I’m here to walk you through STEP BY STEP my journey to becoming a Digital Nomad. From ditching my stuff to landing a remote job, to some tips and platforms that can help you do the same and save while on the road. All illustrated with photos I took on Lisbon, Portugal.
As of the moment I’m originally writing this article, it’s been roughly a year and ten months since I left home and started this adventure. The day I decided to embrace the nomadic lifestyle wasn’t the day my first flight took off. That decision was made many years before.
Deciding to “drop it all” and embark on the adventure of exploring the world isn’t an overnight choice. It can take years or at least a long time of planning and a whole lot of effort. When I made the choice, I could barely cover that month’s rent. In this article, I’ll share my process, hoping it helps you find your own path.
How Did I Decide to Become a Digital Nomad?
I grew up in Cancun, the Mexican paradise. Millions of tourists and travelers from around the world come to Cancun to enjoy (or exploit – not diving into that topic right now) the wonders that the Caribbean has to offer. My first exposure to the world was with the people in my city who were already halfway through their own adventures.
In Cancun, I met travelers from places I didn’t even know existed, from places I dreamed of visiting since I was a kid, places I thought I could never afford to visit, and others I just hadn’t visited yet.
I got the travel bug, that longing to cross distant borders and surround myself with unfamiliar languages. At this point, I was basically broke, living day by day, studying college, had a lease on a small apartment crowded with roommates and worrying about making it to the end of the month.
My Short Couchsurfing Story
I sometimes listen to TedTalks for pure entertainment, and one day I clicked on one titled “How to travel the world with almost no money.” This one caught my attention for one reason: CouchSurfing. For those unfamiliar, it’s a traveler’s community where you can offer or receive free accommodation in exchange for the experience and connection with other travelers.
Think of it as a free Airbnb, and instead of a bed, you typically get a couch and an amazing host showing you around. I didn’t sign up to be hosted; I signed up to host. So, in my apartment, I started hosting strangers (sorry, Mom) from all over that were traveling through Mexico. One of the most culturally enriching experiences of my life, (aside from traveling, of course).
With my roommate, we hosted a guy from Poland who spoke neither English nor Spanish, and we communicated through gestures and Google Translate. A girl from Canada shared maple whiskey with us and talked about what it means to be a naturist. Also, that guy from Argentina funded his journey through all of Latin America by selling fridge magnets. Long story short, a bunch of more stories, a bunch more people, a bunch more languages, countries, and experiences… and the obvious consequence was me starting to wonder, “Now, how can I do this?”
I think the day I asked that question was the most important piece of the puzzle. It was the day I made the decision. And the next few years were practically the process of me being able to find an answer.
What Steps Did I Take to Embark on Digital Nomad My Journey?
I went all out.
First, I left the apartment where the lease was on my name and rented a small room elsewhere. Then, I took the time to go through EVERYTHING I had to see what I wanted to keep, what was junk, what I could sell, and what I could give away. In Cancun, my apartment was furnished, and several of the furniture pieces were mine; I had to sell/give them away. Gradually I got rid of stuff and kept only necessary items that would fit in a (carry on) suitcase.
Truthfully, it was a process that took more than a year (I had a ton of stuff). It was a process of learning to become a minimalist, to live with only the essentials, and discovering what it is essential FOR ME. This can look very different for each person. For instance, I had a VERY long collection of books that I lugged around every time I moved to a different appartment. I donated them to a Mayan community through a doctor who kindly delivered them, and then I bought a Kindle.
I Landed a Remote Job to become a Digital Nomad.
This also took a lot of effort. I already had the idea of working online before Covid. At that time, there wasn’t as much, let’s say, “openness” to the idea of remote work, at least not in Mexico. I found out that in other countries like the U.S., it was a relatively common practice. I applied for almost a YEAR and got nothing. Then the pandemic hit, and boom! I get hired in the middle of July 2020. I know Covid was horrific for many, but honestly, at that moment, it wasn’t so bad for me. That’s when I actually became a digital nomad.
What Types of Jobs Can Digital Nomads do?
What I’m doing at the moment is Digital Marketing. But there are plenty of other things you can do as a digital nomad, from specific roles like Programmer, UI/UX Designer, Project Manager… to simpler tasks like Translator, Virtual Assistant, Social Media Manager. You can also find roles like Graphic Designer, Video Editor, Content Creator, TikTok Editor!!! Anyway, find what suits your skills and be persistent. If you don’t have the skills for the more common online jobs, you can learn.
If I Don’t Have a Work Visa at the Destination, Is It Illegal to Work as a Digital Nomad?
The issue is that many countries do not have specific regulations for digital nomads. It’s a “gray area”, you have to research each destination specifically. Consider that the laws that prohibit to work in the country under a tourist visa are usually established to prevent illegal immigration and unauthorised people to take the jobs that locals can do, so it tends to be assumed that digital nomads do not always fall into this category. This doesn’t mean that the law doesn’t apply to the digital nomads though. There are a lot of countries that offer specific visas for Digital Nomads as long as you receive the income from another country. If you have a country in mind, do your research! Always double check the law in each country to avoid surprises.
On Savings and Finances
I saved more than half of my (Mexican) salary for two years until I had an amount I felt comfortable with. I could have spent at least a year without a job living in Mexico (which is where I’m from). The important thing here is to gather an amount that, being realistic and considering the destination, you feel you could handle it if you’re left without an income during your travels or if any emergency arises.
These three things consume most of the money when traveling as a digital nomad:
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Food
If you find ways to save on these three, your journey will end up being much more economical, therefore you may get to travel for a longer period of time. Instead of taking an Uber, use the subway or a bus. Instead of taking a flight, perhaps take a night bus and save on a night’s accommodation. Eat the local cuisine, but also cook as much as you can…
Some tips to cut expenses:
Regarding accommodation, hostels are usually the go-to choice if you’re on a budget, but if hostels are not your jam, you can book Airbnbs per month and usually, there is a monthly discount that can make it waay more affordable. Although, the best way to save is to avoid paying for accommodation altogether and perhaps do something like volunteering.
There are different types of volunteering. Generally, you exchange some kind of help, and they offer you accommodation and sometimes even meals. It can last from days to weeks or even months depending on the specific agreement. I think this topic is very varied, so in the future, I’ll write an article detailing the types and different dynamics depending on the platforms. For now, I’ll just mention the ones I know: Worldpackers, Workaway, TrustedHousitters. There’s also the CouchSurfing option to explore; just remember to always read the reviews and be very critical about who you stay with.
In Conclusion
Sometimes life is about taking the chance, making a decision, holding on, and doing everything in our power to make it happen. If you really dream of traveling or becoming a digital nomad, work your way towards it, set a goal, make a plan. In the end, life’s like that. If we don’t make the intentional choice of making things happen, they probably won’t.
Whatever *your dream* is, look at it closely, from the outside, from the inside, break it down into a series of steps to follow. You’ll see that one day, you’ll be like, “No way, I did it!”
P.S. Here’s the TedX I was telling you about!
