How you can Plan Your Exit: Going From Workplace Desk to Digital Nomad – Goats On The Street

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

General, it was an incredible choice and I’m infinitely happier than I used to be earlier than. However, it’s not all roses and sunshine. It may be laborious at occasions, however finally, I feel the challenges are well worth the large upsides.

Listed below 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 show you how to pull off your personal escape.

How you can 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 outdoors the company field (for me, it was all of these issues), right here are some things I extremely suggest you do first. This may assist set your self up for fulfillment, earlier than taking the plunge.

Replicate on Your Why and Objectives

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

For me, it was the frustration of being caught in a inflexible routine, and the stuffiness of the authorized career. I noticed I needed a life-style that prioritized flexibility and journey. This “why” nonetheless provides me readability and motivation to this present day, and helps me keep centered when occasions get powerful.

Write down your targets – 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 goals will assist information your choices and hold you motivated.

Construct Monetary Stability and Safety

Cash stress is likely one of the worst components of being a freelancer. That’s why making a stable monetary security internet is crucial earlier than you hand in your discover. You’ll want financial savings to cowl not less than a couple of months of dwelling bills, plus an emergency fund, and a plan for regular revenue going ahead.

My enterprise took virtually a yr to begin 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’d’ve quickly run out.

Earlier than leaving your job, make a funds, minimize pointless bills, and attempt to save as a lot cash as potential. You don’t have to have already constructed up a enterprise to the purpose of profitability earlier than you hit the street, however the nearer you might be 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 power to journey as a lot as you want. However, prefer it or not, you’ll nonetheless in all probability have to spend a big chunk of your time working – even for those who can nip off for a cheeky surf between conferences.

As many people discovered throughout the pandemic, distant work requires fairly a distinct mindset than working within the workplace. You want private self-discipline, stable communication expertise, and the power to handle your time successfully with out having a boss wanting over your shoulder.

I discover this a lot simpler working alone enterprise that I care deeply about. However, don’t underestimate how completely different the expertise is. If you happen to aren’t already, get acquainted with instruments resembling Slack and Groups, and think about taking on-line programs or enrolling in a training program that can assist you upskill.

Analysis Potential Locations

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

Selecting the correct vacation spot in your life-style and funds could make or break your expertise. Have in mind your personal priorities. Would you like year-round sunshine? Quick access to coworking areas? A low-key vibe or a busy social scene? Rural or city? Is the time zone more likely to be a problem?

Your first vacation spot doesn’t must be good. I spent a month in Chiapas, Mexico once I first began out. It’s a completely beautiful place, but it surely wasn’t preferrred 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 totally decide to the digital nomad life-style, attempt dipping your toes within the water. A brief-term trial run can provide you a style of what it’s prefer to work remotely whereas touring, with out the strain of constructing all the pieces good immediately.

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

This might not be potential in your present circumstances, however, for those who do get the chance to do a trial run like this, I’d extremely suggest it. It’ll assist you determine what works (and what doesn’t), what tech and kit you do (and don’t) want, and the way well-suited you might be to working in a non-traditional setting.

Plan Your Tech and Instruments

Having the precise tech setup is essential on the subject 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 might be on this planet.

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

Don’t neglect software program subscriptions, too. I exploit Google Drive, Zoom, Microsoft Workplace, and numerous web optimization and running a blog subscriptions on a near-daily foundation. Tailor your personal checklist as wanted.

Construct a Help Community

Being a digital nomad will be isolating at occasions, particularly for those who’re touring solo. I’m lucky to be sharing this journey with my companion, 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 wrestle with on a day-to-day foundation.

That’s why constructing a assist community is so essential. Coworking areas will be nice locations to satisfy different like-minded individuals. 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 thus far.

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

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 once I began!

Take the Leap

Planning and preparation are important, however in some unspecified time in the future, you’ve simply acquired to go for it. Setting a agency exit date may help you keep centered and provide you with one thing to work towards. And not using a clear timeline, it’s simple to get caught within the “planning” part eternally.

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

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

In Conclusion

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

It’s not all the time simple, but it surely’s so price it. Leaving the conformist, hierarchical workplaces and fits of the company world to create a lifetime of freedom and journey was top-of-the-line selections I’ve ever made. It’d simply be the identical for you, too. You’ll by no means know till you attempt.