What Is a Digital Nomad?
A digital nomad is someone that works remotely using internet technology—they broadly fall under three categories: entrepreneurs, remote workers and freelancers. The lifestyle of the digital nomad affords them a way of living where they are not tied to one particular location.
They may work from hotel rooms, on the beach, by a pristine lake, co-working spaces, public libraries, coffee shops or even on planes—the possibilities are endless, which is what makes this life style alluring for the free spirit.
The digital nomad’s only requirements are that they have access to high speed internet— preferably wireless, which is typically satisfied via mobile phones that throw hotspot signals. This allows them to keep connected to their jobs, search engines, websites, clients and co-workers.
Digital nomads always require computing power, with most of them opting for laptops since these devices allow them portability; however, a few may choose to move around with lightweight desktops especially if their lifestyle limits them to moving around a smaller locale.
Who Can Adopt This Lifestyle?
Digital nomads vary in their professions as much as the different time zones they live and work from. Here is a short list of different career paths that can set someone up on their journey towards becoming a digital nomad:
- Content writing
- Digital marketing
- Software engineering
- Quality analysis (QA)
- Project management
- Virtual assistance
- Customer service
- Accounting
- Design
- Editing
- IT
- Healthcare
This list is by no means exhaustive, but gives an idea on the diversity of who can live this often sought after lifestyle.
What Is The Future Of The Digital Nomad?
Digital nomadism has existed for many years now—writers and some IT professionals for example have always been working from home. However, the trend has recently gained traction from the pandemic that rocked the world in 2020 leading many companies to send their employees home to continue working.
As a result of the popularity and advantages that working remotely has conferred on many companies and individuals, this type of work is seeing tremendous growth with no signs of slowing down.
In fact, many countries are now allowing individuals to work and live in their territories as digital nomads by offering a digital nomad visa allowing nomads to live and work remotely while enjoying tax free status or paying little tax. The list of countries continue to grow.
The digital nomad age has begun!