How to Start Your Digital Nomad Journey

According to a recent study by CodeComputerLove, the average adult spends nearly three and a half hours every day looking at their mobile screen. So how can you go about reducing this worrying habit and indulging in healthier activities? One solution is to pursue a digital nomad lifestyle, allowing you to work flexible hours, make time for activities you like, and most importantly work from beyond the confines of an office.

For those who are looking forward to testing the waters of the digital nomad lifestyle, Digs Vacation Rentals offers a crash course on all the essentials.

Where Can I Find Work?

The first step in joining the digital nomad lifestyle is securing remote work. You may be able to dip your proverbial toes in the digital water from a referral, but knowing where to look for work is an important skill to develop. Numerous digital nomad online job boards post hundreds of positions daily. Some prominent websites include:

• Upwork
• Guru
• ProBlogger
• Working Nomads

The key to landing positions through these websites is to create a strong profile highlighting your skills and pitching your services to prospective clients. Additionally, when applying for positions, look for those which allow you to leverage your skills and provide the best service to clients. An important component of success as a freelancer is being able to effectively market yourself and your skills. Depending on your skills, you can apply for jobs that best suit your expertise such as:

• Digital Marketing
• Business Consulting
• Accounting
• Web Development

If you want to expand your skill set to be able to take on more responsibilities, check out these online options. You can obtain a variety of IT certifications during the course of earning an IT degree online, which may qualify you for more valuable jobs. Best of all, earning a degree online can work well for a digital nomad due to the flexible scheduling available.

Where Can I Work from?

The answer is, anywhere you want! The beauty of being a digital nomad is the freedom it provides you in choosing when and where you want to work. A popular choice among individuals is to get away from their typical urban lifestyle and travel to remote locations such as national parks, mountainous regions, etc. Not only does this help one reduce their cost of living, but as reported by Select Health, living among nature provides various health benefits such as:

• Reduction of stress
• Improved immune response
• Higher levels of concentration and happiness

In addition, rather than being indoors, you'll be motivated to venture outdoors and participate in activities such as trekking, camping, swimming, etc. depending on where you have chosen to set up shop.

Even if you aren't traveling in a national park, be sure to get your exercise in. Consulting a Walk Score map can help you locate areas that are good for walking at a glance. Working by computer tends to require a lot of sitting, so getting walks in regularly is vital to preserving your health. Use Walk Scores to help you find great places to walk in every city you visit.

As any experienced digital nomad would agree, working remotely is a minor part of the lifestyle. The greater joy lies in enjoying the travel, exploring new places, and most importantly having real experiences beyond that of a digital screen.

Wherever you work, you can set up an environment that promotes productivity and positivity. This is especially true if you find yourself working from home. One of the keys to consistent performance is to surround yourself with a supportive environment. This way, regardless of what you are working on, you'll be confident in the positive energy of your space to support your work.

How Can I Start?

Here are some important steps to remember before you start your travels:

• Opt to use satellite internet, to ensure reliable internet connection in remote areas. As a backup, research mobile carriers and choose one that has the best coverage in rural areas.
• If you plan to constantly travel, short-term rentals are the best housing option. Other affordable options include hostels and co-living spaces.
• Don't forget to spoil yourself now and then with a more luxurious stay at our vacation rentals in Paso Robles Wine Country.

As a digital nomad, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with various digital tools to make your work easier. Many companies use Slack for internal communication, for example, so having it on your computer can make you ready to talk with the teams you work with. A password manager like LastPass is also handy. Keeping up with multiple secure passwords is practically impossible to do in your head, and a good password manager makes it much easier.

If you have a pet you want to accompany you on your travels, be sure to research and purchase the best accessories for them. A veterinarian-approved dog harness, for example, is a must have to ensure that you can safely walk your pup wherever you are staying. Also be sure to check out reviews for travel carriers and anything else you think you'll need.

With the rise in popularity of remote working, now is the best time to make a career switch and start your digital nomad journey. Traveling and experiencing new places will reduce your addiction to electronic gadgets, develop a healthy lifestyle and have a better work-life balance.

Explore numerous options with Digs Vacation Rentals. Browse our California Central Coast vacation rentals with unique amenities, such as wood burning stove, personal workspace, and wifi.