How to Become a Digital Nomad With No Experience (7 steps)

My life fits into a suitcase and a few odd bags. I mostly buy one-way tickets, have friends across the globe and work out of cafes while traveling. This is a snapshot of my life. I’m a digital nomad and I love it.

So if you’re looking to join me by making travel a key part of your life, then you’re in the right place. This is how to become a digital nomad (with no experience necessary).

Because here’s the truth, anyone can become a digital nomad and it doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing pursuit. Few things in life are this binary.

So with that, let’s do this!

Table of Contents Show

What’s A Digital Nomad?

A digital nomad is someone who works remotely while traveling at least part-time. They usually have location flexibility and only need an internet connection to make money.

Making laptop money is becoming increasingly common and easier than ever before. You can even make a living with just your smartphone! But I recommend grabbing a laptop to make life easier and expand your options.

Benefits of Being a Digital Nomad

• See the world, experience cultures and travel more

• Meet amazing people who are like-minded

• Improve your discipline and resilience

• Location flexibility and freedom

• Become more confident

• Live in more affordable areas and save money

• Improve your life-work balance

Downsides of the Digital Nomad Life

• It’s not always easy or comfortable

• You need a flexible life

• You often need to plan multiple trips ahead of time

• Taxes get trickier

• Understanding work vs. tourist visas is nuanced

• Need work that’s beyond remote (e.g., different time zones is hard for meetings)

How to Become a Digital Nomad With no Experience (7 steps)

1. Know Your ‘Why’

Your why is your motivation, your North Star. Clarifying this is essential because it’s what pushes you through all the difficult parts of being a digital nomad.

When things get hard or you need to find extra money, a strong ‘why’ will push you to do that (instead of giving up). When you ground yourself in your why, you can make decisions quicker and are less influenced by struggles or doubts.

Here are some elements that help with clarity:

• Your expectations

• Your goals

• Your inspirations

• Your experiences

• Your motivations

• Your lifestyle

Explore More:
➤ How to Define Your Freaking Why

2. Find Flexible Remote Work

“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”

— Arthur Ashe

Money and work — these are two things that can either make or break your digital nomad hopes and dreams. So let’s get things figured out!

Luckily, it’s modern life and making money while you travel is more possible than ever before.

And if you’re not sure where to start, follow the quote from above’s advice: use the knowledge, tools and connections you already have. When trying to build an online income, tap into any existing resources you have to make things easier.

Also think about how much you’ll need to cover your expenses. You may end up needing less than your home country (especially if you choose somewhere affordable like Southeast Asia).

Here are some popular ways to earn money as a digital nomad:

• Teach English online (the easiest way to start)

• Try the Amazon Influencer Program

• Consulting or selling your services

• Freelance work (I use Upwork)

• Start a remote business

• Sell digital products

• Start a travel blog

• Find a flexible job

If you’re struggling to find work, you can research other options too, such as volunteering abroad (with someone like WWOOF), looking for hostel exchange work or housesitting (through somewhere like Trusted House Sitters).

Also, there are more options to get into this life — but more on that below (tips 5 & 6).

Explore More:
➤ Best Remote Jobs for Travelers

3. Research Destinations

As a digital nomad, you have the freedom to go wherever you feel like (more or less). Still, a little research and planning helps.

So, where do you want to travel to and explore? Do you prefer staying in one place for many months or hopping around many locations more quickly? How about the type of destination — do you prefer adventurous places full of nature or living in the city?

What type of traveler are you?

These are all important things to consider. While it’s good to experience new things outside of your comfort zones, it’s also smart to start with something familiar or easy.

The digital nomad life is already uniquely challenging, so picking the right places will make your life easier. For example, some destinations are just set up better for remote work and foreign residents or visitors.

Here are a few popular destinations for digital nomads:

• Bali

• Spain

• Japan

• Portugal

• Thailand

• Costa Rica

Explore More:
➤ Best Places to Travel for Beginners

4. Prepare (digital nomad checklist)

The digital nomad life requires preparation. So getting good at planning helps.

Things like travel visas, taxes, budgeting and destination research are important elements to think about before leaving. While I support spontaneous travel, some stuff can’t be left to chance.

So here’s a checklist of things you should prepare before embarking on your digital nomad life:

• Research entry requirements for your destinations

• Apply for a digital nomad visa if you need one

• Create a budget and plan for extra

• Get long-term travel insurance before you leave

• Book accommodations — I like to stay in share houses

• Remember to file taxes in your home country

• Figure out logistics (selling your stuff, banking, getting paid, travel credit card)

• Get a virtual mailbox if you need one

• Double check your travel essentials before you leave

• Plan your next stops and buy those tickets ahead of time

  • *You need proof of onward travel as a tourist overseas

Explore More:
➤ Stuck Abroad With no Money? (what to do)

5. Start Slow

“The digital nomad life doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing thing...find what works for you.”

You don’t need to go all in, all at once. You can live a more flexible, part-time digital nomad life too — this is what I do a lot of actually.

For example, you can spend three month overseas and then a couple months back home before heading out again to your next destination. This lets you maintain a home base, a somewhat ‘normal’ life balance and can even save some money too.

But it’s also a great way to try the digital nomad lifestyle before committing fully. It’s like test-driving the car before you buy it.

You can even start by just working remotely and taking more vacations nearby. Get a taste for cafe offices and working out of different rooms and cities.

The more you push yourself, the better you’ll get and the more you’ll learn about yourself. So when you do hop on a plane for a longer-term situation, it should go a lot smoother.

6. Consider the Alternatives (become an expat)

An expat is someone who lives and works or studies outside of their home country.

While this isn’t technically becoming a digital nomad, it’s still a great way to live the nomadic lifestyle and something that can segue into digital nomadism quite easily.

This is actually how I started my digital nomad life.

I started my travel life as an English teacher overseas, before finding remote work and eventually going full-time with this jazz.

Working abroad will get you a visa but it also requires that you stay and live in one specific country. Still, working abroad will give you more travel opportunities than most.

Here are a few ways to become an expat:

• Teach English abroad

• Find work in tech

• Study abroad

• Attend a language school

• Applying for a digital nomad visa

• Work in hospitality

• Marry someone from overseas

• Start a business overseas

Moving abroad segues into a lot of travel opportunities. So if you’re struggling to find sustainable remote work, this can often be another entry point into the nomadic lifestyle.

Explore More:
➤ How to Move to Japan

7. Have a Routine

“One thing I love about being a digital nomad is how untraditional it is. I get bored with routine and crave spontaneity, adventure and exploration. Still, a little bit of normalcy helps.”

A routine makes the digital nomad life more sustainable. This is especially true if you’re working remotely and have things you need to do. For me, my routine is pretty typical — I wake up slow and do most of my client work in the afternoons. I try to save evenings and weekends for my personal projects and social stuff.

But if you’re living a digital nomad life, chances are you can stay more flexible and just do whatever works best for you.

So here are a few tips for creating a routine as a digital nomad:

• Use workflows and systems

• Make your routine realistic and easy to follow

• Attach your daily tasks to larger goals and projects

• Make time for free time and relaxing

Bonus (have a travel project)

I always have a travel project. This adds more intention, meaning and purpose to all my exploring. It makes travel life that much more engaging and fulfilling.

This blog is a travel project. My music is a travel proejct. And all the photos and videos I take for my unpopular socials, those are projects too.

This last step is optional, but I totally recommend it. Maybe I’m biased (as an artist person), but it makes travel feel more inspiring and deeper.

So get creative. And go make something. Or at least try it out.

(you’ll thank me)

Explore More:
➤ Have a Travel Project

Later ✌️

Anyone can become a digital nomad — and no experience needed! It just requires a leap of faith and the right strategy.

The biggest hurdle is figuring out money and work logistics. Luckily, making money online is more accessible than ever before. So I like to start with this logistical detail first (as well as clarifying my ‘why’).

From there, researching destinations and proper planning is essential. The digital nomad life comes with extra nuances that require attention (taxes, visa planning, buying tickets for proof onward travel, etc.).

But it’s far from impossible. And you can always start slow or become a part-time digital nomad first.

A life of travel is a fun one. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it!

FAQs

• Do I need a digital nomad visa?

  Technically, yes. If you're staying in another country and working/making money, you should have a digital nomad visa. Of course, there are plenty of digital nomads blurring the lines and grey areas abound! So it's best to check with a visa professional for more guidance.

• How much money do I need to become a digital nomad?

  It depends on your lifestyle, needs and location. But I always like to over-budget and have a contingency fund in case I need to buy a ticket quickly or have an unexpected expense. For me (staying in Japan as a budget traveler and single dude with around $600 in bills back home), I can get by comfortably with around $2,000 USD/month.

• Is it hard to become a digital nomad?

  Yes and no. It's simple to do, but harder to execute. It takes some confidence to step into the unknown. And building a sustainable income online can take some time. But if you stick with it, anyone can become a digital nomad.

• What jobs can I get as a digital nomad?

  Any remote work that has location and time flexibility is perfect. It depends on your skills, experience and preferences. Here are some examples:

  • Freelancing

  • Consulting or coaching

  • Starting a blog or becoming an influencer

  • Selling products online (digital, ecom)

• What are the best countries for digital nomads?

  There are many countries that are great for digital nomads. Here are some tips to choose the best one for you:

  • See if they have a digital nomad visa

  • Make sure there's good internet there

  • Check for safety

  • Look for good infrastructure (transportation, water, healthcare, etc.)

  • Go to places that are foreigner-friendly

• How do I get health insurance as a digital nomad?

  Insurance is super important while traveling. Because things happen!

  I always use SafetyWing travel insurance. This covers major things or medical emergencies.

Want More? Nice. Here’s More.