I once heard about a digital nomad lifestyle from an article I read a year ago. It all started with a fleeting glimpse into the world of digital nomads – those intrepid souls who roam the globe while earning a living online. The idea seemed almost too good to be true: the freedom to travel the world, all while maintaining a steady income. And so, fueled by curiosity and a longing for adventure, I decided to dip my toes into the digital nomad lifestyle.
I, too, sometimes imagining writing by the beach in Bali, or somewhere else other than the confinement of my workplace.
Burnt by curiosity, I venture into the digital nomad lifestyle.
The first thing to consider is finding a real online job. I’ve signup on several websites including freelancer.com, playtestcloud.com, Appen, and a bunch others. It was a chaotic and overwhelming process, with seemingly endless options and requirements to sift through. But amidst the chaos, I found solace in focusing on writing-related gigs, leveraging my skills to secure meaningful opportunities in the digital realm.
I decided to focus entirely on writing-related jobs since a decent research job is almost nonexistent – or maybe I’m looking in the wrong place?
At first, several job-posters asked me to move into Skype for further detail. I conformed to one of them and submitted several articles via Skype. For you who want to try getting an online job – DON’T do this. NEVER submit your work in a different platform than the original site, believe me, I’ve learned it in a hard way. It was a hard lesson learned, as I quickly discovered the importance of safeguarding my work and privacy in the online world.
After a while, surprisingly, I’ve landed myself articles and social media writing gig, and for a quite decent amount of money too. They require me to interview some employees in their company, build a story, and publish them on their website and social media. I’ve met with them and I know where their office is, somehow it gave me a sense of security.
Yet, despite the initial challenges, I persevered. And to my surprise, I began to land writing gigs that not only paid well but also provided a sense of fulfillment and purpose. From crafting articles to managing social media content, each project brought its own set of challenges and rewards, helping me to hone my craft and boost my confidence along the way.
At the end of my first online job, they gave me a five-stars rating, which highly boosted my confidence. I regain my self-assurance and made me feel better amidst the third life crisis waves. Thinking back on it, it is kind of funny how such a digital rating can make a difference in your mood and feeling. Not long after that, I’ve landed my second job which continued to the third, and so on until now.
However, the idea of digital nomad lifestyle is to have these online jobs as your main job. And frankly, with current condition, I cannot rely solely on online jobs. A quick calculation, to fully become a digital nomad, I will need at least eight decent-paying jobs in a month. Which makes the time amount needed is equal to – or more than – regular office job. The dream of complete freedom and autonomy was tempered by the harsh realities of financial stability and sustainability.
On a positive side, I do feel some degree of freedom. I can write anytime and anywhere I go, as long as I have an internet connection and my laptop. Most of the articles I wrote in coffee shops, several while I waited for a meeting, another on a café by the beach.
So here I am, still navigating the uncharted waters of remote work, one gig at a time. While the path ahead may be uncertain, I remain hopeful and optimistic about the possibilities that lie ahead. Reflecting on my journey, I can’t help but see how embracing the digital nomad lifestyle has been a transformative step in my ongoing quest to navigate the complexities of the third life crisis. Who knows? Perhaps one day, I’ll take the leap and fully embrace the life of a true digital nomad.
