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Have you ever wished you had more power over your work life? Have you ever felt fed up with the 9 to 5 lifestyle? Then this article is for you.
In the last years, with jobs getting more and more digitized, many people have been looking forward to a life where they have more control over their day. Imagine working for the number of hours you want, from any place you want and the best part is, taking a day off whenever you want!
This can very easily be your life!
With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more companies were forced to offer a remote work option to their employees. It could be a struggle working from home, between 4 walls and missing on the social contact. But what if you could work from a beach somewhere far away?
That’s why more employees than ever are now considering becoming digital nomads and taking the life of remote work. Not just individuals, some governments are now even giving a digital nomad visa to put their country on the itinerary of digital nomads.
If you decided to ditch the 9 to 5 model and start your journey as a nomad and now you asking what’s next? We have the answer for you, or rather the questions for you!
First, Do you like your job?
If you like your job, then it is worth asking yourself if you can do it remotely. Sit down and think of the different aspects of your day to day work and note how you can do them efficiently remotely. Put all of that in a nice presentation/ proposal and go and pitch it to your boss or your HR manager to help you discuss with your boss.
If you never ask, you’ll never know. And now that this is a global trend, it’s the best time to take this step and the fact that you will have a plan with you will definitely support your cause.
Second, if you want to change jobs, what is your passion?
Now that you decided to start a whole new lifestyle, it is worth trying to get a job you actually like. Doing a job you are passionate about means you will enjoy your life more and have more motivation.
Now that you are re-designing your lifestyle, there could be no better time to take a step back and find what you are passionate about. But how can you find your passion? Isn’t that a bit complicated? And if I find my passion, how do I guarantee I can do it for a living? The Japanese might have the answer for you.
Ikigai, your reason for being
The Japanese have a concept called IKIGAI which translated to “a reason for being”. In other words, Ikigai is your purpose, what you are passionate about and what can contribute to the world.
There has been a lot of research into Ikigai and the findings suggest that it is a reason for longevity. It makes sense that your Ikigai or your purpose gives a lot of meaning and happiness to your life which can help you live longer.
A case study was on Okinawa, an island off Japan with a big population above 100 years old. In Okinawa, inhabitants cited that finding their Ikigai is a reason for their long life. A life of purpose and passion keeps them healthy and happy.
How do I find my Ikigai?
To find your Ikigai you have to think of 4 questions as circles that intersect at your Ikigai. These questions are:
- What do I love?
- What am I good at?
- What can I get paid for?
- What does the world need?
The intersection point between these 4 circles is your reason for being, your Ikigai and there is always a way you can turn that into a paid job.
For example, let’s say that you love nature and travelling, you are good at photography and dancing, you can get paid for dance videos and photos, and you think the world needs more beauty and diversity.
There you might have a clearer idea about your passion. You can be a travel photographer or dance video director travelling around the world recording the traditional dances in photos and videos!
It’s worth nothing that your Ikigai may change with time or changes in your character. Maybe your purpose at some point of your life is to set up a business but after a while it can become your family or further study…etc. It’s good to check in again with yourself, if you feel the passion is fading or your horizons expand and you find a more suitable and meaningful purpose for you.
What if I can’t answer these questions?
It’s not guaranteed you will find your Ikigai easily. You have to do your homework of digging into yourself and knowing how to answer those questions honestly and clearly.
If you are struggling to find what you love, a good idea here is to try different things. Take some time in your day to experience with different skills or habits or experiences. Try to be mindful of the things that make you happy and you love doing them.
Don’t shy away from any ideas, even if you don’t see how this can transform into a job. Cooking, gardening, sewing, writing, photography, organizing, making friends…etc. The list is endless and anything you love will be helpful.
If you’re struggling with question number 2, it’s a good idea to ask your friends, partner, family or even colleagues what they think you are good at. This might give you a starting point to understand your skills better.
Question 3 can be solved simply by either fitting your skills into a remote job, or inventing your own job! Why not?
If you love cooking and you are good at it, you can get paid for food blogging, writing a recipe book or doing cooking classes on the go or online. The sky is the limit, wherever your skill and your passion meet, you can find a way to share it with others and get paid for it.
The last question is completely subjective. Your life experience can determine what you think the world needs. You can also ask for help from the people who share your values.
After finding your Ikigai, the next step is to turn that into your new job, that you can do remotely while travelling. This way you can live following your passion and purpose and exploring the world! We can’t think of a better scenario.
Did you do the Ikigai exercise? Share your passions with us! It can inspire others!
