In this episode, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Anne Claessen, a seasoned digital nomad, as we talked about her remarkable journey in remote work and travel.

Anne's evolution from a carefree backpacker to a successful digital nomad is a tale of following one's heart. Her story turned pivotal when she recognized that her aspiration to become a lawyer didn't align with her true passions.

Anne generously shares her experiences, offering invaluable advice for those aspiring to join the ranks of digital nomads. From crafting a practical yearly budget and embracing unforeseen prospects to curating a lifestyle uniquely fitting personal preferences, Anne emphasizes avoiding the comparison trap and charting a course tailored to individual ambitions.

She also shares a crucial lesson she learned about health insurance, an insight drawn from her battle with dengue fever during her early travels. Her firsthand experience underscored the significance of comprehensive medical coverage for fellow nomads navigating unpredictable health challenges.

Are you seeking inspiration to enhance your remote work undertakings? Join the conversation as this episode offers practical wisdom and encouragement.

Key Highlights:

[02:09] Why Anne decided to become a digital nomad

[06:41] Transitioning from backpacking to digital nomad lifestyle

[10:19] Creating opportunities and crafting a career as a digital nomad

[14:01] Balancing work and travel

[16:59] Strategies for effective budgeting and financial management as a digital nomad

[18:39] Balancing flexibility and work commitment as a digital nomad 

[20:21] Financial planning and budgeting for a balanced digital nomad lifestyle

[23:59] Avoiding comparison and embracing individuality in the digital nomad lifestyle

[26:23] Exploring the digital nomad lifestyle by starting with domestic travel

[28:43] Anne’s worst experience while traveling

[31:28] Anne’s best experience

Notable Quotes:

• I had to push myself a little bit, um, and say, okay, like, what are you waiting for? If you want to do this digital nomad thing, now is the time. And I didn't want to go home. I didn't want to find a job in an office in the Netherlands and just, you know, go to work every day. So I was like, this is it. It needs to happen.

• The tasks that are easy for me are not easy for other people, you know? So that's where I'm naturally good at, and, you know, lean into what's easy.
• When you budget as a digital nomad, it needs to make sense to look at it month to month. You have to look at the entire year. So look at what income you need for the entire year and where you will spend it.
• The most important thing I've learned is to keep my eyes and ears open to get tips and tricks from other nomads. That is awesome advice from someone else, but also, see what works for me.
• It's really good to know that there are many options. You can make this lifestyle your own, and you can make your online career your own. And that can be scary because there are a lot of decisions to make. But it's really good to start, see what works, and just go from there, knowing there's always a way to change things.
• We're all different; you just have to see what works for you and not everyone else.

Connect with Anne on:

Website: www.digitalnomadstories.co

Podcast: thepodcastbabes.com

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