Never Make These Foolish Digital Nomad Mistakes

Never Make These Foolish Digital Nomad Mistakes

The life of a digital nomad can be quite difficult. Many people begin leading this unorthodox life but quickly come to the realization that it is more difficult than they had anticipated. Some of them absolutely fail. At the start of my new life, I made a lot of mistakes as well, and I am aware that a lot of other people will probably do the same. Therefore, I want to share with you the most typical mistakes made by digital nomads as well as how to avoid them.



The most typical errors made by digital nomads

1. Lack of Planning

Taking the new way of life too lightly is one of the most frequent blunders made by digital nomads. Yes, it's wonderful to not have to follow any set routines anymore and to be able to adapt as necessary. At first, I found that enjoyable as well.

I had nothing planned. here and there a few clients. I experienced periods of both strong and meager income. Even while that was fine for a time, I was a little unsatisfied and uneasy because I had no idea where this was going to lead.

How to Avoid: You don't need to carefully plan out the following five years. However, take a seat and consider where you see yourself in a few years. What are your goals for your new career? Which way do you wish to travel? If you want to succeed, using a proper goal-setting technique is really necessary.

Setting modest goals also helps. For instance, my aim was to be able to stop using my funds after 4 months and completely rely on the income I get from my new lifestyle as a digital nomad.

Consider the value of your time, money, and performance as well as potential future residences. Be reasonable and constantly monitor your progress.

No budgetary oversight

I lived in London during the start of my life as a digital nomad (I know, expensive city anyway). Even though I made an effort to cut back, I still found a way to spend a lot of money over those months. I had no idea where all the money had gone, and my savings were swiftly disappearing.

How to Avoid: After some time, I began keeping a log of my weekly earnings and outgoing costs. I made an effort to record as much as I could, including every Starbucks coffee and bus or train ticket. Oh my goodness, I was astounded at how much I spent on such trivial items. It really adds up!

I strongly suggest that you create a financial plan if you are just starting out and are unable to estimate your finances in any way. It doesn't have to be elaborate. The standard Excel list will work. Keep track of the money you expect to spend and make over the course of the next few weeks as well as your actual spending and income.

Writing down every little detail might sound a bit nit-picky, but I promise you'll be astonished. Maintaining an eye on your spending allows you to make adjustments as needed.

Find out how much cash you should have saved before becoming a digital nomad.

3. Insufficient Information

Your circumstance may have been somewhat different from mine because I accidentally became a digital nomad and didn't prepare for that new way of life. But at first, I made one of the extremely stupid blunders of a digital nomad: I didn't read any blogs and I didn't ask for assistance while I was struggling.

I reasoned that since nobody else was experiencing the same problems as me, I would have to sort this out on my own. Due to this, things became much more difficult, and I needed a lot of time to resolve several problems.

How to Avoid: Today, there are a ton of blogs about digital nomadism. There are so many websites that offer a wealth of knowledge on how to successfully lead a nomadic existence. There is knowledge and resources available to you, whether you wish to work for yourself or launch your own business.

You don't even need to attempt this on your own. Join networks of digital nomads to benefit from others' experiences. There is undoubtedly still a lot you can learn (and, of course, give in return).

4. Working excessively

When you initially start out, it might be difficult to get clients and put in endless hours of labor to satisfy them. One common error made by digital nomads is this. I used to work seven days a week, frequently for more than 12 hours each day.

Even though I've always been a workaholic and really enjoyed my career, I neglected to take the breaks I needed. It's not surprising that I eventually felt exhausted. The only thing in my brain was work. I utterly neglected to appreciate the lovely nations I was in and completely forgot about the "nomadic" component.

How to Avoid It: Don't do what I did! Set timetables. If your calendar instructs you to stop working at 6 o'clock and nothing on your to-do list truly needs to be finished today, stop working! Days off are the same way. Every now and then, we could all use them.

Take periodic breaks throughout the day. Breakfast, lunch, and the occasional coffee break. I am aware that it sounds like the routines you wished to avoid. However, when you take a break from your work and have some time to reflect, your performance will be much better.

5. Excessive clientele

Having too many clients was once a luxury I experienced early in my digital nomad career. I simultaneously applied for several jobs, and I was hired for each one. My well-being wasn't as well served by this, albeit it was fantastic for my money.

I worked a ton of hours, which left me with no free time, and I wasn't able to offer each client my whole attention. I found it difficult to truly understand each client's needs because I was trying to balance so many tasks in my thoughts. Although they didn't express it, I doubt that my clients actually recognized that it affected the quality of my job.

How to Avoid: Depending on what you do, attempt to occupy your time with fewer clients rather than five. I spoke with the employers I liked working for the most when I realized I had too many contracts going on and explained my predicament to them. I enquired as to if they had a little extra work for me each week.

They were sympathetic to my plight, and in the end I was able to reduce the number of my long-term clients to only 2, but I was still kept busy enough to hold down a full-time job. They had my undivided devotion and full attention.

Please keep in mind that, on the flip side, you lose a significant amount of your money if you only have two clients and one decides to stop the contract for whatever reason.

6. Frequent travel

Everything is initially exciting, and you are eager to visit all of those wonderful locations and the following wonderful nation on your list. I remained the same. I spent a few days in one location, saw everything there, and then left. In actuality, that is yet another of the very typical errors made by digital nomads.

How to Avoid It: Don't overplan! Get settled in a new town after arriving, spend a few weeks there, and take it all in. Make an effort to interact with people, dine at neighborhood establishments, learn about the culture, and blend in.

You'll experience your temporary home in an entirely different way than you would in one week if you give yourself at least two or three months to settle in. Additionally, you have enough of time to explore the area and complete your task without stress.

Discover the benefits of taking your time when relocating.



7. A lack of output

This is one of the blunders made by digital nomads that probably the majority of us will make at some point. I was usually quite busy, especially in the beginning of my itinerant existence. I spent the whole day in front of my laptop. But the result wasn't really all that terrific. I truly tried, but I couldn't even come close to being productive.

I was therefore idly spending my time and performing little to no productive work. the difficulty faced by most individuals with telework positions.

Fortunately, there are many strategies you may use to avoid this. Simple things like obtaining a decent working environment or turning off private social media can work miracles. However, there are also other methods that assist you in planning your working hours and breaks, such as the pomodoro technique.

8. Using the Internet only

Today, WIFI is available almost everywhere. Okay, possibly. However, just because a location claims to offer internet access does not imply that it is reliable enough for you to use. After all, digital nomads depend heavily on their internet connections. I lost count of the number of times I got into problems because I assumed the WiFi would be working at my next destination.

How to Avoid: Before booking a hotel, check online reviews to determine how reliable the internet is there. Don't just believe them when they claim to have it. An additional review section for internet connection is available on booking websites like Booking.com, making it incredibly simple to compare and check.

In the neighborhood you are going to, you should also see whether there are any cafes and restaurants providing WiFi. Just in case it doesn't function in your lodging. Even better if there are coworking spaces nearby. The internet there is typically the best in the city.

Obtaining mobile broadband in the nation you are visiting is an alternative Plan B. For plans, check with the area's largest internet service provider.

If you are extremely dubious of the internet situation, inform your clients that it's possible that you won't be able to contact them for the next, say, two days or so. Set timelines and meetings accordingly.

Find out more tips and ideas for enhancing your internet experience when traveling.

9. Lack of appropriate Equipment

I didn't bring the right tools with me because I didn't intend to become a digital nomad. I took a really dated laptop and a barely functional smartphone with me on my travels. As a result, both gadgets took an eternity to load, frequently failed, lost my data, and drove me absolutely crazy.

How to Avoid: Invest on quality equipment, even if you're just starting off with a limited budget. It is worthwhile. These gadgets will be used nonstop every day. Bring a reliable laptop and smartphone to save time and anxiety later.

Use a VPN whenever working on a public network, and make sure your phone and laptop are both protected. There are several alternatives, but I personally use NordVPN. Special insurance for laptops, cameras, and cellphones may be a wonderful option if your equipment is expensive.

To ensure that you don't forget anything, check out my comprehensive packing lists for digital nomads.

10. Underestimating your abilities

Another extremely typical error made by digital nomads: I initially worked a lot as a content writer. Potential customers have frequently asked me to send them sample articles for a small fee or even free of charge. I concurred because I was just starting out and needed to establish my reputation. I put a lot of time and attention into that task. I frequently failed to land the job in the end.

I now use independent contractors for a variety of activities. Never would I ask someone for free work, not even if I was doubtful of their abilities. It is highly disrespectful to me to not compensate them for the time and effort they have put into their work.

How to Prevent It: It might be difficult to refuse low-cost or free trials, especially when you're just starting out or don't yet have any customers. Tell the prospective client that you are aware of his or her desire to determine your suitability. However, you cannot provide high-quality work for free if customers demand it from you.

Learn how to accurately calculate your freelance rates. When you feel your performance has improved, don't be scared to increase your hourly rate or fixed prices.

Even clients with modest budgets will discover that quality work comes at a cost, and if they hire someone to complete the work for them at a very low rate, they frequently have to have it redone since the quality was subpar.

Eleven. Ignoring your body

I live more unhealthily when I'm traveling than when I'm staying there for a time. I don't exercise as frequently as I should, I don't eat consistently, and I don't sleep enough. That also occurred when I first started living as a digital nomad.

My body felt awful as a result. I was constantly exhausted, struggled to concentrate at work, put on weight, and didn't feel in any way fit.

How to Prevent: Consistently ensure that you receive enough sleep. Eat frequently and sensibly. Start engaging in activities that you can easily fit into your lifestyle as a digital nomad. There may not be a gym available everywhere. However, you are more than welcome to bring your running shoes and go for a run. You can perform a variety of exercises using only your bodyweight from the comfort of your hotel room.

Also, think about starting to meditate. The best power sleep you've ever taken can be as effective and rejuvenating as just 10 minutes a day. The best thing you can do for your body, mind, and spirit is probably this.

12. Prematurely waiting

One of the digital nomad errors I myself regret the most is this one. Simply put, I started this lifestyle too late. Instead, I worked at other professions that made me unhappy because I was unaware that there was something else out there that I would find so much more enjoyable.

I didn't think creatively. This life was utterly beyond of anything I could have imagined. However, I wish I had begun this lifestyle sooner since I'm so glad I did.

How to Avoid: There is no need to wait if you believe you have the knowledge necessary to alter your life, the necessary abilities to succeed as a nomad, a strategy, and the certainty that this is what would make you happy. It is never easy to leave your comfort zone. But until you try, you won't know, right?

And always remember that even if you falter and come to the conclusion that the digital nomad lifestyle is not for you, it is not the end of the world. You can always return to your previous way of life or try something entirely different. Be flexible and take use of your opportunities.



Additional Errors of the Digital Nomad

Since I didn't truly intend to lead a nomadic lifestyle, I avoided the following digital nomad blunders. However, I am aware of other other nomads who have attempted these and failed miserably, so I thought I would list them for you anyway.

minimizing the difficulty

Location-free employment does indeed have several benefits. But this way of life has serious drawbacks as well. Contrary to what might appear in those flawless Instagram photographs, it is not always simple. You won't be working a 10-hour workday while taking use of the beach and your laptop. Do your homework and set reasonable goals for yourself.

leaving with no savings or income

Some folks enjoy taking chances. All right. But it might not be the best idea to just quit your job and board the next aircraft out without a strategy. Undoubtedly, some people still manage to stand up for themselves and succeed doing so.

However, it can be preferable to have enough cash reserves to last you without a consistent source of income for a few months. It would be even better to quit if you already have clients you could work for or some other form of revenue.



Learn from the mistakes of others

As you can see, when I first started out, I made a lot of common blunders made by digital nomads. I spent time, money, and nerves on that. But since I was so committed to making this work, I was able to find a method to get over the obstacles.

With these insights into my early experiences as a digital nomad, I hope I was able to be of some assistance to you. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have concerning the challenges that this way of living brings. I'll make an effort to assist you.

On my blog, you may read more about how to lead a prosperous nomadic lifestyle.

In Conclusion

If you're thinking of trying the digital nomad lifestyle, don't do it without knowing what you're getting yourself into. It's a lifestyle of working from anywhere in the world, and while it may seem dreamy at first, it's actually quite challenging. Living the nomad life can be very tiring, and before you know it, you'll be questioning whether it was worth it. Here are some of the most common challenges that digital nomads face.

Jerry Nelson is an American writer living the expat life in Buenos Aires. Some of the adventures Jerry has enjoyed, he jumped into the ocean from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Aden, cut off a goat's balls as part of a mating ritual in Indonesia, raced a NASCAR around the oval in Charlotte, created a small coin purse out of live Tarantulas in Australia's outback, spent six-weeks with the Sinaloa cartel along the U.S./Mexican border and sailed a 16th century schooner through the sound and into the open ocean.

Never far from his coffee and Marlboros, Jerry is always glad to discuss future working opportunities. Email him at [email protected] and join the quarter-million who follow him on Twitter.