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The relationship between the internet and the COVID 19 pandemic is quite interesting indeed. Online services have grown in leaps and bounds as the virus keeps us away from the streets and shopping malls.
And as workers are forced to stay at home, remote work is fast becoming the norm across offices. Without the internet, this would simply have been impossible. Work from home may have become the norm in 2020, but it was already gaining popularity in the years before the pandemic.
The Gig Economy and Digital Nomads
As internet connectivity increased across the world, businesses realized something extremely valuable – harnessing online freelancers to do non-core tasks would result in a lot of cost savings. This was the beginning of the “gig economy.”
It allowed businesses to focus on their core tasks in the office while outsourcing secondary projects and tasks to remote workers. As this created a flood of online gigs, a new breed of workers emerged – the so-called “digital nomads.”
Instead of sticking with a single regular office job, these digital nomads do short term contract work online. It gives them a flexible lifestyle, independence from the daily grind, and even the ability to work from literally anywhere in the world.
The COVID Impact
Even before the pandemic, the digital nomad movement had steadily increased in popularity. Given its appeal to both businesses and the freelance workers, it was never a fad just waiting to die away. But the virus has still dramatically altered the evolution of this form of employment.
For one, companies have been forced to allow more and more employees to work from home on a long-term basis. Some tech firms are even considering making it a permanent arrangement. Another key difference is in the type of work being handled by digital nomads. Living as a digital nomad in Spain is one such example, where you can conduct your business from anywhere with an internet connection.
With the economy in recession, layoffs and other cost-cutting measures are rampant. This has increased the number of people looking for remote work due to lost jobs. Many people are also completely pivoting and are opening up home-based businesses around a skill-set that was previously just a hobby. Firms are also hiring from the newly swelled ranks of digital nomads to get more done at less cost.
Digital Nomadism and Cocooning
Cocooning is at an all-time high – before the pandemic, it was more of a personal choice, where you prefer to stay at home instead of going out. But now, it is no longer about choice, but compulsion. Curfews and lockdowns mean that you have no way to go out.
Travel has also become impossible in many parts of the world. This has significantly affected the “nomad” aspect of the digital nomad lifestyle. Keeping oneself busy with interesting gigs is not just about earning an income, but also to stay sane and occupied.
Thankfully, opting for a digital nomad life can bring some welcome relief in these trying times. There are many different remote work gigs and career opportunities out there in 2020. Some of them can be quite fun to do as well.
Interesting Remote Work OptionsTo get started with a digital nomad lifestyle, one must first figure out their best skills, aptitudes, and interests. There are many different types of remote work projects that require drastically different skill sets. Here are some examples:
If you have a way with words, content writing is a great way to get into the modern gig economy. The web is filled with billions of pages and more are added each day. There is a demand for quality articles, blogs, marketing materials, reviews, and more. And as more people rely on the internet for everything from groceries to entertainment, this demand will only grow.
Apart from its thirst for the written word, the internet has an even greater hunger for visual media. Photos and videos are essential to hold the attention of readers – nobody wants to stare at a boring wall of text! If you have camera or editing skills, you can find plenty of projects online.
Gone are the days of massive call-centres that handle clients all over the world. During the pandemic, many customer support executives are working as digital nomads, from the safety of their homes using the internet. If you have the aptitude and people skills, this is one sector that will always have a demand for new talent.
Video game streaming is big business, with top streamers earning millions of dollars in sponsorships and endorsements. Pro gaming and Esports tournaments have also seen a steady increase in prize money. Casino slots, poker, and other gambling games are an option worth trying if you want to earn some money on the side. But this is only for experienced players who know all the ins and outs – otherwise, the chances of winning are virtually zero.
With more tech companies opting for remote work, this is a hotspot for digital nomads in 2020 and beyond. If you have the tech skills or programming knowledge, you can easily have a career without ever stepping foot into an office!
This gig is very versatile indeed – office virtual assistants may be asked to anything from accounting to word processing, sales, scheduling, administrative support, and even customer service. As even senior executives work from home these days, the demand for competent remote and virtual assistants has only grown during the pandemic.
With schools shut and the academic year thrown off-balance by COVID, the education sector is in turmoil all over the world. There is a massive demand for online teachers and educators right now. If you have the necessary academic credentials, you could teach school kids and earn a handsome income through the web and mobile platforms.
