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- New Year's Eve!! | Issue #0019
New Year's Eve!! | Issue #0019
In partnership with
Is the end of the year the start of something for you?
Full (with some new additions planned!) service delivering news and insights for digital nomads will resume in the new year. For now, we’ve some food for thought for what 2025 could be the start of.
We’ve also thrown in some less challenging links and reads in case you've got a sore head by the time you read this!
This week:
💻 E-visas to be the standard for the most popular nomad country
🛂 2025’s first new digital nomad visa
🙆 Look after your back with the best value must-have for nomads
❓ A short new year quiz with some superstitions you might want to use!
🙏 Being grateful isn’t just about what’s happened, but also what will…
Happy New Year!!
SEEING IN 2025
Learn something new this year
If you are a digital nomad then the likelihood is you are someone with a growth mindset - always seeking or embracing some new knowledge, or a different approach.
Well, while having such a mindset might mean you don’t use the new year as a time to start new things - any time is a good time - here are some ideas for what you could add to your armoury in the coming weeks and months:
Creativity
45 Minutes that will turn your insta posts on their head.
Doctors say hobbies are a great way to improve mental health. Try something new this year that might just change your mindset in 2025.
Productivity
Ali Abdaal’s Spark is this weekend if you still need help planning 2025.
Go back to basics - and we mean basics - with a non-tech productivity process.
Skills & Business
With more and more emphasis on working online, the skill of communicating effectively is on the wane. Don’t let it hold you back.
Learn copywriting, why every business needs it and even make it into a side hustle or business - even with AI in town!
A.I. (this could be an endless list!)
A quick course on implementing AI into your enterprise.
An even quicker read on how to use AI in your marketing stack.
Get Active
Mobility needs to be the focus of any digital nomad that moves from place to place regularly. Get a simple, daily habit started with these guys.
Wirecutter are a reliable source when it comes to tech, and if you haven’t jumped on the fitness tracker train yet then better now than never.
We’d love to know what you’re doing in 2025 that is different from 2024. Drop us an email with the thing or resource you are going to adopt this year to [email protected] - even if it is just in the subject line or a one-liner!
WHAT ELSE…
🛰️ Is battle commencing? Starlink is still the talk of remotely-located nomads, but it’s soon to lose it’s total monopoly on global mobile wifi, at least for Europeans. IRIS is now EU-backed and the plan is to have 290 satellites up there by 2030.
🔖 Thailand has gone online For many who hit up Thailand regularly this’ll be old news, but Thailand is rolling out e-visas to all of their 94 embassies and consulates globally from tomorrow. No more queuing up or printing out dozens of pages 🎉
🇹🇼 The first digital nomad visa of 2025 Just last week, Taiwan announced theirs will kick off in January.
✈️ In a hurry to get out of Dodge? Talking of visas, here are five of the faster digital nomad visas to get approved for if you need a quick dash out of your current situation.
🥰 Heart-warming stories from 2024 If you are into looking over the previous year, here’s a look back from the BBC on some of the year’s lighter moments.
🔮 What did they think 2024 would look like? A not too inaccurate, albeit dated, view from 1987.
SPREAD THE WORD
Have you been forwarded The Digital Nomad by a friend? If so, make sure you don’t miss out on future issues by signing up to get it every Tuesday.
Or, do you have friends who are digital nomads, or are planning to be? If you think they could use a quick weekly fix of what’s happening in their world, then share this link.
Alternatively, simply share it on your socials - links are at the top of this newsletter.
NOMAD HEALTH
This is no secret, but so few nomads are doing it
The Nexstand out in the wild
You might wonder why we’ve put this under digital nomad health, but you’d be amazed at how many of you have shoulder and back issues. In fact, you probably won’t be surprised at all as it is likely you are one of them.
It’s an oldie but goldie, but the Nexstand WILL help solve those problems. Or any stand that gets your screen back to eye level and prevent your slouch - even if it’s a stack of books.
No one is carrying around a stack of books though. You can carry one of these around in your bag without denting the weight issue.
POLL
What does (or did!) your New Years Eve look like? |
Marketing strategies from industry leaders like the NBA, Liquid Death & Oatly.
Behind-the-scenes stories of campaigns that crushed it.
Actionable tips to boost your results today.
BRAIN FOOD
In The Digital Nomad inbox this week
Book - You’ll have heard of Jonathan Franzen no doubt from The Corrections fame, but How To Be Alone is a collection of essays, some of which might strike a chord.
App - One thing is for sure, good habits will help make 2025 a more effective year. Here’s a list of the top habit-tracking apps (we love Streaks btw!).
Podcast - Considering the digital nomad visa Italy launched this year? Here’s an inside look into how it works and if it might be for you.
Art - Some fun, some arty, some mind-bending…a thread of images that were timed to perfection.
Drop us an email at [email protected] if you have any recommendations we should share!
CONNECT TO CHIANG MAI
Fill your social calendar in Chiang Mai
Steve’s Email: A weekly resource and email for events around the city.
Digital Nomad WhatsApp: A long-standing group that spawned a range of sub-groups for almost any niche and interest in the city.
For up-to-date events in the city, join the Activities/Events WhatsApp group.
ChiangMai Fit WhatsApp: If you want to do something active (trust us, being fit isn’t a prerequisite!) then find wholesome activities throughout the week here.
Yellow Coworking Telegram. For more about what is happening at Yellow and to be part of their conversation, join in here.
…and remember to sign up for the gratitude and planning workshop digital nomad Maria Hansen told us about last week!
COWORKING IN CHIANG MAI
If you are in the city, or heading over soon, then check out the current packages - from day passes to monthly or annual memberships - here.
Or, just get in touch with Mickey or the team at Yellow Coworking at [email protected].
MAKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD LIFE EASIER
Resources for digital nomads everywhere
What we’ve accumulated from previous issues - from fellow nomads, interviews with thought leaders, great deals from partners, and some local heroes in Chiang Mai too:
SafetyWing, who also offers digital nomad insurance, also started running community events in various locations around the world. A few participants in a Chiang Mai one even won a meal out at a top restaurant in the city!
Genki also does worldwide digital nomad insurance.
Remote Rebellion. Start or re-ignite your remote working journey with Michelle - a career coach specialising in remote roles and nailing them down.
Connect with other digital nomads and build your network with Digital Nomad Adventures.
Contact Liselle for a LinkedIn or resume revamp.
If decision-making is not your forte, get in touch with Hannah Wang - a decision-making coach for entrepreneurs, business owners and big corporates.
Stay safe online (and get TV from any country!) using NordVPN. They’ve got a festive deal on with up to 74% off and 3 free months.
Simo - we featured these guys and their hotspots last week, but it turns out they’ve got an even BETTER deal on now. 35% off hotspots up until 23rd.
Airalo - a marketplace for eSIM data packs for more than 200 countries. Get 15% off if you are new and use this link and the code NEWTOAIRALO15, or 10% off if you are an existing user using AIRALOESIM10.
If you’re in Chiang Mai, these are some of the nomad favorites:
Healthy Junk is the go-to for healthy food when you are in Chiang Mai. Dine in, out, or get it delivered.
Grab a locally sourced coffee a few steps from Yellow at Toffee Roasters. Go say hi to Tem, the owner, who is also opening up a sandwich joint next door in the coming weeks.
Get your meal prep from Chef Fuji. Healthy, macro-focused food, delivered across Chiang Mai.
QUIZ
A New Year themed trivia to see out the year
Famous for hogmanay (though cancelled this year!), in Scotland who do you traditionally kiss at midnight on New Year’s Day?
What is the name of the calendar first used by Western countries in 1582 that starts on 1st January?
The Dutch believe that eating which food will give them good luck going into the new year?
Which country’s New Year celebrations (hint - it’s in April!) famously involve throwing a LOT of water at people?
On what date does the informally known Quitter’s Day fall?
At 11:59pm on New Year’s Eve what do the Spanish traditionally eat twelve of for good luck?
Answers below.
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COMMUNITY
Get seen by digital nomads everywhere
We would love to hear from you if you have some valuable knowledge, products or services, information, or just a fun or crazy digital nomad story.
This is an opportunity to get some extra eyes on your thing, or if you just like to write or provide information to other nomads.
Drop us an email at [email protected] if you:
have a product or service that could help other digital nomads
operate a travel blog, channel or platform that we can spotlight
took a photo we could feature along with your portfolio or IG
…just have a great digital nomad story!
WHAT DID YOU MISS?
ANSWERS
Everyone in the room!
The Gregorian calendar
Donuts
Thailand
2nd January - the day most resolutions are broken!
Grapes