While living your life travelling the world might sound like a dream, it’s actually surprisingly easy nowadays! Most people assume that those who live a nomadic lifestyle, or even travel part-time, spend their days retired or have retired early.
But that is not entirely the case.
Most still have to work and bring in income regularly to be able to sustain this type of lifestyle.
In fact, you don’t have to be fully retired to enjoy living life as a nomad, and you would be surprised at how many people work remotely from wherever they happen to land!
If your job is holding you back from the nomadic life you want, here is a beginner’s guide to working remotely while travelling full-time.
How To Work While Travelling The World
Assess your current job for portability
If you had asked your employer in 2019 if you could work from home (or remotely), the answer would probably have been a resounding “No.”.
The world has certainly changed in the last year. Employees were forced to work from home due to restrictions and that may work in your favour now.
The logistics have all been worked out and many companies are probably evaluating the cost benefits of continuing at least some of their workforce working outside the traditional office space as things begin to open up.
Your employer is more open to the idea of you working remotely but you won’t know unless you ask. So ask!
You may be able to work out some kind of arrangement, like scheduled mandatory in office time, that will allow you to at least travel part-time.
Of course, this option is only open to those whose work is mainly computer based. Obviously if your work requires a more physical presence, you will have to explore the other options below.
Find a job that lets you work remotely
If your current job is not portable, you will need to find a job that allows you to work remotely. This will take some research on your part.
Explore options that will enable you to be your own boss or a job that allows you to work from anywhere in the world.
The key is that you find a job that doesn’t require a strict in-office job.
Here are some remote work options:
- Start a blog
- Become a coach, virtual assistant or freelancer
- Find remote work opportunities on Linkedin or other job sites
- House or pet sitting
If you have a portable skill, like a nurse, teacher or an electrician, consider short term contracts where you wish to travel. Be sure to research proper VISA’s if you are leaving your home country.
Another option is to offer services like cleaning or gardening in exchange for room and board.
The possibilities and opportunities are endless. Just be open and flexible and you will be surprised at all the different options there are now available to those who wish to travel full-time.
Focus on work that allows you to be flexible with your hours
In your job search, you want to find a job that is flexible with hours. This is especially important if you plan to move around a lot. You may find yourself on the road, on a plane or in areas where cell and/or the internet signal is poor.
If you can, being your own boss can solve this issue.
However, if you’re not able to, then you will want to discuss your situation with your employer and make sure they understand if you anticipate black out times.
If you work with deadlines, or a team, make sure you plan your travel accordingly. If your travel is reliant on your income, you don’t want to lose your job by not fulfilling your obligations.
Find a way to connect to the outside world
There are a ton of available options for people who work remotely, but you will need to do some research and planning to ensure you have a way to connect to the outside world. Especially if you are going outside your home country.
Getting your laptop, cell phone or tablet to work while on the road can be a pain and really frustrating if you job relies on you being able to connect.
One option is to get a data WiFi option on your smart device. This is going to be best for people who need to get online for just a few minutes at most or in case of an emergency.
It can be costly, especially in another country, but I love the peace of mind that if all else fails, and I really need to get online, I can.
Other options include hotspots, like restaurants, or accommodations that have wifi connect-ability.
Aim for passive income streams
Passive income is going to be a significant factor in allowing you to enjoy travelling full-time stress-free.
Here are a few examples for your to explore:
- If you have a blog, add affiliate income.
- Sell digital products.
- Start a dropshipping store.
- Monetize your Instagram.
- Write a book.
- Start a You-tube channel.
- Invest in dividend stock.
- Rent your property.
- Become an Airbnb host.
I hope this guide has inspired you and even shown you a few ways to make a living while travelling full-time! While these won’t be a perfect fit for everyone, there are still plenty of ways you can make money while living abroad.