Many people who love to travel, dream of living the nomadic lifestyle. Working and living on the road whilst traveling the world or just choosing where to live and when. But how do these digital nomads do it? Here we explore what skills and attributes you need to survive as a digital nomad on the road.   

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Having passion for what you do will keep you motivated even at the worst of times. Knowing what you love and what you truly want to do in life gives you the skills to succeed and fulfil that goal. 

Really think hard about what you are passionate about, what excites you and gets you up in the morning? Being able to recall this passion when the going gets hard will pull you through. If you love what you do and what it enables you to achieve then you have your dream job!

You will have your down days – as long as you know it will happen it’s easier to deal with. For example, you are jetlagged and have to edit lots of photos for a deadline or write an article which is due now! It doesn’t mean it isn’t working or you’ve lost your passion – people are entitled to have a bad day, remember that.  

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Remember why you are doing what you are doing. Write down your purpose somewhere, in a journal, book or even on your phone. It will feel much more real in black and white and it is a visual reminder of why you have started this journey.

There might be a certain sight you want to see like, a milestone you want to achieve or like so many travellers, a bucket list to check off. Bizarre tourist attractions might make your list, or maybe exploring the best ski resorts? Whatever your purpose, have it in mind when on the road to keep you focussed and on track.

On the road, a nomad skill is to be objective and keep your purpose and goal at the forefront. Learning to recall the reason you started in the first place will help you through and keep you positive. 

You might think that life on the road is just drifting along but it’s a bit more work than that. You need to plan ahead and have a rough travel plan. Even if it is month by month or year by year, having a plan will save you money and make the most of your time. 

Where are you going to stay? Do you need to book house sitting in advance or are there any incentives for bloggers for future hotel stays? It pays to plan your travel ahead, just as much as your work.

Organisation is key when living the life of a digital nomad. You need to plan your time well, deciding when and how you are going to work in your chosen destination. Think about things like on and offline working and where you will access WIFI and how secure it will be. 

Planning your work and travel will make your life a lot easier, and that’s what being a nomad is all about right?  

Great packing is another planning skill digital nomads possess. Using packing cubes is definitely the answer to keep your items organised whilst long term travelling.  Take a look at this travel packing cubes review to help you choose the right ones for you. 

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The power of positivity is often underrated. It’s easy to be positive when you are lying on a sun lounger on a tropical resort with a drink and your laptop. And life can really be that good. However, it’s difficult to be positive all of the time.   

When there’s a two-day storm and your internet is out, you might begin to wonder why you set off on this journey in the first place. But it is important to stay positive, even in difficult times. Next time you are feeling down why not think about what a story this will make in the future or how you can learn from this experience.

Being mindful can help you to stay positive too and is a skill possessed by the avid and frequent traveller. Enjoying the moment and appreciating what you have can keep you happy and content. Enjoying a long soapy hot shower or savouring every bite of a delicious local dish are examples of how to be mindful on a small scale.  

The people you meet and share your time with are the ones who make your world a better place. If you want to live a digital nomad life, you must be able to communicate effectively with people. Be that online or in person. It’s important to be able to sell yourself to potential clients and to get great travel deals too.

People around you will help to keep you positive too. If you are travelling long term as a couple you’ll learn how to pick each other up and enjoy your experiences together. Even if you are a solo traveller, there are many people you meet along the way who will inspire you and improve your travel experience.

For digital nomads, the skill is to listen and take on board other people’s advice, listen to their stories and to learn from their experiences with people. This is a special way to live the life of travelling on the road and to tell the stories of the people you meet.  

More and more people are enjoying a mobile lifestyle as jobs are increasingly location independent. This means the number of digital nomads is higher than it has ever been and it is easier to enjoy a lifestyle that you once thought was just a dream. 

Are you a digital nomad making your living whilst travelling? Or are you aspiring to make the change to mobile working, if so do you possess the skills required? 

Written By John Miller