Being a digital nomad is a unique lifestyle that can bring about so much freedom. Working remotely in different locations around the world gives everyone the opportunity to experience something far different from the nine-to-five slog. But it’s critical to remember some of the following to ensure that you get the most out of your digital nomad experience.
Secure Your Data
This is particularly important if you are working with sensitive information. You need to use virtual private networks (VPNs) to protect your online activities if you are using public Wi-Fi networks. You can learn how to set up a VPN on Mac computers so you can protect your information wherever you go. It’s also important to have a reliable internet connection because you are working remotely. While there are so many people who do work remotely now, if you are a digital nomad who’s going from place to place, you’ve got to prioritize the specific locations where there are stable internet connections. This could be a property that you are renting in the short term or a hostel. Always scope out the internet connections first because this will make life a lot easier for you.
Manage Your Time Zones
If you are working with multiple clients across the world, you have got to coordinate your working hours alongside the time zone of your company or clients. This could be a lot of headwork because you need to make sure that you are aligning with them, especially if they are on the other side of the world. But you can easily use tools to coordinate and convert time zones to make things less confusing. You should also think about how much work you can realistically do for your client based on where you are. If you do have clients scattered all over the world and you are stretching yourself thin because you feel that you are just answering emails over an 18 to 20-hour period per day, you are going to burn out pretty quickly. Be very strict with your time zone management for the sake of your physical and mental health.
Think About the Local Culture
While being a digital nomad is an excellent way to have more freedom in life, you’ve got to be aware if you are inadvertently upsetting people in your location. When you’re a digital nomad, you can be considered a nuisance in some ways because you are in your own bubble and potentially misusing the local services. For example, if you go into a coffee house and spend the entire day there but have only bought one drink and have used their Wi-Fi all day, it’s always worth being careful and considerate.
When you are spending time on the road you can certainly experience the wonders of life in so many different ways, but these are just a few things that you should bear in mind. Being a digital nomad is a very common career choice, but make sure that you are going about it in the right ways.
