Can I Really Become a Digital Nomad? Here’s How to Make It Happen

It's Careers Q&A Day where we give you some personal attention by answering your questions. Today's question comes from Moira: "I'm in my late 40s, I'm single, and I've always longed to travel. I have a dream of working as a digital nomad, just travelling around the world, seeing different countries as I go. But how realistic is this, and how do I even begin?"

What we cover:

The explosion of remote working and freelance culture has genuinely opened this up — and Erica answers live from Greece to prove the point. But there's real groundwork to do before you pack your bags.

Start with what you already have. If your current role is fully remote, pilot the idea first: go somewhere for a month with the intention to return, and stress-test how it actually feels before committing further.

Get clear on your income foundation before you go. If you own a home you can rent out, that may cover more of your costs than you think — especially if you pair it with volunteering platforms like Workaway or WWOOFing that exchange skills for room and board.

Know what you're selling and to whom. If you're going freelance, get a few plates spinning before you leave — freelance platforms, former colleagues, and conversations along the way can all be sources of work, but don't rely on figuring it out once you're already travelling.

Think carefully about your destinations: cost of living, political stability, ease of getting home, and whether friends can come to you. Build in recovery time if you're planning to move regularly — it's more tiring than it looks.

Keep your skills current. Online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning are your friend, and AI literacy is becoming a real professional differentiator.

Send your questions: Email or voicenote to pod@thecareerequation.com

Links:

Career Conversations Guide: https://www.thecareerequation.com/career-conversations-guide
Book an intro call: https://www.thecareerequation.com/book-intro-call
Erica on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ericasosna
Zoë on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/zoeschofieldcoach