How to become a digital nomad and work remotely anywhere in 2025?

I used to dream of escaping the 9–5 grind – the daily prep required to make yourself presentable at the office, the hours wasted on daily commute, the cold light wrapping me around while the sun was shining outside, and the endless loops of meetings that should have been emails.

The ultimate dream? Dropping everything to travel the world, discovering yet new astonishing sites and immersing myself in different cultures.

But reality hit quickly. Travel costs money. And no matter how much I saved, it never felt like enough – not for the kind of slow, long-term travel I craved. Even worse: spending that hard-earned money without a plan to replenish it also wasn't a viable option.

So I reshaped the dream: instead of choosing between work and travel, I decided to build a life that allowed for both.

That’s when I focused on becoming a digital nomad. It didn’t happen overnight, but in 2022, I finally made the big leap — working full-time while living on the road.

Since then, I haven’t stayed in one place longer than four months. I’ve traveled through over 30 countries across 4 continents, often spending weeks or months in each location. That rhythm gave me space to go deeper — beyond the tourist spots and into the real daily rhythms of local life.

And I’ve done all of it while keeping my career alive.

If you’re drawn to the idea of becoming a digital nomad but aren’t sure where to start – this guide is for you. I'm sharing all the steps I took to get there, so it's a proven strategy.

You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of what it really takes to make it work – because it’s about more than just working remotely.

Let’s get straight into it.

What exactly is a digital nomad? 

A digital nomad is anyone who isn’t tied to one location when it comes to work, and uses that freedom to change locations frequently. Digital nomads usually work in the digital space, which is where this term comes from in the first place. 

There are in fact different ways to look at digital nomadism. You may have heard about digital nomad visas being issued by more and more countries. These typically allow people to move to another country (under specific conditions) and work from there legally, while they continue to generate income outside that country. 

To me, this is more concerned about moving overseas, as it does imply you will be staying in that target country for a while. 

The reason why I became a digital nomad and why I wanted to embrace location independence in the first place was the ability to move around frequently - to travel while I continue to work. And that’s what I’m referring to when I write about digital nomadism throughout this blog. 

This is no way to say that if you move to Costa Rica, Portugal, Japan, or any other country and benefit from the digital nomad visa, you aren’t a digital nomad. It’s not the kind of judgement I’m making here. I’m merely pointing out some differences in understanding of what digital nomadism is about.

Now that we have the definition question answered, let’s take a look at how to become a digital nomad and start working remotely anywhere. If you have zero clue where to start, I hope the guide that worked for me 100% will be just the push you need to make the first step.

7 actionable steps to becoming a digital nomad with zero experience

A quick warning: this isn’t a get-results-quickly setup. Becoming a digital nomad when you have zero experience and don’t currently work remotely will take some time.

How long will it take? That really depends on your determination. I’d say that the first three steps are the most time consuming.

If you already work remotely or have a financial cushion built up, you can get there faster than you think. 

Step 1: Build a skill you can monetise remotely

The foundation of any digital nomad journey is the ability to earn an income without showing up to an office. While this guide won’t focus on how to land a remote job, the first step is clear: develop a skill you can sell from anywhere.

The array of skills you can choose from is actually quite vast. Tech-adjacent skills like software development, design, testing, or data analysis are the most obvious. However, don’t discount areas like digital marketing, content creation, social media management, copywriting or project management, which can often be done remotely as well – either through freelancing or on contractual basis.   

Post-pandemic, many employers have embraced remote work. If your current role allows for it, consider renegotiating your contract – or keep remote flexibility in mind as you evaluate new offers. One of my biggest contractors wanted me to work from their office at the start, but that required relocating to a different city, which at the time wasn't an option. I managed to renegotiate that aspect of the contract they initially offered and work in a fully remote setup.

Every country has its own rules for remote work, so legal regulations applicable to digital nomads can vary and I can’t give universal advice here. That’s why it’s crucial you figure out the formalities in your home country early on.

In my case, being from Poland, the simplest route was registering as self-employed. That allowed me to work through B2B contracts or freelance, which give you greater control over where you work – mainly because of how social insurance is handled. 

Under the Polish Labour Code, employment contracts oblige the employer to pay for every employee’s social insurance, which also entitles them to designate the workplace.

Becoming self-employed shifted the social insurance responsibility on me, giving me greater freedom to choose my location – and that freedom is the essence of digital nomadism. Figure out what will give you that legal freedom in your home country. 

Step 3: Build a financial cushion

Long-term travel isn’t all hammocks and laptops. Things can go wrong sometimes in the ways you least expect – I once broke my laptop screen in Cambodia, for instance, right in the middle of a working day. On another, I showed up at an airport with incomplete visa paperwork and wasn't allowed to board the plane, and had to book a new ticket for the next day (at a painful price). Financial peace of mind makes handling such problems much easier – and faster.

Building a cash cushion before you set out on your first digital nomad adventure will allow you to focus on work while you’re on the road. I’m not saying you’ll have to use it – I hardly ever touch mine – but knowing that I have extra cash to pay for unplanned expenses is my prerequisite for setting sail long term.

The golden rule: don’t touch that financial cushion for nothing but emergencies. 

How much should you set aside? That depends on a number of factors: the cost of living in the country you’re planning to visit on the one hand, and on the other – your monthly income level and contract type (freelancing vs. long-term). I’d advise having at least 3x the cost of a return flight home set aside for a rainy day.

Step 4: Choose your first destination wisely

It’s tempting to just spin a globe and point, but your destination can make or break your remote work experience – especially if it’s your first one. 

You’ll still have to find time for work - and your destination will impact your work routine.

Ask yourself:

  • Time zone compatibility – can you realistically work your hours from this place? I once worked European hours from Hawaii... never again. Pulling night shifts took a toll on me, even though it was only for a couple of weeks.
  • Internet access – research whether the WiFi is reliable and fast enough. In most places, I rely on a local SIM card with hotspotting. But even that can be patchy – in Namibia, I had to restructure my entire travel plan multiple times just to be able to make it for team calls – the 2nd least densely populated country in the world has minimal network coverage.
  • Cost of living – a month in Laos costs a lot less than a month in New Zealand. I usually start by checking budget stays on accommodation sites to see how much the cheapest options cost, peeking at local restaurant menus on Google Maps, and glancing at the Big Mac Index to estimate grocery prices.

Step 5: Plan your budget and stick to it

Budgeting isn’t just about staying within your means – it’s what makes long-term travel sustainable. During my longest travel stretch, I traveled for 382 consecutive days, and budgeting was the key to making that possible.

Before each trip, I map out how much I’ll spend monthly on accommodation, food, transport, and fun. That number varies by country, of course, but I found that having a ballpark is critical. Without it, your expenses can very quickly go through the roof.

In addition, I created a tracking system to monitor how far from that ballpark I was. I believe that became my superpower. It helped me balance must-do splurges – like a scenic flight over Victoria Falls or a week-long scuba diving safari in the Philippines – with more frugal months. 

The guiding principle? Spend less where it matters less, so you can go all-in on what matters most.

Step 6: Minimize your possessions - or learn to pack light

The digital nomad lifestyle – aka work and travel – rewards minimalism. 

I’m not saying you need to sell most of your belongings or become that dedicated minimalist who makes their own washing powder, but you do need to learn how to travel light.

Your laptop and the entire remote work setup will take up a large portion of your luggage, so will the essential cosmetics and clothing items. That’s why every single thing you decide to bring with you should have a purpose (and as little weight as possible). There’s no room for “maybe-I’ll-wear-this.”

Packing light will save you a lot of stress, time – and your spine too. It makes transitions between places faster and easier – and you’ll need this flexibility as you balance travel time with work time.

Step 7: Don’t forget the insurance

Illnesses, accidents, natural disasters or theft – you are at risk of all these hazards when you travel. Even though you can never be fully prepared for them, having the right insurance can certainly help you deal with them should they happen.

My advice? Get an insurance broker who works with the tourism industry – my guy always prepares a custom insurance cover that extends to: 

  • electronics, i.e. my laptop and cameras, to an amount designated by me – standard packages usually offer a small cover,
  • scuba diving – I try to squeeze that in where possible – insurance is mandatory with most scuba diving providers

All in all – have an idea of what you’re planning to do while you travel so that you can outline these while you speak to the insurance broker. 

Step 8: Book the ticket – and just go

There’s only so much you can plan. At some point, you need to just take the leap.

And one last note: be prepared to lose some friends along the way. Not everyone will understand this lifestyle: some relationships won’t survive the distance, others will die out of pure jealousy. That’s okay. You’ll meet new people – many of whom are living versions of the future you want.

Are you ready to take the first step? It’s not always easy – but if you do it right, it’s absolutely worth it.