The digital nomad lifestyle is now more popular than ever—and with COVID-19 forcing a lot of companies to work remotely, we can expect the digital nomad community to grow exponentially as the pandemic starts to fade in the background. After a year of stay-at-home guidelines, who doesn’t want this adventurous way of living?
Another great thing about being a digital nomad is that you generally have more time to yourself. You don’t have to commute to work, and you can choose where you want to live (which can help you save time moving around). You can use this free time to explore the locale, learn a new skill, or perhaps start a side job that can help you support your travel expenses.
If you want to earn more money with this kind of lifestyle, here are some of the best side hustles that you can try:
1. Write a book
Whether you are a professional writer or not, writing a book can be a very lucrative side job. Traveling can even be just the thing you need to produce great material, and there’s lots of that when you are a digital nomad. Although writing often takes a lot of time and patience, it will allow you to do something that you are passionate about while potentially making money on the side.
After you finish your book, you can look for a supportive self-publishing company to work with and get your baby out into the world. With the connections you make as a digital nomad, promotion for your work may also be more accessible than when you’re at home.
2. Teach English
If you choose to travel to a non-English-speaking country, you will likely find many teaching opportunities there, be it a private tutor or a part-time school teacher. You can even offer your services online to broaden your reach. Either way, it’s a great way to earn extra money and to meet new people.
However, keep in mind that each country or employer has specific requirements for English teachers. Some may require an ESL teaching certification, while others may only accept applicants with previous teaching experience. If you don’t meet the requirements for a formal teaching position, you can offer your services to private clients.
3. Sell your photography online
Is photography one of your hobbies? If so, why not turn that hobby into a profitable side business?
Seeing so many different places is one of the best perks of being a digital nomad. Taking pictures of your most notable destinations and selling them online (stock photography sites) can line your pockets with extra cash. The income from this side hustle will, of course, depend on many factors, such as the quality and uniqueness of your images. So don’t expect that you will start earning big bucks right off the bat.
4. Blog about your travels
Many digital nomads start blogs to share their experiences with the world and help other digital nomads adapt to this lifestyle. If you have the writing skills, why not start your very own blog?
Every digital nomad’s journey is unique. By sharing your stories, tips, and recommendations with others in the community, you can help other people realize their digital nomad dreams and turn them into a reality. Not only that, but blogging comes with the potential of earning extra cash through website advertisements, affiliate links, and digital products, to name a few. Who knows? Maybe one day, your blog will be successful enough for you to turn it into your main hustle.
Just know that starting and running a blog often needs a monetary investment. From creating the website itself to buying your domain, expect to shell out quite a bit of money for this endeavor.
5. Start a YouTube channel
One of the most common ways full-time travelers make money is by blogging about their adventures. If you’ve been thinking of starting your vlog, right before you become a digital nomad may be the perfect time to do so. Even though it can take some time to gain traction on a highly competitive platform like YouTube, you can start earning a good amount of money with enough time and content.
Working a side hustle (or several) while living the digital nomad lifestyle can be surprisingly easy if you set your mind to it. So if you want to have extra cash to support your adventures, these are some of the best side jobs for digital nomads specifically.
