How can you be a teacher and a digital nomad? Read on to learn how and hopefully get that last bit of inspiration you need to start traveling long-term while continuing to be a full-time teacher.
Calling to all my fellow teachers. Where are you superheroes at? First of all, thank you for being not only the best teacher that each and every one of your students needs, but thank you for being so much more. We teachers not only teach, but we model, support, inspire, and care.
The amount of patience we exert every day should be illegal. The amount of work, love, and passion we put into this career is under-appreciated. But we are still here. We still show up to work every day with the same amount of passion, love, and energy for our students because they deserve it. As much as we put our students first, there is no harm in putting YOU first because guess what, you deserve it too.
So how can you be a teacher and a digital nomad? How can you have the best of both worlds, a career you love and the freedom to travel long term? Here are my tips;
Superheroes Can Fly
It is Okay to Skip Summer School
– If it means you will be a better teacher for your students.
I am a special education teacher, and I have been teaching for seven years, now currently in my eighth year. I have worked during my holiday breaks writing IEPs, making lesson plans, and just never letting my brain stop. I would spend hours scrolling through Pinterest to find new ideas to help my students. And without hesitation, I have taught summer school every year.
The truth is, as teachers, we do not want to disappoint our students, our parents, or our team members. We feel this obligation, and guilt if we aren’t putting that extra work in during our time at home, or during our holiday break. We feel if we don’t teach summer school we will be abandoning everything and everyone. Resting, relaxing, and doing nothing feels like we are doing something wrong.
But guess what, you aren’t. There is nothing wrong with doing nothing. There is nothing wrong with giving yourself that time you need to relax and destress. I wasn’t doing it, and I needed to. So that is just what I did. I told my school I would not be teaching summer school. I booked a one-way flight to Europe for two months, and off I went.
My biggest tip for preparing to not teach summer school is to plan ahead and be as helpful as possible before your departure. It is a good idea to plan at least 6 months ahead. That way no one can say they did not see this coming. Also, make sure you can prep whatever you can to make things go more smoothly while you are gone. This will also help you enjoy your trip worry-free.
Flying
So where did this superhero fly to?
After taking off in Chicago, Illinois I landed in Albania where I met The Notmad Nomads. I spent the first three days in Sarande. Check out the 10 best things to do in Sarande, Albania. From Albania, we flew to Athens, Greece. If you are planning on staying in Athens check out the best neighborhoods for digital nomads in Athens.
Like most travelers, a quick 1-3 day trip to Athens is done before, or after, a stay on the beautiful Greek islands. If you plan to make your stay in Athens quick then check out this 2 days in Athens itinerary. We spent two and half weeks in Athens and finished our Greek mythology journey on the islands.
We spent a couple of weeks on the beautiful island Naxos. If you explore this island, check out the highest peak on Naxos by hiking Mount Zas. From Naxos, we traveled on ferries to the islands Kufonisi, Santorini, and Mykonos. Check out @thenotmadnomads IG for more traveling details and content on these beautiful islands.
From Greece, we flew to Turkey. We stayed for about three weeks in Istanbul. For one weekend we explored the magical land of Cappadocia and flew in hot air balloons.
You Can Still Earn Money
So I am sure at this point a million and one excuses are flooding your mind. Drain it, now. We can make this work. Is there still one big reason that is not leaving your mind? Is it money? Alright, let’s talk about it.
I understand that many educators use the summertime to pocket those additional earnings. Whether it is from summer school teaching, or from that job you picked up at the restaurant down the street, I understand that there can be several people relying on this additional income. You can still travel AND earn that additional income.
One option is wherever you are taking your trip, do some research and look up the local coffee shops, restaurants, or businesses in the area. This could be a great way for you to get involved with the community while working and earning some extra cash.
Another option is to do online teaching. One incredible organization is ZipKid. Zip Kid allows you to teach English online earning $14-$22 an hour. You can teach when you want, and set your own schedule. There is ZERO lesson planning. You just need to show up, be enthusiastic, and teach. The use of props and visuals is encouraged. If you are looking for more online teaching jobs check out the Best Online Teaching Jobs.
Another great way to earn money is to Airbnb, VRBO, or sublet your apartment, condo, or home for the duration of your trip. Why not, right?
Learn To Fly
I know this is a lot. Especially if you haven’t traveled much, or rely on your structured routine at home. But let me tell you how refreshed and recharged I felt after my trip. It gave me that time to step back from teaching to….
- explore the world
- meet new people
- learn different cultures
- enjoy the beauties life has to offer
- gain back my confidence and more
If a digital nomad lifestyle is something you have thought about, and you are an educator with time off, then please consider this experience. If you aren’t burnt out yet, or you are starting to feel it, then now is the time. Not in a couple of years…. but NOW.
Do not wait, because life gets harder and there will never be a “good” time. The Journal of Drug Education, states “Two-thirds of teachers may want to quit the profession, while 36% are likely to quit. Teachers report higher rates than a national sample of lifetime alcohol, amphetamine, and tranquilizer use”.
Do not be a statistic. Learn to let go of the educational stereotypical norm of staying in one place working all year long, but instead, put on those wings and learn to fly because the world is waiting for you.
