Here are some practical things to consider if you want to be one, too.

Of course, its not always that easy in practice.

If you do, youll have to consider them in your plans.

You Definitely Need a Home Base

Digital nomad isntentirelyaccurate.

You still need a home base.

Maybe its your parents house; maybe its your own home.

Plus, you need an address to receive mail.

TheUnited States Postal Servicehas a couple of options that can help keep your mail under control while youre away.

You couldhold your mail for up to 30 days, for example.

If youre back around that time, youll get all your held mail delivered at once.

For longer stints, use theirPremium Forwarding Service to temporarily forward mailto your new address.

My mail basically piled up by the time I got back, Stephanie said.

I told my mail caretaker (my dad) to flag anything important for me.

I got lucky that I had someone to do this for me.

But this is really important: confirm everything is taken care of online.

The more stuff you could handle online, the less mail youll have to deal with and track down.

you could also opt for comprehensive-only coverage with your auto insurance carrier.

The carrier might refer to it as storage mode.

Stephanie switched her coverage to storage and it cost $50 for the year.

When youre there for a while, though, you might need to ask more complicated questions.

Korea was probably the only country where I knew zero words, Stephanie said.

Except for

thank you

and

hello

.

Everywhere else I kind of knew it or could get by.

For the most part, if you go to the big cities youll be fine.

Apps can help, too.

Stephanie recommends the free Speak & Translate app (oniOSandAndroid) andGoogle Translate is another decent option.

Theres also the matter of health insurance.

If you have Medicare or Medicaid, youdont have any coverage outside of the U.S.

Still, you want to check with your provider to confirm youre indeed covered.

And if youre not, or if you want coverage beyond emergencies, you have a few options.

It willlikely run you a few hundred bucks, and its meant for short-term travel.

Second, you could also sign up for U.S.-based international healthcare coverage, possibly through your current carrier.

She used a UK-based company calledIntegra Global, paying $500 for six months worth of coverage.

This is because health care costs in the US are totally and utterly outrageous.

Integra Global is not capitalizing on my need to be insured in the US.

They are simply covering the high cost of American health care.

you could reapply for U.S. coverage when you return.

If youll only be gone for a month, you may just opt for travel health insurance.

And its super convenient…but not for everyone.

In the meantime, Airbnbsanti-discrimination policyallows you to report any discriminatory behavior.

This shows theyre at least experienced at dealing with a large number of customers, presumably from different backgrounds.

I go for the big reviews because that way I know what to expect, Stephanie says.

They wont risk you writing a four-star review instead of a five-star review.

I do at least one-month stints so I dont have to shuffle around so much.

Otherwise, its really disruptive to my work.

Location:You want to think about the location of your lodging, too.

Are coffee shops and Wi-Fi readily available nearby, if you want to work outside of the house?

If youll be relying on public transportation, youll probably want to find a place near transit.

Restaurants can add up fast, so youll probably want a space with a kitchen, too.

Beyond the technical stuff, you want toestablish a routine and boundaries.

Youre in a new place, and its tempting to just forget about everything and go explore.

Stephanie said:

You have to be very rigorous about your schedule.

Mornings I would work until noon.

Then I would go out, have lunch, explore a little bit.

Then I would find a coffee shop and get the rest of my work done.

I gave myself one daySaturdays

where I say yes to everything

.

On

Saturdays, Id just say, F-it, Im going to do it.

Front loading your work is key, Stephanie said.

This gives you ample time to explore on your less busy days.

You want to be courteous of your coworkers, too.

Tech can help with this.

you might alsosnooze your own incoming email messagesso youprotect your quiet hoursin your own time zone.

I paid $1.100 for the month in Tokyo.

Its a prime area and I cant say for certain but market rate is probably around that or higher.

The dollar might not take you as far,depending on where you go.

This can add up.

If you join a coworking space, many of them charge a subscription or access fees.

You could save money on this area by working for free from a library, though.

There are some savings that can offset these costs, of course.

Youll save on gas if you choose to walk everywhere instead of drive, for example.

Bonus: you’re able to explore more of a citys nooks and crannies when youre on foot.

You should also think about your taxes.

A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your business.

An expense does not have to be required to be considered necessary.

Either way, youre still entitled to a home office deduction like any other remote worker.

Where they are staying at and earning income from is considered their tax home.

They can take the home office deduction.

The rules get complicated quickly, though.

Generally, if youre a U.S. resident, youll have to pay taxes on your worldwide income.

Its often possible to restart the clock simply by hopping over the border for at least 24 hours.

Stephanie admits thatthe digital nomad lifestylemight not be sustainable long-term (mainly for sanity, she says).

Still, its a great option if you want to see the world without disrupting your work life.

Illustration by: Sam Woolley