The Girlboss Guide to Becoming a Digital Nomad

The Girlboss Guide to Becoming a Digital Nomad 🗺️ 👩‍💻

Maybe it was The Lizzie McGuire Movie. Or The Cheetah Girls 2. Or Passport to Paris.

But we knew that when we grew up, we were going to book a one-way ticket to a dreamy destination across the world, and live out our dreams as an international popstar or high-fashion model (whichever came first!). Oh, and ride on the back of a hottie’s Vespa too, duh. 🛵

Now that we’re in our 20s and 30s, our version of this still-very-achievable childhood dream is becoming a digital nomad a.k.a. working remotely around the world.

A whopping 45 million people in the US describe themselves as digital nomads, according to this 2025 State of Digital Nomads report. Taking Zoom meetings in a bustling Berlin café one week, then working on a client deck on the beach in Maui sounds like a dream, right? 

But before you quit your office job, sell (almost) everything you own, and give up your apartment, here are some tips you need to know before you dive head-first into digital nomadism, from real digital nomads.

Tip #1: Choose Your Time Zone Wisely 🕝

“The first time around, when I was working with clients in all different time zones, I had to make myself available when they were available. When we head out on our next adventure, we will take into consideration a time difference of (hopefully) no more than 8 hours. This way, I can conduct online meetings during times that work for North America's time zones.” — Rhowena Adolfo Patel, a former CEO and founder

Tip #2: Learn the Language 🗣️

“Two things that drove me to tears: giving directions to a taxi driver in another language and ending up on two different sides of town before I found my apartment. And needing to do my laundry and having to find a laundromat and attempt to use Google Translate to ask the worker to ‘please, please, please separate my white shirts or wash on cold,’ only to come back and find all my white shirts were now pink.” — Ellie Malone, PR consultant

🚨 Don’t make the same mistake! Babbel offers bite-sized lessons (just 10 minutes a day!) to help you speak the language before you even pack your bags. Designed by 200+ language experts, Babbel teaches you practical, real-world skills that make travel easier, more fun, and way more immersive. Oh, and it just got cheaper.

• Skip the tourist traps—speak like a local.

• Order with confidence (and finally pronounce "gnocchi" right).

• Have real conversations and make your trip unforgettable.

Right now, you can save 65% off a lifetime subscription (the best sale of the year!)—but only for a limited time! It ends on June 1st.

Tip #3: Apply for a Remote Work Visa 📃

Tip #4: Figure Out What to Do With Your Stuff 📦

“We let our lease run out in NYC and put our whole apartment in storage. Our clothing is split between our two parents’ houses, and the rest is carried in suitcases with us. For the office, we closed it and donated a lot of our office furniture. My husband also closed his office. We had to partner with a fulfillment house to ship our orders, and we keep the essential archive items in Florida, where our business is based. It was a lot of work to set it up the way we have, but it bought our freedom!” — Shilpa Iyengar, shoe designer and co-founder of Alterre

Tip #5: Prepare For Unexpected Costs 💰

Phone + WiFi

“Outside of the US, phone plans will cost around $20 a month, plus a few top-ups if your WiFi is not working and you need to tether to your phone. This was particularly challenging in Mexico, though luckily top ups were pretty reasonable ($20 for 5GB). In the US, I rely on WIFI lots. Luckily, it’s everywhere, so it’s easy to make it work.” — Francesca Morfini, brand marketing consultant

Last-Minute Cancellations

“Anytime there are travel hiccups like a storm or wildfire causing our plans to change, it’s expensive to re-book things at the last minute. Otherwise, I would say the biggest unexpected cost is the cost of carrying large suitcases with you everywhere. It requires renting bigger cars, using larger Uber/Lyfts and the added cost of check-in bags on flights.” — Shilpa Iyengar, shoe designer and co-founder of Alterre

Health and Travel Insurance

“I did not bother buying a global plan, and when I found myself sick with pneumonia in Tenerife, I had to pay out of pocket for a visit to the ER. Instead of getting help for free, I shelled out $500.” — Dayana Aleksandrova, mindset coach and copywriter

🧳 Don’t forget to pack your most important travel essential: Babbel. Babbel’s quick, expert-designed lessons help you speak the language before wheels up, so you can skip the touristy spots, chat with locals, and enjoy your trip. Just 10 minutes a day is all it takes.

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