OK, you like the idea of working while travelling, but you don’t know whether you could do that or not or whether it is for you or not. To help you decide, here are some questions you need to ask yourself.
Is your work location independent? In other words: do you ever need to physically meet any of your colleagues, clients or anyone else involved in your job? If the answer is no, then you are location independent. Translators, writers of any sort, graphic designers, programmers or in some cases accountants and various consultants are all likely candidates. Even if they sometimes meet clients and colleagues, they don’t necessarily have to. If you are a translator like me, you definitely don’t need to meet anyone in person to do your job. If you do need to talk to clients and colleagues, try to find out if it is OK with them to have online chats via Skype or using other tools rather than personal meetings. In most cases, they will be happy with online meetings, especially if the meetings are not regular. It may also turn out that the meetings are not necessary altogether, because everything can be arranged via email, text messages or something similar. Discuss these things with everyone you need to, and if they are happy with Skype meetings or no meetings at all, you are ready to go.
Would you enjoy travelling most of the time? We are often called “digital nomads” for a reason: this is really a nomadic way of life. Most often, we, digital nomads stay in each country on a tourist visa, which means that after a few months at most (and often after only a month), you will have to pack all your stuff and move elsewhere. This means that (a:) you need to travel light (see my post about it), and (b:) you need to plan a little ahead and do an international trip several times a year.
There are exceptions though. You may get a work visa and stay for years, or the country you want to spend a longer time in has very flexible visa rules. Argentina is a country where most nationalities can stay for 6 months on a once extended visa, and then stay for much longer if they pay a fine that won’t break the bank.
Do you enjoy experiencing different cultures? If there is a limit for you, but you still want to travel, all is still not lost: choose a country which you know should be not very different from yours. For most of us, digital nomads, trying out new things, experiencing new ways of life, new cuisines, new climates etc. is perhaps the best part of it all. If you think you would also love it, join the club! That doesn’t mean BTW, that you must try every single ting that the local people are doing/eating/wearing etc. I have spent a long time in South East Asia now, but have never tried any “exotic” food that they sometimes eat, like snake, worms, cockroaches, not to mention dog meat or monkey meat. Try whatever you feel like trying, but don’t try anything you don’t – it is this simple, no-one will force you.
If you have answered yes to all of the above questions, you are ready to become a location independent digital nomad, and you can start preparing for your working while travelling adventure. Because the rest is not an issue. Location independence or working while travelling may be done with a tight budget or in a luxurious way and anywhere in between. You can travel solo or with a friend/partner or even with the whole family including little children or elderly people.