The digital nomad lifestyle is a dream come true.
Work remotely from anywhere in the world. Travel constantly. Be your own boss.
But of course, there’s a catch…
Running your day-to-day life while bouncing around from country to country isn’t easy. Mail gets lost. Payments get missed. Important documents end up in the wrong place.
The good news? There are a host of tech tools that make this life exponentially easier.
And the best digital nomads use them every single day.
In this guide we will cover:
- Why Tech Tools Are Vital for Nomads
- 7 Must-Have Nomad Tools
- Setting up Your Digital Life in 3 Steps
Why Tech Tools Are Vital for Nomads
Digital nomadism is on the rise.
A recent report from MBO Partners shows that there are now 18.1 million Americans who classify as digital nomads. That’s a huge jump from 9.2 million just two years earlier in 2019.
But here’s the problem…
Most digital nomads fail within the first year. And it’s not for lack of work. Or a shortage of funds. The reason they fall flat is that they never set up the right systems to manage their life remotely.
How do you get important mail when you don’t have a permanent address? How do you deal with international banking? How do you stay productive working out of coffee shops and co-working spaces?
All of these are challenges that every digital nomad inevitably encounters. But with a rock solid tech stack of tools that do all of the heavy lifting, life on the road becomes a breeze.
7 Must-Have Nomad Tools
Let’s take a look at the essential tools for digital nomads.
Virtual Mailbox Service
The most important tool in a digital nomad’s arsenal is their virtual mailbox service.
Without a physical address, it is impossible to receive mail. Bank statements. Tax forms. Official government documents. They all need to end up somewhere.
A virtual mailbox service is the solution. It gives digital nomads a real street address where their mail will be received, scanned and then forwarded digitally. Services like ipostal1.com/virtual-mailbox let users view their mail online from anywhere in the world.
Neat, right?
The best virtual mailbox providers also offer features like:
- Real street addresses (vs PO boxes)
- Mail scanning and digital delivery
- Package receiving and forwarding
- Check deposit services
- Multiple location options
With these services in place, all important documents are accounted for. Packages can be forwarded on to the nomad’s current location. And everything is kept organised in a central digital dashboard.
Cloud Storage Solutions
Cloud storage is a no-brainer for digital nomads.
Laptops get stolen. Hard drives crash. If you only store all of your files on a single device, years of work can be lost in an instant.
The top options today are:
- Google Drive – Excellent for collaboration and document sharing
- Dropbox – Syncs very well across devices
- iCloud – If you are in the Apple ecosystem, this is the best option
Nomads typically have at least two of these services. One for work related files. One for personal backups. Redundancy is critical with everything living online.
Password Managers
Here’s one that most people don’t think about…
Digital nomads typically use dozens (if not hundreds) of online accounts. Banking. Work tools. Travel bookings. Booking.com. Airbnb. Social media. It becomes impossible to track all of these unique passwords without help.
Password managers like 1Password and Bitwarden store them all securely. They can automatically generate strong passwords as well. And they sync between all of your devices.
This is non-negotiable when it comes to security while travelling. You are on public WiFi networks all the time. Hackers love to target travellers who reuse the same passwords across multiple accounts.
Communication Tools
Effective communication is key to staying connected while nomading across time zones.
Video calling apps such as Zoom and Google Meet are a must for client meetings. Slack keeps remote teams in sync with each other. WhatsApp is great for international messaging without roaming charges.
In fact, 79% of digital nomads say technology gives them an edge over competitors at work. The right communication stack is how that happens.
VPN Services
VPNs are a must for two reasons.
First, they keep data secure when you are using public WiFi. Coffee shops. Airports. Hotels. Hackers love to target these networks.
Second, a VPN lets you access geo-restricted services. Banking apps that only work in certain countries. Streaming services. Tools that are blocked in other regions.
Nomads swear by NordVPN and ExpressVPN. Both offer fast connections and servers in dozens of countries.
Financial Management Tools
Finance and accounting becomes tricky quickly when you are working with multiple currencies across borders.
Digital banks like Wise and Revolut make this much easier. They offer features like:
- Multi-currency accounts
- Low-fee international transfers
- Real exchange rates
- Virtual and physical cards
Legacy banks charge enormous fees for international transactions. Digital nomads save hundreds of dollars each year by using these modern alternatives.
Expense tracking tools like YNAB (You Need A Budget) also help keep spending in check. When income and expenses are happening in different currencies, visibility into cash flow becomes more important than ever.
Project Management Software
The vast majority of digital nomads work either for themselves or with remote teams.
Project management software is how it all stays organised. Trello offers intuitive visual boards. Asana is good for more complex projects. Notion combines note taking, databases and project management all in one place.
The important part is to pick a system and stick with it. If nomads bounce between a variety of tools, chaos ensues and information gets lost.
Setting up Your Digital Life in 3 Steps
It doesn’t have to be complicated to get started.
Begin with the essentials first. Sign up for a virtual mailbox service before leaving home. This ensures no important mail gets left behind when making the transition.
Next, move everything to the cloud. Documents. Photos. Important files. If it exists on a device, it should also be backed up to the cloud.
Finally, build out the rest of the stack over time. Install new tools and apps as the need arises instead of trying to get everything in place all at once.
Wrapping Things Up
Digital nomads have the best of both worlds. Freedom to travel while also having a career doing what they love most.
But a major caveat is that managing mail, finances, communication and security requires serious preparation. Nomads must have the right tech tools to be able to do everything from anywhere in the world.
The good news? All of the necessary tools and services exist.
- Virtual mailbox services can manage all physical mail digitally
- Cloud storage makes files safe and accessible
- Password managers protect online accounts
- VPNs secure public WiFi connections
- Digital banks simplify finances across multiple currencies
Digital nomads who take the time to set these things up properly have less admin to manage on a day-to-day basis. That means more time and energy to actually enjoy the freedom they’ve worked so hard for.
After all, that’s the point of this lifestyle anyway.