Remote Work While Traveling Abroad: Candid Advice From People Who’ve Done It
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Remote Work While Traveling Abroad: Candid Advice From People Who’ve Done It

Tips, resources, and a Todoist checklist for being successful as a “digital nomad”

Summer Teoh's husband working in a restaurant in Peru

App callout note: Travel and digital nomadism is only one...

Travel and digital nomadism is only one side of remote work! Read our online handbook, The Future of Work: The Guide to Remote Work, to learn about the other advantages of distributed work – from eliminating office distractions to unlocking worldwide talent.
Ben Breckler and his girlfriend's surfboards, while driving the Wild Atlantic Way at Whitestrand Beach in County Mayo, Ireland

Seth Puckett and Jessica Bell in the Bolivian Andes

App callout note: You can download our Todoist Remote Work...

You can download our Todoist Remote Work template to follow all of the steps outlined below.
Use this Todoist template to go from dreaming about a life as a digital nomad to actually making it happen — or simply to decide whether the lifestyle is right for you.

Before you leave

Find and get settled in a remote job

App callout note: Read more about how to negotiate a...

Read more about how to negotiate a remote job with your company, or apply for a remote job from the growing number of options. The fully remote team here at Doist is currently hiring.

Get your ducks in a row with visas, passports, and insurance

Chase Warrington, his wife Allison, and their dog Koda in Valencia, Spain, where they are living on long-stay visas

Many countries, including Mexico, have special visas for people with certain qualifications or who are part of certain populations. (Photo in Cuzamá, Mexico, by Lisa Munro)

Budget and find financially advantageous credit and debit cards

Get financially prepared for digital nomadry using the Todoist template

Find housing

San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, taken by Lisa Munro

Pack smart

Research the basics about where you will be living

Research the basics of where you will be living, like transportation, local currency, and emergency numbers (Photo of Yangon, Burma, by Shannon O'Donnell)

First days and weeks abroad

Give yourself time to setup your work environment—and be prepared to make adjustments

Ben Breckler's laptop in Dojo Coliving Space, in Canggu, Bali

It's practically guaranteed you'll have wifi connectivity problems at some point while traveling. Avoid scrambling by giving yourself a day in a new place before you need to start work.

Set a work routine

Caroline Pinal (middle) of Give Back Homes with colleagues, working at a site.

Get ready for time zone adjustments

Shannon O'Donnell on safari in Tanzania

The application Time and Date Meeting Planner allows users to schedule meetings for each attendee’s time zone.

The Time Zone convert app is as simple as it sounds.

While abroad

Get used to vacationing differently

in Yucatan, Mexico, photo by Lisa Munro

Ben Breckler's surf gear drying in Ericeira, Portugal

Chase Warrington and his wife Allison at a cooking class in Italy.

Find and build a community

Shannon O'Donnell teaches English to young monks at a monastery in Pharping, Nepal.

Ben Breckler surfing near Westport, Ireland

Elaine Meyer

Elaine is a writer, editor, and content strategist who is interested in tech, health, and the future of work.

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