It’s easy to feel envious when you read about people who travel the world, freelancing from exotic beaches. You might think they have it easy because they’re alone and wealthy, unlike you with your spouse, dog, kids, and a whole team to manage. You can’t fathom not going to the office for daily stand-ups, team lunches, or gossiping about the latest tech debates.

Of course, having a family does present challenges, and digital nomadism isn’t for everyone. Maybe you dislike constant relocation and adapting to new cultures and rules. Or perhaps you’d be too distracted by exciting new experiences to focus on working eight hours a day.

Anyone who’s worked from home knows the productivity benefits of uninterrupted work time. However, many bosses remain skeptical about remote work. In reality, being at the beach can actually boost focus and productivity thanks to the calming and inspiring environment. Plus, a little guilt about having such a good life might even motivate you to work harder!

If you’re not yet working from a beach (or somewhere equally appealing), this article is for you. It outlines four easy steps to achieve the dream of working while traveling the world, whether you’re a freelancer or part of a team, without sacrificing communication or productivity.

Embracing Change For A Better Work Life

Some people thrive on routine and predictability, panicking when it’s disrupted. But if you’re in a creative field like programming or design, you likely embrace change and adaptability.

• Escape toxic work environments by embracing remote work. Your mental well-being will thank you, even if demanding clients don’t.

The daily grind of a traditional office job can be soul-crushing, draining motivation, creativity, and passion. You might not dislike your job, colleagues, or office, but the monotony can be stifling. Creative individuals crave new experiences, knowledge, and inspiration from diverse situations, people, and cultures. Two weeks of vacation simply isn’t enough. The good news is, you don’t need a vacation to travel or shake up your routine.

• Think remote work is unwanted? Freelancing platforms would disagree!

It’s understandable to cling to the security of your current job. You don’t have to hustle for work or worry about operational details and paychecks. Quitting to find clients can seem as daunting as an erupting volcano. And let’s face it, your family might not approve. If you prefer playing it safe, try a gradual approach. Explore side gigs on freelancing platforms to test the waters and see if you can handle the challenges of independent work. If you can build a team, even better. There’s power in collaboration, enabling faster job finding and completion.

Technology: The Remote Worker’s Best Friend

• With a good internet connection, technology provides everything you need for remote work. No excuses!

Skype, Slack, Viber, Hangouts – countless tools exist to simplify remote work. From collaboration and project management to virtual conferencing, you’ll find a plethora of options. Choose what suits you and your team, and you’re set to work from anywhere with decent internet.

While some issues are resolved faster in person, even being thousands of miles away, a video call bridges the gap. Seeing someone’s face, not just hearing their voice, is crucial for important discussions. Routine meetings or quick questions can be handled via chat, often more efficiently than interrupting colleagues in an office.

Here’s a useful link with a list of top tools for remote workers.

• You don’t need to win the lottery to afford travel.

You often hear stories of couples, even those with children, selling everything to travel the world. House, car, furniture – everything goes! While this radical approach might be more common in North America, Europeans tend to be more rooted and less inclined to leave everything behind.

But you don’t have to choose between your home and seeing the world. You might love where you live but still crave travel. And since you might settle down eventually, selling your home isn’t always ideal. Renting out your property while you travel offers the best of both worlds. If you decide to settle elsewhere, you can always deal with your property later. Owning real estate can be a surprising asset when embracing a global lifestyle.

Recently, I discovered the wonders of house swapping. I live in Zagreb, Croatia, but spent a month in Bali thanks to house swapping platforms. We had an entire house with a pool, completely free! If you own property, this can be a fantastic way to save money and experience new places. Traveling to countries with lower costs of living is also a smart strategy, which is why many digital nomads flock to Asian countries.

Strong Management And Work Ethic: Your Keys To Success

You might have noticed I haven’t differentiated much between freelancers and remote teams. The principles apply to both, whether you’re traveling solo or with a partner.

I also haven’t drawn a hard line between pure remote work and digital nomadism. The main difference, besides the frequency of location changes, is location itself. Perhaps it’s time to redefine “home.” Is it where your laptop and charger are? Or is it more about a feeling? I believe it’s the latter.

I’m not a freelancer, although I occasionally take on Toptal clients. I’m the CEO of Mašinerija, a small mobile and web application development company. However, running a company hasn’t made me location-dependent. Managing my team and projects remotely, even from across the world, is no different than being in the office. Business analysis, obstacle discussions, task planning, delegation – it all remains the same. Without frequent, clear communication and good organization, projects can crumble even with everyone in the same room.

You can be a full-time digital nomad, traveling the world for years while working remotely. Or you can stay put and work remotely for distant clients. You can even be a sporadic digital nomad like me, sometimes working closely with my team in our Zagreb office, other times managing them remotely. Since our clients are in the UK and US, my location is irrelevant to them. Time zones can be managed with good organization.

Digital nomadism does require some extra planning compared to traditional remote work. You need to consider SIM cards, internet connections, power outlet compatibility, and reachability. But it’s not much different from planning a regular vacation. Thankfully, there’s plenty of advice available from seasoned digital nomads. I’ll help you with the first link, and Google can provide even more insights.

So, there’s no excuse to stay glued to your office chair, enviously scrolling through travel photos. The only true requirement is good health. Partners may come and go (sad but true!), but good health enables you to experience the world. And let’s face it, being unwell is always easier surrounded by loved ones and familiar comforts, which might be hard to come by on the road. But let’s not dwell on negativity.

The digital era offers incredible opportunities for developers, designers, marketers, managers – anyone who can work from a laptop. The world truly is our oyster. My team’s remote work arrangement made me realize that with today’s tools and communication methods, physical location is irrelevant.

My only regret is not embracing remote work sooner. If you follow the advice in this article, I’m sure we’ll cross paths on our travels. My next stop is London – where will yours be?

A Note Of Caution For Aspiring Digital Nomads

While I champion remote teamwork and digital nomadism, I must acknowledge it’s not for everyone.

Many find travel stressful enough without the added pressure of working eight to ten hours a day. Others may struggle to maintain productivity in perpetual tourist mode.

A nomadic lifestyle can also strain relationships. Extroverted full-time nomads might thrive on meeting new people, but nothing can replace the support system of family, friends, and colleagues.

Ultimately, it comes down to individual preference. Some will thrive in this technology-enabled nomadic lifestyle, while others might find it challenging or simply miss the comforts of home.