Thirty-five million people work from anywhere right now. By 2030 that number will reach sixty million. In 2024, the average digital nomad visited 6.6 locations, spending one or two months in each place.
These aren’t backpackers on a budget. Most digital nomads earn between $50,000 and $99,999 annually, with 35% pulling in between $100,000 and $250,000. They’re running serious businesses from beach bars and mountain lodges, starting this lifestyle (on average) at age twenty-nine.
I’ve lived the nomad life full time since 2021, bouncing between Airbnbs and hotels worldwide and living in 35 different cities, all without a base camp. Before that, I traveled for four months of every year while running a social media agency.
90% of digital nomads have completed higher education. But school won’t teach you how to run your business from anywhere. Here’s what you need to know.
Working without a location: the new way to run a business
Strong internet beats pretty views
Internet access matters. The most successful nomads book stays with at least 100 mbps speeds and keep mobile data as backup, or buy extra sim cards. Two bad Zoom calls taught me that lesson. Check for reviews of your Airbnb or hotel that mention the internet or wifi. Message your host ahead of arrival and ask about upload speeds. Test them as soon as you arrive. Your business lives and dies on bandwidth.
Speed matters more than scenery. Pick accommodation with solid internet over stunning beaches. Reduce the friction so your business doesn’t suffer.
Pick places that match your timezone
Running a business on a big time zone difference burns people out fast. Nobody wins when half your team joins meetings exhausted. Smart nomads cluster near their clients and teammates, for more crossover in their working day. Plan those synchronous working slots as soon as your schedule is finalized.
Stay somewhere that works with your core hours. US east coast? Try South America. UK clients? Continental Europe fits perfectly, so does South Africa. Match locations to your most important timezone so you’re not working crazy hours when you want to explore.
Slow down to speed up
Moving cities each week kills productivity and comes with extra friction. You have to create your life from scratch in each place, which takes up too much time. Monthly stays let nomads find their groove. Get to know the good coffee shops, make some friends, join a gym and build a routine.
Unpack your stuff instead of living out of your suitcase, and aim to live like a local as soon as possible. Most successful nomads stay 2-3 months minimum. Productivity shoots up when you slow down because stability leads to success.
Build systems that run without you
Smart businesses keep running while their owners sleep, and yours should be no different. To do the nomad thing well you need clear processes, up to date handbooks, and regular team updates, sync or async. Everyone should know what good looks like without asking, and technology handles the rest.
Write everything down. Record your methods. Train your team to solve problems solo. Make yourself surplus to day-to-day operations and remove yourself as the bottleneck.
Guard your energy
Travel eats up time and new places can cost your focus. Avoid tourist traps, and get into a sustainable routine as soon as you can. Top performers block their calendar, no matter where they are. Maybe it’s the morning for deep work, the afternoon for calls, and the evening for exploring. It doesn’t matter, just stick to your slots.
Don’t underestimate your workspace. Find spots with good chairs, ample power outlets, and minimal noise. Bad ergonomics wreck productivity faster than jet lag.
The freedom formula: location independence done right
Running a business while traveling works when you nail the basics. Get the fast internet, think about time zones before you book, and spend at least a month in every new place. Create strong systems that don’t need you in charge, and protect your energy with habits and routines that reduce decision fatigue. The world can become your office. Get these factors right to successfully live and work from anywhere.
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