{"id":44785,"date":"2020-03-20T12:12:16","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T11:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estherjacobs.info\/?p=44785"},"modified":"2022-08-18T20:43:10","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T18:43:10","slug":"corona-virus-nomad-inspiration-shot-march-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estherjacobs.info\/en\/blog\/corona-virus-nomad-inspiration-shot-march-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Corona virus help you to become a digital nomad? Inspiration\u00a0shot March 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can Corona virus help you to become a digital nomad?<\/h1>\n

Inspiration shot March 2020<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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I had planned to spend a month on\u00a0Cura\u00e7ao but now\u00a0I am ‘stranded’ here and my stay might be extended for quite a while longer … The first few weeks on the island I felt more like a ‘world citizen’ than ever. The day I arrived, I was surprised to see my workshop announced in the local newspaper. I feel really at home here, everywhere I am recognized and I can help people with their book or business.
\nWhile I’m here, I’m learning Italian through DuoLingo and making sketches for the piece of land I bought in Puglia, Italy, arranging a new caretaker and cleaner for my dad in Miami and booking my tickets for the writing week and a conference in Thailand later this year. Strangely enough, one of the side effects of the Coronavirus is that we all become a little more location independent: after all, working from home or remotely is now\u00a0recommended (sometimes even mandatory) instead of being viewed suspiciously by most companies. And if you do not work at the office, why would you stay in your wintery home country,\u00a0while the virus is less active in warm countries? Do you take this opportunity? (travel will\u00a0only be possible when the travel ban is lifted, but this is the time to prepare for a location independent life).<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A month in a special place<\/h2>\n<\/div>

A few months ago I decided I wanted to stay on my favorite Caribbean island for the entire month of March, organized a writing week and arranged some workshops. Of course, it helps that I am known here and that CoWorld<\/a> is open to hosting beautiful ‘win-win-win’ events, but how could you do this if you want to go somewhere and don’t know anyone yet? Via meetup.com<\/a> you can see which (large, active) groups there are in your field or area of interest. Contact an active organizer and offer to do something during their meeting. A lecture, workshop or training; just what you are good at. Do this at the beginning of your stay. This gives you immediate access to a nice network of like-minded people. Co-working spaces often also offer space to visitors; these are also great places to make contacts and meet people. Furthermore, it is a matter of just doing it. If you are open to it, opportunities will present themselves as you go.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Make your breaks more fun<\/h2>\n<\/div>

We all know that you shouldn’t be sitting at the computer for too long and that you shouldn’t be out on the beach in the sun for too long. That’s why I do it this way: in the morning when it is still cool, I walk around the beautiful area where I am staying and enjoy the view of the sea, the sound of the tropical birds and the warm wind. Then I go into the air conditioning behind my laptop: in principle that could be anywhere. I often have lunch with a girlfriend: you have to eat anyway and then it is immediately social and fun. Every day, without exception, I swim laps in the ocean for half an hour. Swimming for me is relaxation, meditation, a workout and sight-seeing all in one. I let myself dry up in the sun (just enough to get vitamin D and a sun kissed skin, but I never burn) and then get back to work in the air conditioning. In the evening I like to cook and then I hang out with friends in the warm air. It gives me the idea that I enjoy Cura\u00e7ao, while also maintaining my health and work. So it’s not a vacation: this is just my life! What does your ideal day look like? How can you best combine work and ‘breaks’? Walk? Sports? Cook? Socializing?<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Work hard, play harder<\/h2>\n<\/div>

Do you also want to become a digital nomad? On the 8th of April,\u00a0I will host\u00a0another Digital Nomad workshop<\/a> in Amsterdam (if we can’t get together in person yet, it will be virtual). I wrote two books about becoming and being location independent: Digital Nomads<\/a> and the Dutch Handboek voor Wereldburgers<\/a>. These days I am recognized as the ‘first’ \u00a0(they may discreetly\u00a0mean the ‘oldest’???) digital nomad when I am frequently\u00a0interviewed. Suzanne van Duijn is in a similar situation with her book, ‘Work hard travel harder’. It also contains many interesting\u00a0interviews and tips.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A company in Estonia? Free consultation!<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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I would like to share the webinar I gave for a private group on how to start a business in Estonia. It turned into one of the\u00a0most detailed conversations about e-Residency ever. Check out this value bomb for the\u00a0 answers to the following questions:<\/div>\n