365 Days As a Digital Nomad: The Good, the Bad, and the Bali
365 days ago I stood outside on deck 5 (the crew deck) on the AIDAluna cruise ship and over-enthusiastically accepted a job as a copywriter for the marketing department of a remote company. What that all meant, I wasn’t really sure. But I did know that I was ready to leave my job on a cruise ship and start my expat life in Portugal, and, most importantly, my journey as a “Digital Nomad.”
The term “Digital Nomad” was new for me, but as I did a bit more digging, I discovered that it applies to anyone who works from their computer and isn’t tied to the same office, same country, and, sometimes, even the same company.
To say I had a steep learning curve to ride as a newbie in the business world, would be an understatement. The last time I opened Excel was… possibly high school? Add to that, the surprise of working from a computer for 8 hours a day, after 8 years of constantly moving, dancing, and singing around a stage for a living, and it’s safe to say I was in for a bit of a shock.
But after a few months, that shock turned into routine, and I quickly settled into life as a digital nomad. And seeing as reflection is often the best tool for education, I wanted to take a peek back ay my journey from on-stage singer to behind-the-screen remote worker and share my unfiltered thoughts on working online.
Beautiful Bali
What I Learned:
I won’t bore you with the copious notes I took during my weeks of training, catching up on years of missed experience with spreadsheets and KPIs. But I will tell you that as I started each day with optimism, gratitude, and more Portuguese coffee than anyone should have in one sitting, the knowledge came pouring in. But what happened after my training period? Well, I was on my way to becoming an effective member of the marketing department and logged into our company Skype chat at 8 am every day ready to make some word magic happen. But beyond the screen time, here are a few of the lessons I’ve learned thus far on my 365-day digital nomad journey:
-Systems can be learned, work ethic and creativity cannot
-Skype, Google Drive, and Vocus (incredible extension for organizing your inbox) are my EVERYTHING
-Beating around the bush is a waste of typing time on a Skype chat. Be direct. (This is a life lesson I’m working on as well.)
-Be confident with what you don’t know- it leads to much swifter and more comprehensive solutions
-Communication is so so so so stinkin’ important when working online. Personally, I’ve become an overcommunicative person, and I’m alright with that
Highlights:
My luck and good fortune aren’t lost on me. The fact that I found a remote job in a Facebook group, somehow made it through the interview process, and got hired online continuously blows my mind. I know I’m a confident, capable human but there are certain things in life that seem like, pardon my cringe, a blessing. So what were some of my #blessed highlights in my first year working online?
-Working part-time on my surf vacation in Bali and feeling like a true, instagrammable “Digital Nomad”
-Being promoted from a copywriter to a Talent Development Manager after 6 months (A job that I seriously love)
-Finding my stride, creating meaningful collaborations with educational influencers
-Moving from Portugal to Germany, without any worry about my employment changing (No office holding me down)
-Joining a coworking space and gaining a sense of community and creativity that I was missing by working from home.
-Negotiating a salary that I came to understand I deserve, but would never receive if I didn’t ask for
Lowlights:
Don’t get me wrong, life on a computer isn’t always beachside meetings and international coffee breaks. After a few late-night, unrecorded hours struggling my way through Canva to make a presentation, I realized that digital nomad life comes with some interesting caveats. What were some of the not-so-fun obstacles I encountered this year?
-Whenever I want to visit my family in the U.S., waking up at 5am to start working by 6am (11am UK time) in order to adhere to European working hours for my remote office, is not the most fun
-Invoices, taxes, and all of the logistics that go with being a freelancer are something I still haven’t mastered, after 365 days
-Trying to figure out how to get a working visa in Germany during coronavirus, after JUST getting my visa for Portugal is… a downright mess, I tell ya!
-Want to actually go on holiday? Well, if you’re a freelancer you most certainly can, but you’ll have to pay for it. That’s right, if I don’t work, I don’t get paid. It’s liberating and annoying all at the same time. What I wouldn’t GIVE for a paid holiday. Next year, guys. Next year…
Would I change anything about this past year?
Nope, not a single minute. When I accepted my job as a copywriter, I immediately told my boss that I had a trip to Indonesia planned for just a few weeks after I started my job. Imagine my surprise when I was told to keep my plans, no worries, as some of my coworkers had previously worked from Thailand, with amazing internet connection and off days spent diving into a new culture. It’s safe to say that my afternoons spent working in Bali, after a morning surf session, completely solidified my infatuation with my job and the work-life balance I was finally finding. After working on a cruise ship for two years, and eight years of the actor hustle in New York, it was this balance that I had been craving for far too long. But I’m not here to preach my guru knowledge about life as a digital nomad. I made it through 365 days of working online and living abroad, and that’s not worthy of praise; it’s an everyday thing for a lot of people! That being said, for me, it was an incredible accomplishment, and a year filled with waves in Indonesia, boat rides through the canals in Bangkok, and a company and computer screen that encouraged and fostered my growth, every step of the way.
That, plus a bed that’s not constantly rocking from rough sea, has made me pretty darn happy that I answered the phone 365 days ago and said, “100% yes!” to my remote job offer. It’s only the beginning of this digital adventure, but I’ve got a strong internet connection, affinity for Skype chats, and an abusive relationship with Excel on my side. Onwards and upwards!
