The lifestyle of a digital nomad is becoming more popular, and why wouldn't it be? The opportunity to pack your bags, hop on a bus/train/airplane, travel to any destination while supporting yourself with a steady job the whole time is something that our fathers couldn’t even imagine. The world is changing. Today, you can be anywhere on the planet and still manage to get your work done before receiving your month’s paycheck.
All you need is a stable internet connection and a power source, so you can’t really go places where you don’t have them. When it comes to the digital nomad trend, Australia is definitely taking a lead. Why? Let’s take a look at some conditions that make this country a perfect playground for the digital nomads.
How to become a digital nomad?
To define a ’digital nomad’ with just one description is difficult because there are many different types of digital nomads. However, what they have in common is that they change their destinations frequently, spend at least a few months abroad and earn their money by working online.
The reality of being a digital nomad is not about being able to run your office from a beach. It’s too hot, and you should get away from all the tourists and dark hotel rooms when you want to stay productive and get things done. Also, you don’t need any specific skills to be able to lead this lifestyle, as it’s enough to know your way around working with a PC and have a remote job. By living as a digital nomad, you can enjoy a quality life, become location independent and travel the world.
Finding a coworking space
There are no signs of slowing down in the digital nomad community in Australia. More and more digital nomads choose to work from a coworking space every day, which is why these spaces are constantly multiplying. If you find yourself in Victoria, be sure that there is a coworking space in Melbourne that will meet all the specific interests and needs of any digital nomad out there. Coworking spaces offer good company, great coffee, a reliable internet connection, and a change of environment. Freelancers and bloggers love these spaces, and are “guilty” of spreading the good word about them.
Many exploration options and opportunities
Australia is a whole continent, offering so many things to explore. Do you want to be in the city or closer to nature? Do you want to explore a smaller community or to experience big city life as an Aussie? Do you like the sea or the mountains? All the choices are enticing, and there’s so many of them. Who knows, if you fall in love with the country and wish to explore more (because you definitely can’t see it all in a year), you may even decide to stay longer than planned. Take hikes along the coastlines, learn how to surf, snorkel and sail, taste Australia’s best wines (they’re among the world’s top producers and exporters of wine) and cuisine. Maybe you can be more of an Aussie than you thought you could.
Prices
When it comes to accommodation in Australia, you could spend between 200 AUD for a night in a hotel and 20 AUD for a night in a dorm room. You can bring a tent and stay at a campsite, if you want to save more money, but that’s not a long-term option (unless you’re staying only during a warm season). As for food, you can always eat tasty Australian street food in case you’re not keen on cooking. Eating out is, as everywhere else, more expensive than cooking your own meals. When considering the skills you need to acquire to before setting off on a nomad trip, perhaps you should add “learn to cook” to the list.
No language barrier
When you live in a country where only a handful of people speak English (and they’re hard to find), you’ll often find it hard to communicate. This can be very demotivating, so you should avoid places where you know this problem awaits. The official language in Australia is English. The very fact that you’re reading this article means that you speak the language (even if you’re a non-native speaker). Most of the associates and clients you’ll work with, as well as all the other people you’ll meet in Australia, speak English. This makes things a lot easier for you to find your way around.
If you decide to travel to Australia and live as a digital nomad, remember to make decisions with your heart – don’t rely just on reason. You probably want to choose this way of life because it allows you to explore, so it’s important to choose courage over comfort at certain times. This way, you can reap the rewards on the other side of your fears.
