It’s becoming steadily more easy to adopt a remote lifestyle. What once might have seemed impossible has become practical and (dare we say?) even simple.
Thanks to the cloud, you can untether yourself from a location-specific life and enjoy a nomadic lifestyle that takes you from one place to another … and still earn a steady income.
What is a Digital Nomad?
The name should be self-explanatory, but it may be new terminology for most people. As Nomad Flag explains, “Digital nomads are people who travel on a continuous basis, hopping from country to country while building or maintaining online businesses. Someone who lives in a different country to their own and works online can include themselves in this group.”
Anyone can become a digital nomad as long as you meet two criteria:
- You work in a job/run a business that can be conducted remotely; and
- You travel and live while working
Traditionally, a digital nomad has been someone who lived abroad. However, it’s possible to be a digital nomad while traveling in your own country, as well.
Some nomads even alternate between spending time “at home” and traveling. The appeal of digital nomadism is that it can be as fluid as you’d like. You’re the one who will set the parameters.
How to Leverage the Cloud
Digital nomadism isn’t inherently new. There have always been people who worked and traveled at the same time.
But thanks to the proliferation of new technology and the Web, it’s become more practical than it was in the past. We have the cloud to thank, in particular.
With cloud technology, you no longer have to be tethered to a physical server or device. It’s possible to work, access files, share files, and engage with coworkers from anywhere you can find an internet connection (which is nearly everywhere these days).
The cloud has opened an entirely new world of opportunities. You only have to seize them.
If you’re interested in the digital nomad lifestyle, here are four specific ways you can leverage the cloud for maximum benefit.
- Choose a Cloud Drive
The biggest key to functioning as a digital nomad is to have a place to save all your files. There are plenty of options, but Box cloud storage is arguably the best. It’s inexpensive and has a streamlined interface that makes it a breeze to use.
Though it can take time to break the habit, you have to train yourself to stop saving files on your physical devices. Develop the practice of moving 100 percent of your files to the cloud.
This ensures you’ll always be able to access files regardless of where you are or which device you’re using. (It also removes much of the potential harm from losing your computer or having it stolen.)
- Use Evernote (or something similar) to Replace Sticky Notes
When you work in a traditional office, you likely use sticky notes and notepads to jot down to-do lists, ideas, and thoughts. When you’re a digital nomad, you don’t have room for that sort of clutter.
Keep everything organized in one central cloud location by using an app like Evernote. (There are plenty of alternatives, but this one’s the most popular option for a reason: it works!)
- Leverage Password Managers
There are two big mistakes people make with passwords. The first is using the same one for every account. This is a security concern.
The second mistake is forgetting your passwords (which is just frustrating). If you want to avoid both of these pitfalls, a password manager such as LastPass is the way to go. You only have to remember one password and it gives you secure access to all your accounts.
- Invest in a Good Hotspot and VPN
The one thing that can utterly destroy your ability to do work as a digital nomad is a lack of access to the Internet. You need constant and dependable access to the Web in order to obtain files, tools, and applications.
No matter how good the public WiFi might be in a coffee shop or hotel, it comes with risks. This is why we recommend investing in a good hotspot and VPN. This gives you total control and security regardless of what state or country you’re in.
Enjoy the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
The digital nomad lifestyle isn’t for everyone. It entails legitimate privacy and security trade-offs. Depending on the line of work you’re in, it may not be possible to fully embrace an intense “cloudification” and become a serious digital nomad.
Nevertheless, if you prefer the freedom to explore the world – and are comfortable with frequent change – it could be the lifestyle for you. By tapping into different cloud tools and technologies, you can make the transition from tethered professional to free-spirited digital nomad in record time. Bon voyage!
