If you’ve been envying photos on social media of people with a laptop perched on their lap on a sunny beach–don’t be taken in. Laptops, sun, sand, and the sea don’t mix any better elsewhere in the world than they do at home, and those types of photos are as staged as anything else is online. However, you can launch a business and travel the world at the same time even if it isn’t always as glamorous as the photos make it look. Below are a few things to keep in mind if you’re thinking of embarking on the life of a digital nomad.
Business Principles Still Apply
What you shouldn’t do is throw your laptop and a few clothes in a backpack and set off for a round-the-world trip with some vague idea that you might maintain a business at the same time. The same principles apply to starting a business that you plan to take on the road as to one you operate from a brick-and-mortar office. You need a business plan, some capital, and some know-how. It’s a good idea to get your business established before you head off. This means getting your paperwork in order and figuring out your financing. You may want to consider a business loan to help you get started, and one that offers additional value, such as educational resources and support networks, is a good choice.
Start Slow
Do some short-term experiments to start. Rent an apartment for a week in a nearby town or a place you’re familiar with and see what does and doesn’t work for you. What kind of amenities do you need? What do you wish the rental had included or that you’d brought with you? What challenges do you face? Think as well about what you’ll do if you need a good internet connection to work and you can’t find one. You might want to consider investing in a mobile hotspot just in case. With social media influencing travel vlogging and blogging so significantly it can be easy to get swept up, independent research will help you determine what best suits your real life in a practical way.
Stick to a Schedule
It’s not all lying on beaches, partying in clubs, and touring famous sites. Those envy inducing photos you see online rarely show people up all night trying to meet deadlines. Get yourself on a regular schedule before you go rather than trying to establish one when you are surrounded by the distractions of a new and exciting place. Keep in mind that just as would be the case back home, you’ll need to limit your excursions to after-work hours and weekends.
Consider Time Zones
Once you start to travel further afield, you may need to keep time zones in mind. This is particularly important for people who need to be available for meetings or other communication at specific times. Plenty of digital nomads before you have made it work by getting up at 2 a.m. to make a work meeting that’s at 10 a.m. for everyone else, but this usually isn’t sustainable over the long term. If you want to travel to other countries while trying to keep more or less to a U.S. work schedule, consider Central and South America for longer-term trips and save the twelve-hour time differences for shorter jaunts. Don’t discount the effects of jet lag on your productivity either.