How To Become a DIGITAL NOMAD and Work from Anywhere in 2024

I get emails asking me how to get started with the digital nomad lifestyle all the time. So I thought I’d write a more detailed blog post with personal advice on the best ways to get started.

The first question you need to answer is: Do you want to become a digital nomad just so you can run your office from the beach? As you see in most of the articles you read about this lifestyle (including this one)…

In that case, I recommend that you stop reading now. We only take those pictures to show off anyway. The sand will destroy your laptop and sometimes it’s way too hot to stay productive.

The reality is a bit different. Sometimes we need to escape to dark hotel rooms and empty beach bars just to find a good WI-FI connection and when we really need to get work done we do our best to stay as far away from tourists as possible so that we can focus. In fact, productivity as a digital nomad can be quite a challenge.

However, working online allows us to travel the world and see many amazing places in the world. We can live and work anywhere we want and there are many more advantages why you should consider going that route. Not too bad right? And the good thing is, becoming a digital nomad can actually be a lot easier than you think (even if you don’t have a lot of skills to work online… yet).

So let me explain:

The first thing that we need to get out of the way is that everyone reading this post will be in a slightly different position. Many of you will probably already have the right skills but just need to do a better job of selling them, others might not even have an online skill at all. So there really isn’t just one solution that will work for everyone.

However, this is a special post written for those of you who are just starting out and beginning to learn online. I hope it will give you a few new ideas and help you to decide on the next steps you’re going to need to take. Plus it should give you a better idea of whether this lifestyle is right for you.

What’s a digital nomad and why it’s easy to become one?

There are so many types of digital nomads that it’s actually hard to come up with just one description. However, what they all have in common is that they spend at least a few months of the year abroad, change their destinations frequently (usually every few weeks but can stay up to 6 months), and earn a living while working online.

One thing you need to remember though is that the words ‘digital nomad’ and ‘location independent’ often get mixed up, but there is a huge difference. In reality, not every digital nomad makes enough money to be able to live and work anywhere in the world.

While you’ll be fine running your business and enjoying a good quality of life as a digital nomad for less than a $1000 a month. You’ll be restricted to the low cost of living countries in South East Asia and many other destinations which you’ll find in the destination guide. You’ll need a lot more than that to become completely location independent and be able to run your business from places like London, Munich, or San Francisco.

That’s why it’s a lot easier to become a digital nomad than location independent, which should always be your ultimate goal.

The skills you need

You might think that you have no skills to work online but you’re probably wrong. Already knowing how to type and work with a PC could be enough to get you started and land you a simple remote job that could allow you to work from anywhere within a few weeks. It’s even better if you use some of your knowledge in other fields and combine them.

The truth is that you often might not be able to use your current knowledge when starting out as a digital nomad and feel that you’ve wasted your time studying the wrong skills. That can be the biggest trade-off when opting into this lifestyle and you can only decide for yourself if it’s worth the effort.

Before outlining some ways to become a digital nomad I’d also like to give you a few more ideas about the good and bad things about this lifestyle.

The good…

I’ve written about the benefits of working online and traveling in detail here, but to sum it up there are three major reasons why people decide to become digital nomads.

Enjoy a good quality of life for less money

One of the best things about being a digital nomad is that you don’t need to generate a lot of money to get started. If you choose to spend your time in South East Asia, or most of the destinations in the workation guide, you’ll be able to enjoy a great quality of life for around $1000 a month. You’ll have to work a lot harder and make a load more money to achieve the same quality of life in most Western countries.

An important step toward becoming location independent

As explained above there’s a big difference between location independence and being a digital nomad. However, becoming a digital nomad can be a great step toward building a location-independent business. That’s one reason why many people move to digital nomad hubs with a low cost of living like Bali or Chiang Mai. These are great places to meet other digital nomads, collaborate, and learn from each other. Being in an environment like this will mean that you’ll have a much better chance of building a location-independent business or start-up than trying to do it alone from home.

If I had tried to build a location-independent business back home in Germany instead of South Africa the salaries would have been way too tempting and I would probably have a 9-5 job in the tourism industry right now. In Cape Town, where I lived at that time, I needed less money to enjoy a good quality of life. That’s why it can give you extra motivation to build a location-independent business abroad where you can enjoy a better quality of life on a lower salary than in your home country.

Travel the world while working online

Finally, becoming a digital nomad allows you to travel the world. Once you’ve figured out how to stay productive you can reward yourself and go on workations to many amazing countries around the world. Want to escape the winter in Berlin and learn to surf in Bali, or work from Rio de Janeiro for a few months? You can do whatever your budget and workload allow you to do. P.S.: don’t forget to “pack” your nomad insurance before you head for your trip!

And the bad…

As good as it sounds to travel the world and live in amazing places, you also need to keep in mind that this lifestyle is not going to last forever! I’m seeing a trend of digital nomads returning to their home countries. Even those that have lived and loved the lifestyle for many years now. Some people work and travel for 6 months, others for 10 years but none of us will do it forever. Keep this in mind before you spend all of your time and energy taking this path.

If the only reason you want to become a digital nomad is to travel, a one-year world trip as a backpacker can sometimes be a better option. It’s a lot less stressful and really doesn’t have to be that expensive.

At one stage in our life, we all want to have some kind of home base/constant comfort zone we can eventually return to, which I’ve explained in more detail in the lessons I learned in four years as a digital nomad blog post.

That’s why it’s so important that you actually take the time to build a business that gives you true freedom and enough income to live anywhere you want. Because in the best of both worlds, you should be able to have both: A real home base in one of your favorite places and the ability to go with your location-independent business on workation whenever you feel like it.

Still interested? Ok, let’s talk about the great ways to achieve this lifestyle quickly because you can probably get started faster with it than you think!

16 ways to become a digital nomad without the skills to work online

You might think that the best route to becoming a digital nomad is by taking the entrepreneurial road and starting your own online business. This will undoubtedly give you the most freedom but it’s very difficult to succeed – especially if you don’t have a lot of experience. And in fact, most digital nomads don’t start out like this, instead, they get started with remote work or freelancing. This means they are getting paid to gain more experience and skills. Plus it’s usually quite quick and easy.

Overall there are many different ways to get started as a Digital Nomad. I believe that anyone who really, really wants a life of more freedom and less 9-5 can do this. Keep in mind that you could get started within a matter of weeks or you might require more time and effort.

Your best path not only depends on your current skills, experience, and budget – but also on your willingness to fail. So let’s get started with the 10 ways how to become a digital nomad without skills to work online (yet)…

1. Get a job that teaches you the skills you need to know

If you’re young and in no real hurry to become a digital nomad immediately, a good way to get started would be to get a job at a company that will teach you the skills to work online. This is a great way of getting paid to learn. If you apply for a job at an Online Marketing agency, for example, you’ll learn many skills that are perfect to become a digital nomad one day.

It’s probably the least exciting way of getting started but it’s the most secure way as well. You might also be able to take on a few freelance clients while you work which will make it easier for you to deal with clients in the future.

2. Become a freelancer in your spare time

If your current experience can’t be used to work online (yet), and you need the money from your existing job, you could start a freelance business in your free time. Remember that you don’t need a lot of money to get started so pick an easy skill from this list to get going ASAP and learn more skills so that you become even better.

3. Get paid for online gigs

All you need to do is type your desired profession and job type into your internet machine’s search bar and BAM – hundreds of search results pop up for you to choose from. This is largely thanks to the websites of gig economy heavyweights like Upwork, Remote.co, and Freelancer.com. These websites are places where businesses seeking part-time, ad hoc work post adverts for freelancers to apply. It’s like Craigslist for work.

Here’s how it works:

A business finds itself in need of a part-time job/freelancer. They post the job description, time allocation, and budget on the job board. From there, freelancers from around the world who have a profile with these sites, will see the ad on their job board and choose whether or not to apply for the work. If the applicants apply they will then get in touch with the business through the particular website with their portfolio and a cover letter motivating why they are a good fit for the job. After reviewing the freelancer’s cover letter and portfolio, the business will decide if they agree they are the right fit and then they move on to complete the brief and work as any freelancer and client would. Usually, these websites take a slight percentage commission of the agreed-upon rate for the work, and everyone is happy. It’s that simple.

There are so many professions being catered to on these sites, from writers, marketing directors, and video editors to human resources managers and even legal whizzes. If you can do the work remotely, they will be included on these sites. If you don’t have any professional experience or qualifications that is fine too. You can apply for jobs that require beginner, intermediate or advanced levels of competency.

Be a VA

There is a growing need for virtual assistants and it’s a great place to get started. Essentially you can perform the role of a personal assistant or secretary for people around the world who require assistance with a general admin who doesn’t require you face-to-face. This commonly involves scheduling, itinerary organizing, and day-to-day appointment reservations and bookings. The pay is decent and differs from client to client but people often assist a few clients as it is generally not considered a full-time gig.

Transcribing

If you’re looking to get a bit more hands-on then you may want to consider transcription work. This involves viewing video footage and writing down every word that is said, usually in an interview setting. It’s a bit tedious but super simple and easy to get through. You can find so many sites online that require transcription services and the pay isn’t half bad too.

Proofreading

Another great way to get your foot in the door of the freelance world is proofreading. There is so much written content being produced and released daily which means the pool for work is only increasing, which is great. You’ll be primarily looking out for spelling and grammar issues and sometimes content. It’s not for everyone but if you enjoy reading up on loads of different and interesting things you might as well get paid for it.

Content Writing

On the other hand, if you enjoy writing and are well familiar with grammar and stylistics, content writing gings are the ones you should be looking for. You can be writing newsletters, product descriptions, blog posts, or even whole websites. And the more professional the topic is, the higher you can set up your rate. Cryptocurrency, medicine, and technical writing are the niches most in demand.

Graphic Design

This industry might require a few more skills. But it’s not impossible to become a digital nomad even if you’re new to it. You will first need to master at least one design software, such as Adobe, Photoshop, or Canva. A couple of online courses might also come in handy.

Soon, you’ll be ready to set off on your design journey. Start with something small, such as posters, layouts, or social media posts. And you can slowly build up to the visual aspects of websites, magazines, or product packaging. If you’re good at drawing, you can also sell your illustrations.

Voice Acting

If you have an expressive voice, this might be the gig for you. When you think of voice actors, you might imagine that they’re only necessary for bringing cartoon characters to life. Voice acting is vital for many other types of productions, though. Commercials and audiobooks are just two examples. Most importantly, working in this field is convenient. No matter where you live, you can record your voice for clients.

If you’re worried that your voice isn’t good enough, don’t be. No matter how you sound, there’s probably a client out there who’d love it. Don’t worry about training, either. Natural talent can take you far.

Data Entry

Data entry might be a good place to start if you’re convinced that you don’t have any marketable skills. It requires neither experience nor formal education, so most people find it easy. It isn’t, however, the most exciting job. If this is the work you choose, you’ll be entering and updating data for hours at a time. It can get a bit boring, but it’s not so bad if you put on some good music. Besides, being a digital nomad might be worth a little boredom. The pay isn’t high, but this is a good starting point while you explore other options.

4. Study at an online university

You can get a flavor of the digital nomad lifestyle while studying online. Just sign up with an online university and you could essentially travel the world while learning the skills to work online, and you’ll spend a lot less than you would studying in Paris. It’s a great way to get a degree and keep open the option of starting out in the corporate world one day (or simply keep your parents sane). So far I’ve only met one Swedish student who’s doing this, but I’m sure there are many students out there who study and travel.

5. Buy an existing online business

A super-fast, but also risky, way to become a digital nomad is to simply buy an existing Online Business that already generates money or, even better, a passive income. You can buy businesses on sites like Flippa.com. You’re able to see how much money the site already generates and its monetization strategies. This would generate enough income to get started as a digital nomad.

Buying a business this way can be much easier than building a business from scratch. However, be sure that you get some advice from experienced Online Entrepreneurs before you buy anything to reduce the chance of taking on a business that is doomed to fail.

6. Save money and learn in a digital nomad hub

If where you live is so expensive that most of your salary goes towards maintaining your fixed costs, you might consider reducing them and saving up some money so you can move to a digital nomad hub like Chiang Mai in Thailand where your money goes a lot further. Here it will be a lot easier to learn all the skills that you’re going to need to work online because you’ll be surrounded by other digital nomads. You could even rent out your apartment at home and make some passive income that way.

It’s a fun way to get started and could be very inspiring to be around other digital nomads instead of trying to teach yourself alone at home. On the other hand, you might get distracted quickly and the chances that you’ll end up wanting to travel instead of putting in the hours to make it happen are high as well!

7. Start with a job abroad

Another more exciting option is to simply move abroad and find a job that allows you to experience working online. A good way to do this is by taking a Working Holiday visa in countries like Canada or Australia for example. Why not get more experience in Online Marketing while working and living in Sydney or Vancouver?

Apart from that, there are so many other possibilities to get started working abroad like teaching English, working as a dive instructor, or on cruise ships where you could still improve your skills to become a digital nomad in your free time.

8. Make Money With Airbnb Rental

Airbnb is a fun way for tourists to find a cozy, homelike experience in distant locations. It’s also a fantastic moneymaking option, and you don’t even have to be physically present to succeed.

Unlike most other methods to make money, renting out an Airbnb gives you passive income. Passive income allows you to disconnect your earnings from the time you spend on labor, creating a consistent cash flow even when you’re asleep.

To start earning cash with Airbnb, you need to own a home or apartment that you have a legal right to rent out. Create a listing with flattering photographs of your space, an appealing description, and a list of amenities.

You’ll also need to find someone trustworthy (and local to your Airbnb) who can manage the day-to-day details of renting out a space. Cleaning, responding quickly to emergencies, and more all need to be handled by someone who can show up at the rental in person.

Choose the right price for your Airbnb by comparing your space to other rentals nearby. After you get a few good reviews, new renters will trust your offering and book stays without any extra work from you.

Check out this post about making money on Airbnb without owning property.

9. Move your business online

Do you already own a brick-and-mortar business? This shouldn’t keep you from working and traveling. Just think about it. There are so many solutions out there that will help you to monitor your business from anywhere in the world without your physical presence. Webcams, Online Accounting, and of course some staff you trust to manage your daily business while being away. It’s possible!

10. Convince your boss to allow remote work

Do you love your job but spend most of your time on the laptop so your presence in the office is hardly ever required? Who knows, if you have an understanding boss you might be able to convince him or her to give you more freedom and allow you to do most of your work remotely. Don’t tell them that you want to work from abroad at the beginning, instead prove that you can do your job remotely from home before taking the next step. Yes, it’s true you might be able to become a digital nomad without quitting your job. You don’t know if you don’t ask!

11. Find a remote job online

We all know that today there are a lot of office jobs which could be done from anywhere in the world. It’s great to see that today there are more and more companies allowing their staff to work remotely, just as long as the job gets done.

If it’s impossible to work remotely in your current job you might find a better option online. Check local job portals or international sites like Odesk.

12. Start your own online business

You might think that the best way of being a digital nomad is to become an entrepreneur,  build your own online business, and then maybe create some kind of passive income e-commerce business. While it is true that some of the most successful digital nomads I know do this, it’s also the hardest route to take if you are just getting started.

It takes a long time to build up the necessary skills to execute this successfully. I believe it’s better to learn fewer skills well and get more experience before becoming a real entrepreneur.

13. Become a language teacher

If you’re reading this, that means you speak English — which is a valuable language to know! For better or worse, English has become the most common second language worldwide. It dominates in fields like business, science, and medicine. Though you know English, you might wonder if you’d actually be good at teaching it. Fortunately, teaching is an acquired skill: You can learn how to do it. Once you’ve studied how to teach ESL, get certified by passing the Teaching English as a Foreign Language test. You’ll discover that most ESL teaching opportunities aren’t remote, but a fair amount of them are.

Though you’ll be the teacher, you’ll also learn a lot. As a remote ESL instructor, you’ll get a peek into the lives of your students. You can learn about different cultures while you teach, and you might even pick up a few words in your students’ native languages.

One of the best platforms to start teaching languages is Preply – Most popular tutors earn up to $550/week!

14. Make Money With Cryptocurrencies

Using cryptocurrencies to generate income is risky, but it can also bring great rewards. If you’re comfortable with risking a bit of your hard-earned money in the hope of making more, this might be a good path for you.

The safest way to earn cryptocurrency is mining. You don’t even have to put down any money. Instead, you lend some of your computer’s processing power to the task of mining new coins. This is passive, and it’s pretty slow. In fact, it doesn’t always work. Just like actual mining, you might not find any treasure.

For a risky but potentially rewarding choice, you can trade cryptocurrency regularly. If you choose this path, don’t forget that you’re gambling.

Investing is probably the best way to earn cryptocurrency. If you’d purchased $100 worth of Bitcoin back when it only cost $1 per coin, you’d have several million dollars today — but you would have had to wait over 10 years for it to happen. Don’t take this path if you need money immediately.

Before you choose which cryptocurrency to invest in, do additional research. Everybody’s heard of Bitcoin, but it’s not the only option. Each cryptocurrency is a little different, so you might find that some suit your needs better than others.

Best platforms to start with crypto investing: Binance.com and Crypto.com.

15. Manage social media

In this day and age, almost every brand has a social media presence. Organic reach is way past its date – if you want the brand to be visible, the account will need somebody to manage it. This is a great chance to land a remote position, especially if you spend a lot of time on social media and enjoy contributing to them.

Your daily tasks will include scheduling posts, evaluating their performance, and engaging with followers. You might also be creating content and writing copy for it.

To get a job in this field, it’s good to know the basics of SEO and marketing. Which is not difficult to accomplish – there is a plethora of online courses as well as books on the topic.

16. Tech Support

Tech support specialists use computer skills to help employees and customers with technical issues. To get this job, you’ll need a strong understanding of computers, things that can go wrong with them, and how to get them running smoothly again. Some employers, however, are willing to provide training.

Though you’ll primarily use your computer skills, social skills are vital, too. The people who need your help will probably already feel frustrated by the time you’re speaking to them, so a pleasant and calming demeanor is a must. Additionally, people might struggle to explain what the problem is. Patience will be necessary while you coax out the details.

Common issues include connectivity, missing data, sluggish performance, lack of space, and software problems. Depending on the business, you might help with all of those issues or specialize in just one area. Learning the ins and outs of specific programs will probably be necessary.

Tech support specialists operate in the background, but they’re essential for any business. A great specialist can save the day when technical emergencies occur. “Technical emergency” might sound like a funny phrase, but it’s not so funny when a business loses lots of money because of a broken website or lost data.

Check out: Tech support remote positions on indeed.com.

17. Video Editing

Video editing is a popular digital nomad job as it can be done remotely with just a computer and an internet connection. As a video editor, you’ll be responsible for combining and manipulating different elements of a video project, such as footage, audio, special effects, and graphics, to create a polished final product. The skills required for this job typically include a strong understanding of editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, as well as creativity and the ability to tell a story through visual media.

Freelancers in this field can work for a variety of clients, from individuals and small businesses to large corporations and media production companies. The flexibility of the job allows for a good work-life balance, and the ability to work from anywhere in the world. However, it’s important to have a reliable internet connection and the necessary equipment to perform the job effectively.

Overall, video editing is a versatile and in-demand digital nomad job, offering the ability to work remotely and pursue a passion for visual storytelling.

Check out video editing gigs on upwork.com

Other ways to start looking for a remote job that allows you to become a digital nomad:

Build a portfolio and start searching for job boards

When you’re ready to start looking for jobs, one of the best places to start is with job boards. Job boards are websites that list open positions at companies. You can search keywords, location keywords, or companies to search for jobs.

Job boards also allow people to set up job alerts to notify you when new jobs that match their criteria are posted.

Some of the most popular remote work job boards include:

• Flexjobs
• Weworkremotely
• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• Glassdoor
• Monster
• CareerBuilder
• Dice

Some advantages of having a strong portfolio are that you can:

• Get hired without ever having to interview
• Stand out from the competition
• Make more money
• Negotiate better job offers
• Get promoted faster
• A well-crafted portfolio showcases your skills, achievements, and value to potential employers.

Start networking and attend job fairs

Once you’ve started looking for jobs, it’s also important to start networking. Networking is the process of making connections with other people, typically to find a job. There are many ways to network, including attending job fairs, connecting with friends and family, and joining professional organizations.

Job fairs are events where employers come to meet potential employees. Attendance is usually free, and you can often find job fairs by searching online or in your local newspaper. When you attend a job fair, be sure to dress professionally and bring copies of your resume.

Some advantages of networking are that you can:

• Get your foot in the door at a company
• Learn about job openings that haven’t been publicly posted
• Find out about upcoming projects at a company
• Meet people who can help you get a job

Attending job fairs is a great way to network and learn about new job opportunities. Be sure to dress professionally and bring copies of your resume. When you’re job searching, it’s important to use a variety of methods to find the best results.

Final words

I hope this article has helped you gain a clearer picture of the possibilities of becoming a digital nomad. Living this lifestyle can be a truly life-changing experience, and you can get started way faster than you might have thought.

If you really want to work and travel the most important thing right now is to TAKE ACTION and start to work for that goal. If you take one step at a time and always keep in mind that your ultimate goal should be to not just become a digital nomad but create a 100% location-independent business so you can return home whenever you want, you’re going to have the time of your life.

The infrastructure is there and with the many remote work and freelance opportunities around it’s easier to start than ever before!  

So what are you waiting for? Pick the right skill to work online and start to work while traveling the world.

Join our community to connect and learn from digital nomads around the world.

Got questions, or more tips for other digital nomads who want to get started? Let me know in the comments.