(This week I take a break from writing and introduce Guest Blogger, Lance Cody-Valdez.)
Being a digital nomad and working remotely allows you to balance work and travel in a flexible manner. You can see the country without dipping so heavily into your savings, aided by consistent paychecks. If you’re the type of person who likes to move regularly and you want to switch to remote work full time, follow these helpful tips.
Understand Your Working Style
Are you a person who covets structure, or do you prefer a job that allows you to work at your own pace? Whatever it is, you should find work that matches your work style. Your style will affect how individualistic you can be on the job and what sorts of environments inspire you.
Whether you flourish in a busy area with lots of noise or you’re a total night owl, try to find something that allows for that flexibility. Freelance work has a myriad of options, including translating, writing, content creation, tutoring, and graphic design. If you have any expertise in IT, try your hand at developing software or apps. After all, tech jobs pay well.
Start a Freelancing Business
Due to the high degree of freedom, starting your own freelance business would be perfect for someone who’s on the move. When considering your business, try setting it up as an LLC. This helps protect some of your personal assets from business-related liabilities, gives you access to tax breaks, and grants you the flexibility to run your business as you please without the hassle of too much paperwork. Make sure that you check in with state regulations wherever you establish your business, and hire a formation service if you want to ensure you’re in legal compliance without paying exorbitant lawyer fees.
Running your own business is time-consuming and all-encompassing. If you’re spending too much time on administrative tasks, it can be hard to focus on running your business profitably. Fortunately, Karen Repoli can handle any administrative, writing, marketing, and tech task you don’t have time for.
Find Tech-Friendly Rentals
You’ll want to find reliable rentals when moving from city to city. Fast Wi-Fi, affordability, and 24-hour customer service are important, but also consider the neighborhood. Is the public transportation infrastructure robust? Is the crime rate low? Are there appealing amenities? Some cities across the country stand out as quality hot spots for remote workers, such as Columbus, OH; Bellingham, WA; and Grand Rapids, MI, so try searching for the right city to help narrow down your apartment hunt.
Cut Costs
If you’re making the switch to becoming a digital nomad, you should live a minimalist lifestyle. The less you have to lug between apartments, the better, ultimately cutting transport costs, moving expenses, and necessary square footage. There are also business costs to be aware of, such as invoicing and getting paid abroad, so look for a payment platform that has low fees and is financially feasible in the long run.
Find the Right Work-Life Balance
Research shows that the number one reason people choose remote work is for a better work-life balance. The lines between the two can easily be blurred when you work from home, but if you establish clear boundaries and experiment with your schedule and working style, you’ll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Make the most of the freedom that comes with being a digital nomad, but ensure you’re taking all the necessary steps to make each transition seamless. Know what you need from a career and find the most cost-effective path to success.
About the Author: A few years ago, burned out and miserable from his job in corporate marketing, Lance Cody-Valdez decided it was time to invest in himself. He quit his job the following day and used his meager savings to stay afloat as he built a career as a freelance writer and content marketer. He created Free Lance Now to help others use freelancing to escape the 9 to 5 daily grind.
