she pleases, and carries their laptop as their means of employment, is called the Digital Nomad. Digital Nomads are remote workers who conduct their work anywhere in their city, or even travel to other countries. They work in coffee shops, hotels, co-working spaces, or libraries, as long as they have a WiFi connected laptop or smartphone.

Points and perspectives

• Currently the trend is on the upswing, and literally millions of young people are choosing this route rather than the settled day-to-day routine of an office-bound job. As a result of this preference, many companies are adopting ‘work from anywhere’ policies.
• In fact, the new workstyle has become so popular, that some countries are introducing a ‘nomad visa’ – and applications are surging over 2,000 percent for these sought-after entry and temporary residence documents. To date, over 40 countries have embraced the idea of the digital nomad visa.
• And gone are the days when this type of lifestyle only attracted the young and fancy-free. Today married couples and families are also treading the remote working route. Ages can vary from 24 to 54.
• As a result of this new style of working, new services have emerged, providing business opportunities and jobs for local individuals ready to assist these ‘working tourists’ from anywhere in the world. Co-working spaces, sometimes accompanied by accommodation facilities are growing across the globe. You have space to work comfortably with all needs catered for, plus the interaction with other like-minded nomad workers, sharing experiences, skills, knowledge, and tips for travelling and finding work.
• The growth in the nomad industry and the development of specialised remote job sites has made it easier for digital nomads to find work. There are also valuable sites that provide a wide array of useful data, such as Nomad List which has information on the cost of living, internet speeds, taxes, visas and a variety of other information for over 1,000 cities worldwide.
• Experience rather than possession has become the new ambition. Rather than spending money on expensive items, nomads prefer to invest in the value of the travel and sights to see, enjoying the local environments and absorbing various cultures, tastes, and meeting new people.
  Some nomads travel around their own country in a campervan. Others may make backpacker hostels or Airbnb accommodation their temporary homes while flying between locations and working online.

The benefits
It’s not difficult to see the many benefits to this lifestyle. Checking off your travel bucket-list while working at the same time is a good way to drive your career while seeing the world. And you’re often saving money at the same time; living where you want; leaving toxic office environments behind; experiencing new cultures and making new friends; broadening your mind; taking time off when you want too; planning your own work schedule; and working where you want to – whether the beach or a coffee shop.

The drawbacks
Yes, believe it or not, there are several drawback to this idyllic lifestyle. Being constantly on the move is actually unsettling; and can eventually become boring and exhausting; your productivity can then suffer because you may be uncomfortable, missing family and missing pets and home; you could find yourself very lonely – it’s difficult to make solid friends when you are constantly on the move; lack of privacy and a stable routine can be annoying; and constant travelling can become tedious in itself.

Some ideas for Digital Nomad jobs

There are many jobs you can do remotely: writing is probably one of the best options, including blogging, content management on social media, consulting, software development, marketing, teaching a foreign language, etc. With the ever-expanding development of technology, the world is actually your oyster. You can choose from a myriad of skills which you can transform into a service that you are able to perform in any location.

Whatever you chose, the fact remains that you no longer have to be tied to your desk eight hours a day, five days a week, to be productive. Instead, you can work when you want, from wherever you want, and develop a uniquely satisfying career.