Without a doubt, minimalism is integral to a location-independent lifestyle. But in order to motivate yourself to work while you explore the world, you will need unwavering focus and zen-like discipline. Fortunately, there are plenty tools and apps that will help you to virtually prepare for life as a Digital Nomad. Read on to find out more.

Tools for living successfully as a digital nomad

ExpressVPN: A VPN is a useful app for expats. With a VPN, you can protect your privacy, secure your data, and can circumvent geo-blocking. Even if you don’t intend to use public wifi to access the internet, without a VPN, the government, marketers, and hackers all have access to your information.

But with a VPN, your data transfer occurs inside an encrypted tunnel. So, even if the connection is compromised, your information will be protected. The fact that with a VPN you get to choose your IP address and hence can access content and platforms not available in certain countries is another plus. ExpressVPN is one of the easiest to use with a consistantly reliable connection.

NOMAD LIST: So much more than just a travel website, Nomad List is a tool that helps to compare cities across the world in terms of safety, cost of living, travel attractions, and remote working prospects.

The fact that it is an active community of 17,000+ location-independent travelers only adds to its allure because you can use the community’s Slack group to post about your experiences and to touch base with fellow digital nomads.

ROME2RIO: In your quest to live sans borders, you are bound to use other means of transportation besides airplanes. This tool has you covered for them all. It will not only tell you about your airfare but will also provide information on alternative modes of transportation, where available, and allow you to track your location in real-time.

HEALTH INSURANCE: While there are several coverage options available, World Nomads is preferred by most long-term travelers because they protect you from medical emergencies as well as digital gear theft and loss.

TOGGL: Time can be hard to keep track of as you lead the life of a digital nomad. But, Toggle can remedy that. This is a user-friendly tool that helps you to keep on top of the time that your team and you spend on each task, client, and project. Plus, you can set budgets and deadlines and analyze the entire process to ensure that everything is on track.

POMODORO: No matter how much you love your work, it will seem boring when compared to the prospect of exploring new cities, cultures, cuisines, and more. So, productivity is bound to a back seat when you are on the move but not if you have Pomodoro to help.

With the nifty tomato timer, you can keep your attention focused on your work for 15 minutes, then take a quick break of 3-5 minutes. After 4 pomodoros, you earn yourself a longer break of 15-20 minutes. It is an easy enough way to keep yourself energized and focused when there is so much around to distract you.

WORKFROM: As a long-term traveler, you will have to work while you explore but working from a hostel or hotel room or even from home can be distracting and boring. This app tells you where to find the best work spots in your corner of the world. From cafés to shared workspaces, Workform has details on all of them. The best part is that this information comes courtesy of the digital nomad community.

XE CURRENCY: Travelling across borders entails handling a lot of different currencies and keeping track of all those exchange rates can be mind-boggling. But, that’s what XE currency is for! It’s a simple tool that shows you the rates for multiple currencies and above all, it is free to use.

ITRANSLATE: As you move in between continents, you will frequently find yourself in cities and towns where English makes little sense to those around you, and that’s when this app will come to your rescue.

Sure, there are many translation tools out there, but iTranslate will actually read out the translation for you. So you don’t have to worry about blurting out something indecent or insulting by way of mispronunciation. The app has a repertoire of 90 languages, which should get you by in most countries.

NOMAD REST: Another must-have tool, this app curates, as you may have guessed, the resting spots for weary travelers. Apartments, hostels, shared accommodations, rooms, and even Airbnbs, Nomad Rest can be used to find the best and the cheapest in each category. If you book your accommodation through the platform, you can even get a discount, depending on the option you pick.

As you can see, there are several tools designed to meet the requirements of a location-independent lifestyle. But, when choosing a useful app for expats pick those that suit your specific traveling, living and working needs. Don’t worry, there are tools out there for just about every issue that you could face as a digital nomad, be it in terms of work life, travels, or even your personal life. So, happy travels!