The best part of being a digital nomad is the ability to work everywhere with your laptop. This gives me a superpower that allows me to work and travel at the same time to live like locals while traveling.
For the past year and a half, I have had the opportunity to travel around, while doing my full-time job. To many of my friends who spend a lot of time in their offices, my life feels like a dream. Who wouldn’t want to travel around while keeping their job?
Although being a digital nomad is a great way to live, I have found that traveling itself is a full-time job! There’s so much to see, do and experience in whichever city or country you are! In the last year, I have traveled around many states and cities in India, each one with its own list of must-dos and do-not-miss.
But honestly, exploring a new place while working full-time does get a little tiring if you are not prepared in advance(there are pros and cons). So life as a digital nomad requires more time and task management skills to you.
That’s why I’m sharing everything you need to know about how to make a balance between working remotely and traveling like a pro in this guide.
Become a planner based on prioritizing your tasks
A lot of times, people ask me how I manage to work and visit so many places, and truly enjoy the beauty without the two clashings. My answer? Making a schedule really helps! In fact, whenever I used to make a schedule, I could never stick to it! (it is not easy). But I knew that if I wanted to make the most of my experiences, I would have to stick to the schedule I make.
So, to keep working and travel in a day, I know that my work is my bread and butter and enables me to travel to such beautiful destinations, so I always make sure that I’m able to meet my work deadlines. Some days are generally lesser work, so I use that time to explore a bit more, and making a schedule does help me a lot. I map out the routes to popular destinations nearby to wherever I’m working so that I can make use of my break time to go there.
Find your routine to help to work and travel in a productive way
Staying in a new city is not easy. It always needs time to adjust. So, Finding your own routine in a new environment will help you organize your day more efficiently.
For me, I make sure that when I am logging in to work, I’m always settled at a good cafe, so I can focus. As a result, I usually have an early start to my day, take a short hike or a long walk to the cafe, and do my work in the early morning time.
Around noon, I log out for my lunch break, grab a quick bite to eat, and check out one or two of the tourist spots nearby. Then I choose another cafe to work at for the second half, until I log out in the evening, and enquire about any events happening in the night to end my day. It does sound tiring, but it is even more fulfilling, and helps me to accomplish my tasks at work without compromising my fun!
Live like a local for at least a month in a place
I love exploring, not just the place, but also the culture of every state, city, or country I visit, and so I always make sure to spend as much time as I can — until my soul is satisfied, is what I usually say. On my recent trip to Himachal Pradesh, I spent more than 4 months traveling around, and about 2 months in Dharamshala itself, because the city has so much to offer! This way, while working, I can make sure to explore a little of the city and surrounding villages every day, while being able to work.
Map out your daily route in advance
Time and again, I have managed to stay on track by mapping out my route for the day, especially if I want to hang around in different villages or attend different events. Knowing where you want to go and how much time it will take will help to plan out the workday quite efficiently and reduce time loss.
Have a full logoff to make the most of the weekends
I always save the long excursions and trekking trips for the weekend so I can fully immerse myself in those experiences, without thinking about my work. If not camping, I map out my route where I can explore the most sights for the day, as well as attend some events happening. I even travel to other cities or across states over the weekend so I can explore more places without it colliding with my work. A Van trip could be another option.
Just reading about it sounds hectic, right? Well, it absolutely is! But it is truly my most treasured experience and not an opportunity that everyone gets, which is why I spend as much of my time traveling as I can. There are also a ton of challenges that I face as a Digital Nomad, but that’s a story for another time!
🙍♀️Born in Indonesia, raised in India, Anjali Notandas is a creative writer and editor, and traveler at heart, and has been traveling since the age of 10. She loves exploring different cultures and eating her way through every country. Her dream countries are Turkey, Italy, and Norway, and she hopes to meet NomadHers everywhere she goes! She has accomplished her dream of being able to work from anywhere and is on her way to exploring the best of the world! (Instagram:@anjali_notandas)
🌈 Do you want to read more about a new way to travel?
The Highs and The Lows of Being a Digital Nomad
A first-timer’s guide to a van road trip as solo female travelers
More about NomadHer
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