TimeOut - What’s it like to be a digital nomad

Up to a few years ago, the idea of working remotely from a Balian beach or an Icelandic volcano seemed like something reserved for jet-setting CEOs, crypto bros and David Attenborough. But now an increasing number of more-or-less regular people are living that lifestyle. A generation of remote-working ‘digital nomads’ have packed their laptops and relocated to the planet’s furthest-flung corners – all while still keeping up with their day jobs.

It started during the pandemic, when – thanks to lockdowns and office closures – people all over the world had a kind of grand epiphany: that they could work from anywhere. And many bosses, no doubt staring down the so-called ‘great resignation’, appear to have been more than obliged to let them. Some estimates put the total number of digital nomads around the world right now between 15 and 35 million.

All those nomads, in theory, bring extra money into local economies – especially when they’re still drawing advanced-economy salaries. And this has led to a huge number of nations issuing special digital nomad visas, trying their damnedest to attract remote workers to live and work on their shores. These hassle-free visas can last between six months and five years, and often exempt their holders from paying tax – making digital nomads more akin to transitory tourists than old-fashioned expats.

The sheer number of nomads who’ve taken up the offer can have unexpected effects on local economies. Co-working and co-living spaces have boomed. In some places, entire villages have been built for these new communities. It’s a massive experiment that’s very much ongoing.

But what’s it like to actually be part of the work-from-anywhere revolution? We spoke to a few digital nomads from across the world to find out. And if you’re sold on the lifestyle, then we also sourced a few tips from an expert on how to become a digital nomad yourself.

Read full TimeOut article here