The beauty of being a digital nomad is working on your own schedule and at any location. When converting to the RV lifestyle you won’t have to sacrifice making an income while doing so. With a good Wi-Fi connection and workspace, you can be productively working while on the road.
People convert to RV living for many reasons. It is more affordable than some costs of rent or a mortgage. It forces you to disconnect and appreciate nature. Lastly, It broadens your horizons as you explore new places and meet new people.
Whether you want to be a digital nomad, living in an RV, or try both at the same time, you will not be disappointed when following these top tips.
Start with a budget
Before embarking on your journey in an RV, consider how you will cover all the costs. Most assume that living in an RV is way cheaper than a traditional home or hotel. This may be true in some cases but you will still need to pay for the RV itself, fuel, vehicle maintenance, and camping ground fees.
Another important cost to remember is Wi-Fi. This is something you cannot sacrifice as a digital nomad. Camping ground may offer this, but the quality is usually poor. To work productively, you will need Internet that is uncapped, fast, and secure.
Sort out your Internet
As you aren’t working a traditional 9-5 job, you still need to prove that you are putting in the hours to earn that paycheck. It is becoming more common for companies to use programs to monitor their employees by requiring them to clock in/out virtually.
With this in mind, you need a consistent Internet signal. Some people find that packages with cell phone providers are very reliable as even the most remote areas have cellphone towers nearby. All you need to do is simply connect to your phone’s hotspot to use the Internet.
If using a hotspot is too expensive long-term, consider installing a satellite on your vehicle. The installation may be expensive initially, but it’s more cost-effective in the long run.
Plan your route
Although it’s tempting to steer clear of any large cities and embrace going the nomadic route, it is helpful to have an idea of your planned whereabouts. You may be a digital nomad, but not everyone you work with is. Clients may want face-to-face meetings or employers may want you to do a quarterly report presentation. Most importantly, you don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere and out of fuel.
There are many resources when it comes to planning your RV route. Find places to explore through books like Roadside America or Atlas Obscura. Lookup the local town or city tourist site or check out the National Park Service.
For route planning, there are several apps that allow you to create and follow a route as if it were a GPS. Apps like Roadtrippers or AAA’s mobile trip planner show attractions, gas stations, campgrounds, and restaurants along your route.
Be prepared
While on the road, you never know what could happen. You should bring everything you would usually have in a home like plenty of food, water, clothing, and generator.
These RV essentials will prevent you from going hungry and being stuck with no electricity while in the woods. This is a big no-no for digital nomads. No electricity, usually means there is no way to charge your laptop or to connect to Wi-Fi.
Being prepared will prevent you from getting behind in your work and avoid issues that could have otherwise been avoided.
Be social among other digital nomads
The community of digital nomads is growing but it is no news that being one can get lonely. It’s important to step out of isolation as often as possible and converse with other nomads who can relate to your work.
There are several online groups and forums where digital nomads set up times to meet in local cafés or co-working spaces. This is a great opportunity to make friends and get to be apart of a community. You can even share tips and tricks of how to better your life as a nomad.