If you’re looking for an easy way to make money online, you’ve probably considered trying your hand at making some cash on the side, hacking away at tasks for various companies, or buying and selling items on social media marketsplaces. While there’s definitely money to be made from some of those options, you’re probably best off avoiding them if your main goal is to make a quick buck.
Instead, if you’d like to make money online without being a hustler — someone who seeks out opportunities to make easy money solely through unscrupulous methods — you’ve probably considered trying an online gig. You can easily make some side cash hustling on TikTok or Instagram, for example, but you can also create full-time income streams online without ever leaving your home.
Here’s how.
The Digital Nomad
If you’ve ever seen the movie The Matrix, you may remember that the main character, Neo, is driven by a force called the Matrix. The Matrix, in turn, is the source of all economic growth in the Digital Nomadism movement, the spiritual successor to the Hippie Communes Of The 1960s. Like the counterculture movement that inspired it, Digital Nomadism is all about rebelling against the status quo and embracing alternative ways of living.
The underlying principle of Digital Nomadism is that information superhighway, the internet, allows for the free flow of data and ideas. As a result, individuals are free to work remotely and can operate with less friction from a business standpoint. In other words, the work week is shorter and more efficient, allowing for more free time.
The term Digital Nomad was coined in 2015 by Tim Ferriss, who described the position as follows:
- “The idea of a digital nomad is to combine the freedom of movement of a nomad with the flexibility of a digital lifestyle, working remotely from anywhere in the world and being able to switch gears entirely both mentally and physically in a matter of hours.” — Tim Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek
- “Live your passions, find your purpose, and make a living doing what you love. That’s the magic of the creative life.” — Tim Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek
- “A digital nomad is someone who works remotely, primarily from a laptop, while traveling the world on a shoestring budget.” — Wikipedia
- “A digital nomad is someone who works remotely, primarily from a laptop, while traveling the world on a shoestring budget.” — Urban Dictionary
Since its inception, the Digital Nomad lifestyle and community have gathered around the 4-Hour Workweek book and blog. The primary mode of income for the tribe is freelancing, with dozens of remote workers collaborating on projects for various brands and businesses across the globe. Although the 4-Hour Workweek is most associated with the Digital Nomad lifestyle, it’s certainly not restricted to just one concept or economic model. In fact, the blog regularly breaks down economic models, such as the sharing economy, and offers suggestions on how to succeed in those models.
What really sets the 4-Hour Workweek apart from most other blogs is that it offers solid, actionable advice on how to achieve the Digital Nomad lifestyle.
The blog posts are consistently useful and offer practical advice on how to make the most of your time off, how to work remotely, and how to get the most out of yourself and your laptop/desktop.
To give you a taste of the valuable information contained within, here are some top tips from the 4Hour Workweek blog:
Set Up Regular Meals
One of the first things you may want to consider is creating regular meals, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You may want to look into creating a meal plan, sticking to it, and celebrating the occasional triumph over the week’s dailies. This will help you stay motivated and ensure that you don’t fall into the rabbit hole of internet addiction, spending all your time binge-watching your favorite shows or playing video games.
Another option is to get a meal delivery service, such as Blue Apron. You can get all the ingredients pre-packaged and simply have your groceries delivered to your door. You may decide to try this if you’re pressed for time or if you want to eat healthy food.
Reduce Your Housing Expenses
One of the biggest expenses that the average Digital Nomad incurs is housing. Traveling the world on a shoestring budget doesn’t mean that you have to live in a camper or tent. Instead, you can get a small apartment or house partially funded by the 4-Hour Workweek blog. Or, if you’re trying to save more, you can get a roommate to save money on bills and share food costs.
If you’re determined to keep your lifestyle up n down the roads less traveled, consider looking into digital nomadism, the 4-hour workweek blog, or the Digital Nomad community as a whole.