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It’s a trend that was growing before the pandemic, now, the idea of becoming a digital nomad is more popular, and doable, as ever. What is a digital nomad? Digital nomads are people who are constantly on the move, working via the internet. By comparison, “remote workers” work from home or a nearby coworking space. According to Global Workplace Analytics, 56 percent of workers have jobs that they can do remotely. Companies like Twitter, Paypal and Uber have decided to adopt remote work practices permanently—so it makes sense that digital nomads are on the rise. Nearly 11 million American workers currently describe themselves as digital nomads, an increase of 49% from 2019, according to independent talent provider MBO Partners’ 2020 State of Independence research study. In 2020, the number of traditional workers working as digital nomads grew 96%, from 3.2 million to 6.3 million, according to the study. Folks are realizing that there may be no better way to experience the digital nomad lifestyle than in an RV. According to a recent RV Industry Association survey of travelers, 56 million planned to take an RV trip this summer. The top reason for traveling was an increased interest in exploring the outdoors; the second was expanded work/school flexibility.
The benefits of being a digital nomad
So, what’s all the buzz about? It’s much more than just being able to check off your bucket list while working from a laptop. The allure of the digital nomad lifestyle includes financial, personal development and relationship benefits for some:
- The option to work in a low cost-of-living area
- Flexibility to work where you want
- Leaving sterile office settings and politics behind
- Experiencing new cultures
- Making new friends
- Learning new skills
- Broadening your horizons
- Setting your own schedule
- Taking time off when you want to
- Spending winters on the beach, and summers by the lake
Top 7 RV features for digital nomads
RVs make working from anywhere just about as comfortable as it can be. If digital nomading is appealing to you, owning an RV is worth serious consideration. They make getting to and from dream destinations, on a whim or a tight schedule easier than ever. Traveling workers can have all their personal items, the comforts that make them feel at home anywhere and sleep in their own bed each night. Here are a few features our RVs have that make digital nomading a seamless transition:
- Solar prep for extra energy off the grid
- USB charging ports for juicing up electronics
- Wifi enabled RVs
- Toy hauler garages can serve as an office
- King-size beds, because digital nomads need to rest and destress too
- Smart RV systems for managing a comfortable workspace via your mobile device
- Floorplans with built-in dens or workspaces
Top U.S. destinations for digital nomads
While one of the beauties of the digital nomad lifestyle—and RVs—is the flexibility to move from place to place, some places have more of what traveling workers look for, and it’s not just low rent (not a major issue for RVing digital nomads anyhow) or available jobs. Zillow and Yelp recently explored this idea and named their top ten U.S. metropolitan areas for digital nomads, including:
- Jacksonville, FL
- Austin, TX
- Boise, ID
- Nashville, TN
- Charleston, SC
- San Jose, CA
- Fort Collins, CO
- Asheville, NC
- Las Vegas, NV
- Salt Lake City, UT
“These destinations boast a mix of outdoor adventure and city perks that are appealing to the many young professionals who have transitioned to the nomadic lifestyle due to their new-found ability to work from anywhere,” says Yelp Trend Expert Tara Lewis. “They’re great for digital nomads, and offer a variety of highly rated local businesses and activities these folks are looking for, like shared office spaces, furniture rental, hiking, RV repairs, paddle boarding and more.” Of course, there are tradeoffs. You’ll want to do your own research to understand if the lifestyle works for you and your career. If visions of working in a hammock or on the shores of Jacksonville aren’t enough to get you inspired, experienced digital nomads have been helped by Tim Ferriss' The 4-Hour Workweek, David Allen's Getting Things Done methodology and Remote: Office not Required by Jason Fried. Is the digital nomad lifestyle is calling your name? If so, take a look at our lineup of RVs with the warranty for full time RVing.*
*Extended Or Full Time Usage: Your new recreation vehicle has been built for enjoyment in a recreational manner. It is not intended for use as full-time quarters or a permanent residence. Continuous living in your vehicle could cause accelerated wear and damage to the various components. Continuous or permanent living in your recreation vehicle may affect your warranty coverage and may void the “Limited Warranty” applicable to your vehicle.
