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Picture this: you’re sitting at a cafe in Paris, doing a few hours of work before your afternoon trip to the Louvre. You have your hot chocolate, croissant, and a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower in the background. Oh, and you’ve already booked a train ride to Rome for the weekend.
All this and more is what awaits the digital nomad. With the freedom to work from anywhere, you will be able to travel, manage your own schedule, and escape the grueling nine-to-five work week. But starting this journey and balancing work with travel can be difficult.
So, we’ve compiled a list of tools and platforms to help you organize your digital nomadic lifestyle and make the most out of every adventure.
What Is a Digital Nomad?
With the ever-increasing accessibility of technology, Wi-Fi networks, and platforms like Zoom that allow for online meetings, it’s becoming less and less essential for employees to work in an office. A digital nomad is someone who can work remotely while traveling. They complete remote work by using tech to connect with their employer, coworkers, and clients to do their job.
Digital nomads might work for one company or many based in different countries. They may also have a home base in one country but travel routinely to others. Or, they may jump from place to place wherever their job or heart takes them. It is a life with a lot of freedom but requires high levels of self-discipline and organization to be successful.
What To Consider When Becoming a Digital Nomad
As exciting as it is to imagine a life of complete freedom as a digital nomad, there are several things to consider before getting started. The more thoroughly you plan your digital nomad life before you move away from your home country, the smoother the transition will be. It’s important to consider factors like safety, legality, internet accessibility, and more.
Are You Legally Allowed To Work in That Country?
Before you move, you always want to investigate what is required for you to live and/or work in a new country. Of course you will need a valid passport to travel, but what about work visas? And filing taxes in a new country?
The documents you need to legally work in a country will depend on how long you’re staying there and the nature of your work. If you’re only passing through, a tourist visa may suffice. But for longer visits, you should see if an official work visa is required. In some countries, they may have a digital nomad visa specifically designed for your nomadic lifestyle.
Taxes can be more difficult as most countries’ tax forms require you to list a place of permanent residence. And in the US, the state you live in can dramatically impact the state income tax you pay.
You will also need to make sure your employer knows your status and is able to provide you with the proper forms. Take time to figure out your tax status and the proper way to file them well before they’re due.
Are You Safe in That Country?
Safety is a huge thing to consider if you’re planning to travel alone. Solo female travelers should particularly pay attention to which countries have been reviewed as safe or unsafe for women.
And members of the LGBTQ+ community may want to consider which countries either have explicit anti-LBGT laws or more subtly, but no less dangerously, discriminate. Other factors like ethnicity, religion, political views, and more should also be taken into account when determining which countries are safest for you.
Even for male travelers or those traveling with others, it is a good idea to share your travel itinerary with a trusted friend or family member. And then, you can truly show them just how wonderful the digital nomad lifestyle can be.
Another thing to consider is health insurance. Different countries have different policies on health care. Some are mostly free, like in Europe, while others, like American healthcare, can cost an arm and a leg. It’s always a better idea to get insurance and be covered in the event of an accident than to have your travels derailed.
Does That Country Fit in Your Budget?
Budgeting is an important part of being a location-independent remote worker. Especially if you aren’t paying rent or a mortgage on a permanent residence, it can be tempting to splurge on travel. But unfortunately, your travel costs are not usually covered by your employer.
When planning a trip to a new country or deciding which country to set up your home base in, consider whether these plans fit your budget. The cost of living is different in every country and sometimes even depends on what city you’re in. Planning ahead to make sure you can afford travel expenses and potentially a home base in different countries will help you sustain your nomadic life.
Does That Country Have Internet Access?
Most countries will have many places with an internet connection so you can complete your remote job. But if you travel to the mountains on a backpacking adventure, there may be places where even a hotspot from your phone won’t work.
Before you travel, make sure you fully know your Internet and workspace needs so you don’t end up stranded somewhere and unable to complete your work on time. This is also when you should think about getting an international phone plan or a SIM card that works in the countries you visit. You can contact your phone provider to find a plan that best fits your travel needs.
Does That Country’s Time Zone Work With Your Schedule?
Especially if your job requires you to meet with others who are not digital nomads, you may be obligated to attend meetings or calls that align with the time zone of the country your employer is from. Unfortunately, traveling to Australia while you need to make a 10 a.m. meeting in America, which would mean you would be meeting them around 1 a.m., is not sustainable.
For Americans, countries in North and South America, like Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, would be the easiest to match with an American schedule. Most countries in Europe are relatively close to each other so it should be easy to visit other European countries if that’s where you’re based.
Those who do not need to attend meetings and are truly operating on their own schedule are not as hindered by time zones. Just be sure that if you have deadlines to meet, you convert them to your current time zone so you don’t accidentally miss them.
Does That Country Have a Digital Nomad Community?
Traveling alone is liberating, but it can also get lonely. Especially when visiting countries that speak a different language, it can be refreshing to find a community to connect with. Some countries have pre-established communities of digital nomads and serve as popular travel destinations for those looking to meet other nomads.
VisaGuide.World ranked the top 10 best countries for digital nomads in 2024 based on a variety of factors, including cost of living, visa accessibility, and tourist popularity.
The top 10 are:
- Spain
- Argentina
- Romania
- UAE
- Croatia
- Portugal
- Uruguay
- Malta
- Norway
- Andorra
Other traditionally popular destinations include:
- Indonesia (Bali)
- Costa Rica
- Thailand
- Germany
Digital nomad communities can also provide coworking spaces. These spaces allow you to complete your work with other nomads, which can help with motivation and discipline.
And it’s a great way to meet people from all over the world who share your love of travel. The work-life balance can be hard, so finding a community of like-minded people can provide you with invaluable support for your nomadic journey.
Do You Want To Visit That Country?
Last but not least, pick travel destinations that excite you! The whole point of being a digital nomad is to see the world and be able to travel more than a typical job would allow. Pick countries you want to visit and spend your free time hitting all the spots you’ve always dreamed of seeing.
You can also plan your visits around special festivals, holidays, or celebrations that occur at certain times in certain countries. This is a great way to experience different cultures and ways of life up close. Not only can full-time travel be fun, but it can also be a great educational experience.
What Are Digital Nomad Jobs?
Because of the pandemic, a lot of jobs that once required full in-person work weeks have become more adaptable to remote completion. But not every remote job is best suited for the digital nomad lifestyle.
Here are some examples of jobs that you may be able to complete while traveling:
- Bilingual jobs (for example: English teacher, translator)
- Graphic design
- Customer service chat agent (may require time zone-specific work hours)
- Editing (video or writing)
- Software development
- Writing (copywriting, blogging, book writing)
- Content creation
- SEO specialist
- Social media manager
- Photographer
- Business strategy or life coach
- Data entry
- Product review
- Virtual assistant
25 Tools and Platforms for Digital Nomads
A wide range of curated tools and platforms exist to help digital nomads everywhere succeed in this lifestyle. Find the tools that are most helpful for you and work best with the lifestyle you’re hoping to create.
1. Zoom
The pandemic has made most of us familiar with Zoom, which is an online video conferencing and meeting app. It also has helpful interactive features like reaction buttons, an online chat space, screen-sharing, and custom backgrounds.
Zoom will work on phones as well as laptops and tablets. You can install the app or use the web browser version.
2. Google Workspace
The entirety of Google Workspace, particularly Google Drive, can help you with both work and travel. Google has Docs for written documents, Slides for presentations, Sheets for spreadsheets, and Drive for cloud storage.
You can organize, manage, and share files on Google Drive and can also upload, organize, and share photos from your travel adventures. It’s a great platform for the whole of your nomadic lifestyle.
3. Microsoft Workspace
Microsoft offers the same variety of apps and capabilities as the Google Workspace. With Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and OneDrive you can create and share files to your heart’s content.
The biggest difference is the inclusion of Microsoft Teams, which is a platform for messaging, sharing files and photos, online video conferencing, and more. It’s most often used for business and school needs.
4. Trello
Trello is a platform designed for work management. You can keep track of tasks, progress, and deadlines via labeled boards so you never miss a beat.
And a shared timeline can help you track both your and your teammates’ assignments. It’s also known for its Kanban board layout which organizes your work responsibilities in a visual way.
5. Slack
Slack is predominantly a communication app that allows you to professionally message coworkers and collaborators in real time. You can also establish and label different channels to keep social messaging separate from work-related talk.
This feature is great for managing large groups of people and streamlining communications so only those involved receive messages. You do not need a phone plan for this app either, so it beats regular phone messages.
6. Dropbox
This is a cloud storage alternative to OneDrive and Google Drive. It can also easily work hand-in-hand with Slack, Zoom, and Google and Microsoft apps. There is a monthly fee whereas OneDrive and Google Drive are free and come with your Microsoft/Google account.
7. Notion
Notion is a web app designed for productivity and note-taking. You can manage notes, upcoming tasks, due dates, and more with this system. There is no downloadable app for this platform; you have to use it online. If you need to access Notion when you don’t have Internet access, your capabilities will be limited.
8. Evernote
This is another tool geared towards note-taking that allows you to add both words and images into organized notes. This app is great for idea generation, brainstorming, and keeping track of inspiration. But you can also add tasks and notes into a calendar and set deadline reminders to manage tasks.
9. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is great for anyone who regularly uses and posts on social media but it is particularly helpful for social media managers and content creators (two possible job options for digital nomads). With Hootsuite, you can schedule posts, track the level of engagement each post is getting, and easily work across different profiles and accounts.
10. Canva
Canva has emerged as a popular substitute for Powerpoint. In Canva you can make not just presentations but also posters, videos, social media posts, website pages, advertisements, and more. Canva comes with unique, customizable templates that can elevate your graphic design skills and give you a substantial starting point to build from.
11. Clockify
This is the ultimate time management tool. Clockify includes a timer, timesheet, calendar to manage tasks, reports, and more. When trying to perfect the work-life balance, this app can help you set timers to switch between work and fun, dedicate specific time to various tourist activities, and manage your schedule.
12. Calendly
Calendly is a great meeting manager tool especially for freelancers. You can create a personal calendar of the times you’re available to meet with people and they can sign up for the slot that’s best for them.
Because you can set the times you’re available, this tool helps you maintain boundaries with your clients or coworkers so they only try to meet with you during your business hours. Calendly also automatically adjusts for time zones so miscommunication can be minimized.
13. Portable Charger (Power Bank)
It’s always a good idea to buy a portable charger before traveling abroad but especially when you have work to do and don’t necessarily know when you’ll have access to an outlet. Make sure you have the proper cords and adapters to connect the power bank with your laptop, phone, or tablet.
14. Universal Travel Plug Adapter
There’s nothing worse than arriving jetlagged in a new country and realizing their outlets don’t fit your charging cords. You can buy adapters there, but they are usually much more expensive. If you buy a universal travel plug adapter, you will be covered in most every country you travel to, which makes charging your devices and getting online much easier.
Some countries also have different voltage limits. You’ll want to check the limits before plugging in other devices like curling irons and blow dryers. You can buy voltage adapters for these devices so you don’t accidentally blow a fuse or hurt yourself.
15. Stayfocused
For those who get distracted easily, focus tools like Stayfocused can help you have a productive work day. This tool is a web browser plug-in that allows you to enter websites you’d like it to block for you while you’re working.
This can include social media sites, game sites, the news, and video sites like YouTube. You don’t want to have to miss scuba diving with turtles in Costa Rica because you didn’t finish your tasks for the day.
16. XE Currency
This is a money-tracking app that lets you track exchange rates across countries in real time. You can also send money across different currencies and perform currency conversions. This app is perfect when working a new country into your budget and ensures there are no surprises about the exchange rate once you arrive.
17. Genki
Health insurance can be a major stressor when planning your travels. Genki is a travel health insurance company that will cover medical expenses you incur while traveling. You can set the time period of coverage you need as well. Two years is the max.
18. World Nomads
For travel insurance, World Nomads is a great option. They will cover things like lost baggage, stolen passports, medical emergencies, and more. With frequent travel, there are bound to be mishaps and accidents so keep yourself covered with reliable travel insurance.
19. NomadRest
This is a free app you can download that will provide you with accommodation lists in the country you travel to. This includes the top hotels, apartments, and Airbnbs in the area.
20. MacBook Air
Many people already have their own laptop preferences or are possibly provided one by their employer. But if you don’t have a laptop already, the MacBook Air is a great option because it’s thin and lightweight, making it ideal for travel, but it’s still highly functional.
The majority of any work needs, save heavy software needs, will be accomplishable on a Macbook Air. And even though it is an Apple product, you can still download Microsoft applications.
21. iTranslate
This app will help you operate in countries that speak different languages. You can read, write, and speak through this app in 90 languages. It is a paid app, so for a free version you can use Google Translate (which has mixed reviews on accuracy).
22. VPN Service
VPNs can help secure and protect your online activity from prying eyes around the world. Especially when using public wifi-networks, VPNs are great tools to keep your personal information safe from hackers and cybercriminals.
Especially if your work involves sensitive information, you don’t want to be hacked while living your best life abroad. Good services include NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
23. Digital Camera or GoPro
In the event that your phone is stolen, dead, or otherwise not working, it’s smart to carry a digital camera with you so you can capture every moment. If you’re traveling somewhere with an ocean, a waterproof camera might also be fun to have. And GoPros are popular for travelers who want to capture their thrilling adventures.
24. External Hard Drive
Hard drives are helpful to store pictures and videos so they don’t take up too much space on your computer. You can also store important work documents on your drive, so if your computer is hacked, lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair, you won’t lose anything important.
25. Headspace
Traveling in and of itself can be mentally taxing, but traveling while working can be even more stressful, especially in the beginning. Headspace is a guided meditation app that can help you set aside time to de-stress and focus on your mental health so you don’t burn out.
What Are the Benefits of a Second Phone Number for Digital Nomads?
A second phone number app like Burner phone can help you manage contacts and organize the different aspects of your life. Keep essential contacts in your main number while secondary ones can live in your second.
You can also give your second number when booking hotels, making reservations, and meeting international friends so your main number is not widely accessible. This decreases the risk of your main number being hacked or compromised, which in turn saves the headache of replacing it. Try Burner today to see how a second number can help you travel internationally.
Is the Digital Nomad Life Right for Me?
Only you can determine if the digital nomad life is right for you. But if you love traveling, exploring new places, and meeting new people, have the skill set required for one of the digital nomad-friendly remote jobs, and are financially independent and self-disciplined enough to survive a life abroad, you may want to consider becoming a digital nomad.
And remember, you don’t have to be a nomad forever. Same as any job, you can always change directions whenever you want to. You can travel for a few years, see how you like it, and come back home or keep going.
So, do your research, gather the digital tools that best fit your job needs, and explore all the world has to offer. Your nomadic life awaits.
Sources:
How to Become a Digital Nomad | HBR
Top 22 Essential Tools for Digital Nomads in 2024 | Mural
How to Become a Digital Nomad: Pros, Cons, and Common Jobs | Flexjobs
15 Best Fully Remote Digital Nomad Jobs in 2024 | Go Overseas
Spain, Portugal, Malta: Top 10 best countries for digital nomads 2024 | CNBC
