Imagine this: Your employer tells you that because of the pandemic, you can work remotely for the foreseeable future. Your bags are all packed, you bought a protective cover for your passport, and you booked a one-way ticket to a country you\u2019ve always wanted to explore: You\u2019re ready to be a digital nomad. However, whether you are a remote, location-independent employee of a company, or you manage your own virtual business, you need to make sure you are fully prepared for this new nomadic lifestyle. <\/strong>You must take necessary precautions that will ensure your life as a digital nomad is nothing short of incredible \u2014 and prevent possible pitfalls that can arise with this lifestyle.<\/p>\n How can you prepare for this journey? Below are some tried-and-true tips that will help you have the most amazing, successful, and hassle-free experience that\u2019s possible as a digital nomad. Keep all of these tips in mind as you embark on your new adventure around the world:<\/p>\n When you first embark on your journey as a digital nomad, you may not immediately meet a network of friends to hang out with, and it can get lonely. Thus, schedule regular Skype or Zoom calls with friends and family back home so that you don\u2019t feel so alone in the new area you travelled to. This will really help you stay uplifted and motivated to continue on your adventure, as you know you have a support system (even if they are not nearby). Keeping in touch with friends and family back home requires initiative and effort, so try not to lose touch by scheduling weekly calls with them.<\/p>\n Because loneliness can negatively impact your mental health<\/a>, this is another tip to help prevent feelings of isolation. Everywhere you travel to, there will likely be a community of other digital nomads who are enjoying the same kind of lifestyle you are. Try to find out where they all like to hang out in each city you stay in, or look for possible online digital nomad communities for your area. You will make new, lifelong friends and meet others who have helpful advice on secret local hotspots to check out, safety tips, ways to better manage your workload while travelling, etc. You may even end up meeting someone that you decide to partner with on a future side hustle. In other words, hanging out with and networking with other digital nomads can be good for your bank account in addition to preventing loneliness.<\/p>\n You must prepare for the worst-case scenario wherever you go. One way to do this is by always having an emergency fund of at least $2000 USD available to buy a plane ticket home in a moment\u2019s notice in case something unexpected happens. We\u2019ve already seen the complete mess that the coronavirus pandemic caused for international travellers trying to return to their home countries. I\u2019ve also personally been in countries when they had earthquakes, hurricanes\/typhoons, and military coups. It\u2019s much better to always be prepared and safe than sorry.<\/p>\n Going along with the previous tip, preparing for the worst-case scenario also means purchasing some travel insurance for your journey. This will help you cover any medical emergencies that could arise (like if you accidentally fall and break a bone). Also, in the unfortunate event of your laptop or cell phone being stolen \u2014 which happens all the time to travellers \u2013 this insurance will help to cover these costs. This means you won\u2019t have to drain your aforementioned emergency fund to buy a new laptop or phone.<\/p>\n Having a high-quality internet connection is absolutely critical for digital nomads, as all of their business is conducted online. That said, wouldn\u2019t it be such a bummer if you arrived in another country only to discover that the internet in your hostel and nearby cafes is really weak? Thus, check beforehand to make sure that the place you are staying at has great internet. If it doesn\u2019t, ensure there are nearby internet cafes or coffee shops with a high-quality connection.<\/p>\n Be even more prepared for your journey by purchasing a portable WiFi hotspot router for your laptop that offers a fast and reliable connection wherever you go. This means you won\u2019t just be tied to working in hostels or cafes \u2014 you can work on a lovely beach in Brazil, by a gorgeous vineyard in Italy, in a bustling city centre in China\u2026 The options are endless!<\/p>\n While you\u2019re travelling, you don\u2019t want to accidentally miss a meeting with a potential client just because you mixed up the time zones and hours\u2019 difference between your country and theirs. Thus, it is vital that you stay on top of the various time zones of the countries you travel to (and the variances in Daylight Savings Time) so that you don\u2019t miss important video calls with your clients or your team. You can use a service like Calendly<\/a> to organize your meetings and integrate them into your Google Calendar.<\/p>\n You may really love living in another country and end up staying there longer than you expected to. Wouldn\u2019t it be fantastic if you could ask essential questions (like how to get to another city) to locals who speak another language? Therefore, before you embark on your journey, take the time to learn useful phrases in the language of each country you visit. <\/strong>You can seek out the help of Live Lingua<\/a>\u2019s online language tutors, who are available 24\/7 and can also provide helpful insight on the culture of each country you travel to.<\/p>\n You likely planned out every key detail of your travels, down to the times you will board certain trains to travel to new cities or countries. However, keep in mind that everything will not always work out the way you planned. Weather could be unpredictable, your hostel could end up having issues, a bus may be late and cause you to miss your train or flight\u2026 be flexible and take everything in stride. This will help you have the most enjoyable experience possible as a digital nomad.<\/p>\n There are many wonderful products out there that can help simplify your journey as a digital nomad. Knowing which travel essentials save you time and reduce your stress are important. For example, you can clean up after a long day exploring with Walton Wood Farm\u2019s Waterless Power Shower<\/a> (which offers a convenient and effective on-the-go body cleanse without having to take a bath or shower). This is helpful since while travelling, you won\u2019t always have access to a bath or shower when you need one. Other products that are travel essentials include an RFID blocking wallet for credit card safety while travelling, and a secure anti-theft bag to carry your essentials as you explore each city.<\/p>\n It can be easy to get caught up in all the work emails, project deadlines, and video chats with employees and clients. However, don\u2019t be a workaholic who forgets to explore the exciting new country they\u2019re in. Take time to really enjoy where you are. Schedule designated start and stop times for each workday, and then make plans to visit landmarks, local hotspots, do exciting activities, or simply relax on the beach once you close your laptop for the day. You need to maintain a healthy balance of work and pleasure when you\u2019re a digital nomad.<\/p>\nSchedule Regular Calls Back Home to Prevent Loneliness<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Find the Local Hangout Spots for Digital Nomads<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"circlemagazine-circledna-digital-nomad\"](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1574607383363-5b5f1747b37b?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8N3x8ZW1lcmdlbmN5JTIwZnVuZHN8ZW58MHx8MHx8&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&w=1000&q=80\")
Have an Emergency Fund<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Get Travel Insurance<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Assess the Internet Quality of Each Place You Travel To<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Keep Note of Time Zones and Changes in Daylight Savings Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"circlemagazine-circledna-digital-nomad\"](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1529203915787-cc54fa70a428?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8Nnx8bGFuZ3VhZ2V8ZW58MHx8MHx8&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&w=1000&q=80\")
Learn Useful Phrases in the Language of Each Country You Travel To<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Be Flexible and Open-Minded<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Bring Along Helpful Travel Essentials<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t Be a Workaholic: Remember to Enjoy Your Travels<\/strong><\/h2>\n