The way people work today may look very different from the way it did say ten, fifteen or even twenty years ago. Technology changes the productivity of the workforce and allows for more flexibility when it comes to how and where employees do their job.
Employees have worked remotely for years, and during the pandemic, most of the workforce worked exclusively remotely. As a result of this anomaly, a new way to work was born, known as digital nomad.
Digital Nomadism Introduction
What is a digital nomad? A digital nomad is an employee, freelancer, entrepreneur or self-employed individual that not only works remotely, but also travels while staying connected by laptop and reliable internet to clients and employers.
Many digital nomads travel abroad, but many travel domestically as well. These “travels” could be a week or two at a time, or could be stints of travel that last months until the digital nomad returns to home.
Employees as Digital Nomads
So how does an employee become a digital nomad? The number one question to ask is where you are wanting to work from? Is it domestic or abroad? Although a destination may be appealing to visit, you will need to determine if it is functional to work from.
Other factors that need to be considered are if a passport, visa, health insurance, taxes and other legal requirements are needed to work from your desired destination. Another question to consider is your safety? Some countries are not safe or accepting of those who are not permanent residents of their countries. Beware of the challenges of being socially accepted based on gender, religious views, political opinions, sexual orientation and nationality.
Getting Your Employer to Buy-in to Digital Nomadism
The next step is to convince your employer that you should be allowed to be a digital nomad. This could be a larger hurdle than one may anticipate. It must be determined if working remotely will be efficient and effective.
To convince your employer that being a digital nomad is a viable option, you will need to provide the benefits of working remotely for both the company and yourself. Your employer will need to feel confident that your job performance will not suffer by being located in another part of the country or world.
Details Behind Your Digital Nomad Work Arrangement
Lastly, don’t forget about the details. These will make or break how you work remotely. The idea of being a digital nomad is the ability to stay connected to your job, employer, and clients.
- Having a reliable internet connection is the top priority of anyone that works remote. Without reliable internet, those that you work closely with will become frustrated.
- Also take into account your workspace and surroundings of where you will be working. Although it sounds amazing to be sitting on a beach chair staring at the ocean as you work, it is not feasible to have a laptop sitting on your lap for eight hours or more. Finding a comfortable desk and chair will go a long way in productivity.
- Ensure that all software and computer programs are compatible with your destination.
Conclusion: Digital Nomadism and You
Being a digital nomad may not be for everyone, but as times progress, we will see more and more employers embrace this new brand of workforce.
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