Sustainable Side Hustles for Digital Nomads (1)

The digital nomad lifestyle is on the rise. And increasingly, employers are looking for remote workers and freelancers who efficiently do the job irrespective of their location. To work efficiently, a digital nomad only needs a decent laptop, strong WiFi, and an environment that suits a work environment. A lot of people get the wrong idea of working from a beach or a mountain area as location-independent work. Most times, it’s not that. Most digital nomads prefer working in a co-working space or a good cafe with decent WiFi than from a place with a patchy network. At the same time, they are inclined to explore new cultures and places around the world.

If you are someone who wishes to travel the world but does not want to give up on your stable source of income, consider exploring side hustles that might fetch you a good additional income, and sometimes, if it works out, you could quit your day job and travel the world. We do understand that traveling around the world as a full-time wanderer with side hustles might be challenging. You do not want to stress yourself out when it comes to income. And out there, there are so many choices that, sometimes you feel lost because you are confused about what might possibly work for you. It’s basically a lot of trial and error in the initial days. And it's always safe to start slow. You could start by trying a shorter duration of months, testing the waters, and then coming back to your comfort zone before trying it out all over again. Well, we also understand that some of you are looking for adventure, and finding something on the go is what you are looking for.

We do understand that it’s not easy to find a job from anywhere across the world. But today, there are a lot of opportunities and a lot of platforms that offer gigs and freelance projects that might just be the right fit for you. According to Mint, “Gig economy will help organizations focus on their core propositions and any other non-core propositions that are repeatable in nature can get outsourced to gig platforms—from factory jobs to selling complicated financial products," said Vidyarthi Baddireddy, founder of PickMyWorks, a platform connecting the gig workers to e-commerce firms. In 2022, the firm’s gig worker base grew from 50,000 to 500,000, and is expected to touch two million by the end of 2023.

With the growth of the gig economy, the options are plenty and more and more companies are open to the idea of freelancers. From writing to virtual assisting, the scope of freelancing is expanding every day. What is driving people into digital nomadism is a lot of things. When you do not have to physically go to an office, you have the choice of working from home or from any part of the world. A lot of people wish to spend time in a quiet countryside or a vibrant exotic cultural city and remote jobs do just that. You get to do what you love with no border restrictions.

Keep reading if you are interested in learning more about side hustles that might just be the right one for you.

1. Online Tutor

Online tutoring is a great alternative for a digital nomad who is constantly looking for side hustles. You can work on your own terms and time schedule making it a very flexible side hustle. If you have great expertise in an area or subject, you can help others develop talent by sharing your knowledge with them. Communication is also key when it comes to online tutoring. You should have the patience and ability to pass knowledge in the most interesting manner. Teaching online is not always easy as there are a lot of boundaries. But platforms like Google Classroom enhance your work and help you create assignments and projects for your students. You also need a peaceful environment and a good internet connection if you need to host classes online. If you really excel at it, you could even create your own tutoring company. You can also sign up with platforms like TutorMe.

2. Translator

Make use of your language knowledge by offering translation services to various organizations. This is a great chance for you to improve your language abilities while making money. It’s a skilled work that can be done from anywhere. You can translate audio recordings, written documents, and videos, or you can interpret in places like schools, hospitals, courtrooms, meeting spaces, and conference centers if you are fluent in any language that’s in demand in the place. Additionally, you may work for one or more translation companies that give you assignments. For example, a lot of people are looking into Canadian migration, and learning French is key. If you have great fluency with the language, you can always teach others through any platform and make money doing the same without having to be physically present in a place.

3. Graphic Designer

If you have artistic skills, you might want to choose a career in graphic design. Being a freelance graphic designer is a very creative career that will allow you to travel extensively. If you are good with designs and aesthetics, this is the platform for you. Every organization nowadays is keen on its design elements and branding ideas. They are always looking for talented designers with out-of-the-box creative ideas and designs. This could be for websites or social media platforms or even product packaging designs. If you are a gifted graphic designer and you have an outstanding portfolio, you may start earning money quickly. The best part about having this side hustle is that you can choose to work as little or as much as you want.

4. Virtual Assistant

Virtual Assistants are in great demand these days. You can work from anywhere in the world remotely in various sectors. If you are someone who is great with administrative work and is passionate about it, then this is the career for you. If you have had prior experience working on organizing schedules or appointments, completing reports, scheduling travels, keeping records and calendars updated, and organizing meetings, you can surely try applying for virtual assistant jobs.

5. Social Media Manager

Keeping up with social media activity and engagement is a crucial component of any company's marketing strategy, but it can be challenging to do so when you have so many other pressing obligations. So many of these employers are looking for creative and driven social media managers with experience who can engage with audiences across the globe. If you are good with social media, you can create engaging content and grow followers for them. Managing social media is not easy. It is challenging as you constantly have to deliver responses and address customer issues over these platforms. Also, you should have the skillset to manage different social media platforms according to the niche you are in. As a freelancer, you can establish your own timeline to post content or engage which is great in terms of flexibility. You can choose full-time work or flexible work gigs that suit you. You would need a good portfolio if a company has to hire you.

There are great side hustles out there that might be just right for you. In the next blog, we will continue listing more wonderful side hustles that you could pick from to start your digital nomad journey.

Happy backpacking!