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Last Updated on December 16, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
The practice of ‘digital nomadism’ is increasing day by day, even among women. Professionals are choosing to satisfy their wanderlust as they work their way through life.
Studies found that a whopping 17.3 million Americans identified themselves as digital nomads in 2023. That’s 11% of the working population.
It looks like the back-to-office trend has made no difference, especially to Gen-Z professionals. Naturally, women are also exploring this practice, curating a strategic wanderlust work life.
Are you ready to hop onto the bandwagon? If yes, then keep reading. In this article, we will discuss five useful tips for first-time female digital nomads.
In This Post:
Select Your Destination Wisely
When you embark on a digital nomad journey, it’s best to start with a destination that is already known to be remote work-friendly. Since it will have the necessary facilities required for you to work, it’ll be easier to adjust to your new lifestyle.
Once that is out of the way, consider factors like safety and cost too, in that order. As a first-time female digital nomad, your safety is of utmost priority, especially for destinations you plan to stay for an extended time.
You must research the place and look at safety from different angles – accommodation, local behaviors, and mode of transportation. Let’s take an example. One of the most popular and affordable means of commuting is also becoming risky.
Yes, we’re referring to rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. According to TorHoerman Law, cases of sexual assault by Uber drivers are on the rise. In the US state and Federal courts, over 3,000 lawsuits have been filed against the company.
With the help of an Uber sexual assault lawyer, victims have alleged that Uber failed to run proper background checks on drivers. It also did not implement adequate safety measures. Among all states, California has seen the highest number of cases.
You need to be aware of such statistics before you choose your destination, at least your mode of transport there. Thankfully, positive changes have been made in some areas. For instance, Uber has rolled out women-only fleets in Paris to ensure greater safety.
Stay informed of safer alternatives, within the same mode of transport or choose others. Sometimes, busy buses and trains may be better options than rideshare services. Follow some best safety practices –
- Always carry a self-defense tool with you, like pepper spray.
- Choose secure accommodations located in popular areas.
- Avoid isolated lanes and be mindful of your surroundings.
- Let trusted friends and family know your whereabouts at all times, but don’t overshare online.
- Learn basic phrases in the local language.
- Build a support network of other female digital nomads in the area.
Plan Your Work Schedule Ahead of Time
Though working while traveling is possible, it requires self-motivation and discipline. You need to consider your work schedule and requirements before you hit the roads.
It can get extremely difficult to set things straight later on, especially when you can’t wait to explore the destination. Even before you leave, have a solid game plan as to how you will manage your work while traveling. That way, you can avoid conflicts of interest.
Take a look at your work schedule and see if it will interfere with your travel plans. For instance, a 9-to-5 routine may require some adjustments while on the move. You can ask for a flexible schedule or at least have deadlines moved ahead of time.
This is important because the last thing you want is to be busy enjoying sightseeing only to discover that you missed a client meeting. A lot of female digital nomads are early bloomers for this reason.
In other words, they believe in ticking off as many tasks as possible from their checklist before heading out for exploration. This makes it less stressful and easier to enjoy the destination. Try to get up early and complete most of your to-do list before the day even begins.
If you’re a freelancer and your work is already flexible, this should not be difficult. Also, you can take advantage of the time difference if possible. Suppose your clients are from the US and you’re exploring Europe. You have the opportunity to make the most of the day before your clients come online by working in the evening.
On that note, keep track of the time zones of your work destinations. If not, you run the risk of failing to perform tasks scheduled for specific times, say meetings or a team call. Don’t end up in Asia with your clients in the US, having a meeting scheduled at 1 AM!
Join a Coworking Space/Location
Are you aware of the coworking space concept? It is unlike a typical office in the sense that professionals working on independent projects can assemble in a community center to work. Statista has made projections that the total number of coworking spaces worldwide will reach 41,975 by the end of 2024.
This is a great innovative open-space working environment for folks from unrelated professions to work together. We would recommend taking full advantage of such spaces wherever you can.
You will find all that you need to work peacefully, including WiFi connection, printers, conference rooms, and even coffee or tea. Depending on how long you’re planning to stay, you can rent a coworking space.
Since they are essentially office spaces, you will find people working as far as the eyes can see. Some may be on a digital nomad journey like yours, whereas others could be involved in a group project. Watching them work enthusiastically on their tasks will certainly spike up your productivity levels.
You may even be able to book coworking rentals in some destinations. These would require a reservation, so make sure you get that done beforehand.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Once you’ve understood a bit about the destination you’re in and your work schedule, it’s time to have a fixed routine. Without healthy boundaries, you may not be able to explore the destination as much as you’d like. Worse yet, you may feel burnt out at work.
After all, the aim is to enjoy your trip, not have it turn into a bad experience. If your work schedule is flexible, consider analyzing the time of the day when you’re most productive. Suppose you discover that you’re most productive early in the morning and evenings.
What you can do is get some of your tasks done before 10 AM or 11 AM. Then, get ready to explore the city during the day. After that, you can get back and complete the pending tasks during the evening. That way, your tasks will also get done on time and you may even find yourself with more to spare for sightseeing on certain days.
Our pro tip is to try planning a few days without any work. You can adjust some of the tasks as overtime before or after your trip. The time you take to recharge and rejuvenate will keep you refreshed during clock-out.
Have a Backup Plan
It won’t take long for you to realize that no matter how strategically you plan your digital nomad journey, last-minute issues will happen. This is why it is essential to leave with a solid backup plan in place.
Sometimes, overlooked issues can crop up at the last minute in a way that you might have to re-organize your trip. Now, that’s a hassle no woman wants to deal with on the road. Like they say, one must expect the unexpected and make room for things to not go as planned.
During your first few trips, it’s normal for a lot of stuff to slip through the cracks. Do not stress too much if your trip doesn’t go as planned because this is also a trial-and-error process. If anything, stay informed about the common last-minute issues and be prepared to face them.
- Make sure all your work essentials are stored inside your carry-on bag.
- Never leave without a Visa or travel insurance.
- Check whether you will find a reliable Wi-Fi connection across all destinations.
- Compare between various workspaces and earmark a few beforehand.
The world has never been so full of ‘workation’ opportunities as today. When planned through, there are plenty of safe and colorful destinations for female digital nomads to travel.
As per Investopedia, nearly 40 countries have created a digital nomad avenue using temporary programs that offer legal rights to work. Examples include Spain, Brazil, South Korea, Dubai, and Belize, among others.
So, what are you waiting for? This article has covered the basics. Now, it’s time to dive into the deep end of the exciting world of wanderlust work.
