What is a digital nomad?

Digital nomads are individuals who travel and utilise technology to earn a living and stay connected with the world. It’s a relatively modern lifestyle as it relies so heavily on various technologies and digital services to function. However, with the advancements in virtual services, more and more individuals are exploring a digital nomad lifestyle.

What does it mean to be a digital nomad?

While no digital nomad is the same, there are some common similarities between them, such as:

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1. You’ll have no fixed address
2. You’ll travel regularly
3. You’ll need easily transportable physical equipment, such as a laptop
4. You’ll need access to digital software
5. You’ll need to earn a living from remote services, or from employment in the locations you visit
6. You’ll need regular access to an internet connection

What technology and tools will you use as a digital nomad?

A core aspect of being a digital nomad is utilising technology. Whether that’s to keep in touch with family, book accommodation while moving, or help you deliver a digital service. Without technology, digital nomads would struggle to live the lives they do.

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The technology you may need as a digital nomad depends on factors unique to you. For example, a video editor will need specific software and a laptop capable of processing video edits, whereas a language tutor may only need a laptop and a webcam.

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Even if you don’t plan to offer virtual services, you’ll need access to technology for the day-to-day goings on of the digital nomad lifestyle. Some examples of what to consider include:

Communication software

Keeping in touch with friends, family, clients and anyone else is crucial to the digital nomad lifestyle. Consider the following:

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• Video calls - Stay in touch with family and friends, use for work calls, and for other needs such as interviews. Examples include:
  a. Skype
  b. Zoom
  c. Google Meets
  d. Microsoft Teams
  

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• Instant messaging - A quick and easy way to receive, send and track conversations while you travel. Examples include:
  a. Slack
  b. Whatsapp
  c. Messenger

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• E-mail - For more formal messaging and when dealing with companies, such as hotel bookings. Examples include:
  a. Gmail
  b. Outlook

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• Physical mail - Access physical post you receive virtually so that you can view, manage and respond to letters from anywhere. Examples include:
  a. UK Postbox

Project management and collaboration

Staying on top of your work commitments and using technology that makes it easy to collaborate with anyone across the world will help you organise everything around your lifestyle.

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• Task management - Keep on top of your work obligations and manage deadlines, projects and more. Examples include:
  a. Asana
  b. ClickUp
  c. Monday
  d. Todoist

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• Collaboration software - Easily work on documents, sheets and projects with other individuals and clients from anywhere. Examples include:
  a. Google Docs
  b. Google Sheets
  c. Google Slides
  d. Frame.io

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• Calendars - Use your calendar to make sure you don’t miss important dates in your personal and working life. Examples include:
  a. Google Calendar
  b. Apple iCloud Calendar
  c. Outlook Calendar

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• File sharing - Store, share and manage files with other individuals and companies. Examples include:
  a. Dropbox
  b. WeTransfer
  c. Google Drive
  d. Microsoft OneDrive

Travelling and accommodation

There are a range of apps and websites that will help you plan your travels and stays. From car hire to optimal train routes, they may vary depending on where you’re located, but some examples of common options include:

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• Google Maps
• Apple Maps
• KAYAK
• Trainline
• Citymapper
• Airbnb
• Booking.com
• Spare Room
• CouchSurfing
• AuPair.com

Editing software

Depending on how you plan to make an income, editing software may prove to be a worthwhile investment. It can also be utilised for your personal life if you want to edit any of the photography or videos you capture while away. Some examples include:

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• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Lightroom
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• GIMP
• Canva

Physical equipment

Physical equipment is also a necessity, and without it you won’t be able to access many of the technologies digital nomads use. Some examples include:

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• Laptop
• Smartphone
• Camera
• Video camera
• Drone
• Tripod
• Charging banks
• Universal plug
• Cable organiser
• Backpack
• External harddrive 
• SD cards

What are common jobs for digital nomads?

Digital nomads will often work in jobs that are deliverable from anywhere in the world. This may only sometimes be the case as some digital nomads will find local jobs, such as Au Pairs, which allow them to meet their employment and accommodation needs at the same time.

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Digital based services, however, are much more common as they go hand in hand with the digital nomad lifestyle. Some examples of the types of jobs include:

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• Content writing
• Video editing
• Image editing
• Digital marketing
• SEO
• IT
• Digital design
• Accounting
• Software development
• Virtual assistant
• Digital communications
• Teaching

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Online mail management for digital nomads

One of the communication channels digital nomads need to consider is physical mail. While travelling, there will be occasions when they need to send or receive post. This can be difficult to do when living away from home and regularly changing locations, but our software offers a solution. Here’s how it works:

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1. Digital nomads receive a unique, UK based virtual address.
2. The virtual address is used for all inbound mail deliveries.
3. By logging into our platform, they can view their mail online and access other services from anywhere in the world.

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The online mail management features make this service additionally beneficial to digital nomads. It’s just like having a post office with you at all times, and some examples of the services on offer include:

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1. View letter scans - View any scanned version of your letters or documents from anywhere.
2. Forward mail - Forward the physical copy of any received post to another location across the globe.
3. Send letters online - Upload a letter or document and we’ll send it on your behalf from our UK location.
4. Storage - Store physical and digital copies of any of your documents.

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Addresses start from free options, and by signing up, you can tick off physical mail communications from your checklist for becoming a digital nomad.