We tend to think that the balance between working and travelling is hard to strike. Digital nomads’ lifestyle seems to be unsustainable and far-fetched. Indeed, we often overestimate the perks of working remotely from different places while turning a blind eye to problems it may cause. Among them are:
- increased risk of burnout (people who work while travelling need to adapt to new living conditions, move, face cultural differences, change habits. They may feel a lack of rest and, thus, are more susceptible to burnout);
- loneliness (although thanks to the Internet we can communicate with people all over the world anytime we need it, the lack of live interaction with our beloved ones is doubtfully challenging even for the most liberty-loving people);
- financial turbulence (there are many things you need to keep in mind while entering a new country. Among them are possible currency difference, subtitles of financial regulations, possible banking restrictions. These things could shake your financial stability);
- lack of the work-life balance (although many people prefer nomadic lifestyle because they actually want to improve their work-life balance, it is difficult to create some robust daily routine in the new country fast);
- cultural difference (nowadays, people have much more information and opportunities to talk to each other. Yet, there are still some tangible cultural differences people struggle to accept fast. That’s why make sure you will be comfortable in the society you didn’t get used to).
If you weighed all the pros and cons of nomadic life and feel it could be a good option for you, let’s consider top professions that let you forget about the office and a classic five-to-nine routine.
Try yourself in the service industry
Slowly but surely, the world is recovering after the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the entertainment industry has been severely affected by restrictions, it will be booming as soon as most measures are uplifted. Countries have different restriction policies. Some of them are light-touch to tourists. Therefore, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, pubs or even concert venues are open and eagerly waiting for visitors. Working in the entertainment industry (for example, as a waiter) is a good starting job, especially if your workplace is a nice restaurant on the seashore. Sure, no one says, it’s easy. Annoying customers and clients can spoil even the best day in the divinely beautiful place. However, you have an opportunity to relax after a hard day at work near the ocean or in the mountains, this inconvenience is not a big deal.
Become a freelancer
Freelancers are people who refused to work in offices long before it became mainstream. They work in industries where your physical presence is not necessary. Many successful freelancers work in marketing, design, data science, machine learning, project management, etc. However, you can also earn good money by fulfilling less complicated tasks, such as translating texts and messages, transcribing, testing new products. It’s not one profession but the whole lifestyle that enables you to control how and where you live and work. To turn your skills into services people need, one has to define what you know and can do best. Then, compare these skills and knowledge to the situation in the market and offer your solutions to potential clients. Check out different freelance platforms and research how much these solutions cost. If you want to become a full-time freelancer and make a living anywhere in the world, think of some sophisticated professions such as mobile application developer, data analyst, product manager, UX-designer, etc. It will provide you with the financial backing and help become a sought-after specialist.
Many freelancers face problems while settling down in a new place far away from their home country. One of them is a time difference. Keep this factor in mind while choosing the nomadic lifestyle. If your job depends on your results, you have nothing to worry about. However, if clients demand to show them some midterm drafts or participate in numerous Zoom-calls to coordinate the next steps in the project, make sure they don’t reach out to you in the middle of the night in your place. Otherwise, such a working regime is challenging to adhere to.
Try career of a flight attendant or a sailor
Some professions have always been nomadic by their nature. The brightest examples are flight attendants and sailors. Both professions are considered to be quite stressful and exhausting physically and mentally. However, you earn good money. One of the biggest and undeniable perks of working in the air or in the sea is the opportunity to travel and literally see the whole world. However, there is no place you stay for longer than a couple of weeks. On top of that, you can’t choose the travel destination. Sailors can spend up to months in the sea. For people who didn’t get used to such extreme conditions, this job can appear to become very damaging. Fly attendants have to keep in mind constant time zone differences. Not all passengers tackle unusual flight conditions well, so you will inevitably deal with panic attacks, aviophobia, or even outbursts of anger on board. Both activities strongly involve communication with different people daily. So, think twice if it’s a good match for you.
However, there are many advantages one should be aware of. You travel a lot, earn good money, meet new people, there is no need to pay for accommodation. This is a truly nomadic lifestyle many of us would like to try. So, if you are ready, why not?
Many jobs let you travel a lot. Some of them are even synonymous with adventures. Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to relocate and start working anywhere worldwide. So, if you feel it’s something for you, go ahead!
