Remote Work Guide: How I Built a Career That Lets Me Explore the World

Remote work gave me the freedom to stop living for weekends and start building a life worth waking up for every morning.

When people hear the phrase remote work, they usually imagine someone balancing a laptop on a beach while sipping cocktails. It’s a nice fantasy, but that’s not my reality.

I’m Carter, the travel blogger behind Atypical Vagabond, and I work remotely from Portugal. Some days my office overlooks the medieval streets of Coimbra. Other days it’s a quiet café, a coworking space, or an apartment somewhere along the Camino de Santiago.

The truth is that remote work isn’t about escaping work—it’s about gaining the freedom to decide where and how you live.

For me, that freedom led halfway around the world.

If you’re considering becoming a digital nomad, working remotely while traveling, or moving abroad entirely, this guide will walk you through everything I’ve learned along the way.

What Is Remote Work?

Remote work simply means doing your job somewhere other than a traditional office.

That could be:

  • Your home
  • A coworking space
  • A local coffee shop
  • Another country
  • Even a train traveling across Europe

As long as you have reliable internet and the tools you need, your office can travel with you.

That flexibility has completely changed my life.

If you’re just beginning your journey, I recommend starting with my Digital Nomad Life guide, where I dive deeper into what this lifestyle actually looks like beyond Instagram.

Why I Chose Remote Work

I didn’t wake up one morning and decide I wanted to become a digital nomad.

For years, I built businesses, worked long hours, and followed what I thought success was supposed to look like.

Eventually I realized something.

I wasn’t chasing a career anymore.

I was chasing freedom.

Moving to Portugal wasn’t about running away from anything.

It was about moving toward a life where I could spend my mornings learning Portuguese, afternoons exploring medieval villages, and evenings editing YouTube videos or writing articles that help other travelers.

Remote work became the bridge that connected those dreams with reality.

Today I call Coimbra home, but my office moves whenever I do.

Is Remote Work Right for You?

One thing I’ve learned is that remote work isn’t for everyone.

Nobody is standing over your shoulder.

Nobody tells you when to start.

Nobody tells you when to stop.

That freedom is incredible—but it also requires discipline.

If you enjoy solving problems independently, communicating online, and creating your own routine, you’ll probably thrive.

If you need constant supervision or structure, remote work can feel overwhelming at first.

The good news?

These are skills you can learn.

Different Ways to Work Remotely

There isn’t one path into remote work.

Working for a Remote Company

Thousands of businesses now hire employees who never step inside an office.

These jobs often include:

  • Salary
  • Health insurance
  • Retirement benefits
  • Paid vacation

Many companies hire internationally, making them ideal for aspiring digital nomads.

Freelancing

Freelancing offers incredible flexibility.

Writers, designers, programmers, marketers, photographers, translators, and consultants can all build careers working with clients around the world.

The tradeoff?

You have to find your own clients.

Building Your Own Business

This is the road I chose.

Instead of working for someone else, I built Atypical Vagabond.

Today my income comes from multiple sources including blogging, YouTube, affiliate partnerships, digital products, and brand collaborations.

It didn’t happen overnight.

It took years of writing articles that nobody read.

Filming videos almost nobody watched.

Learning SEO.

Making mistakes.

Then making even more mistakes.

But eventually the momentum started building.

How to Find Remote Jobs

There has never been a better time to work remotely.

Some excellent places to begin include:

Don’t underestimate networking either.

Many of the best opportunities never make it onto job boards.

Building a Remote Work Routine

This might be the least glamorous part of remote work.

It’s also the most important.

One of the biggest misconceptions about becoming a digital nomad is that every day feels like vacation.

It doesn’t.

When I’m home in Coimbra, I still wake up, make coffee, study Portuguese, answer emails, write articles, edit videos, and work on Atypical Vagabond.

Only after I’ve finished my priorities do I head into the city or hit the hiking trails.

Ironically, creating structure has given me far more freedom.

If productivity is something you struggle with, check out my Productivity Guide where I share the habits that help me stay focused while traveling.

My Remote Office Changes Every Week

People ask me all the time where I work.

Honestly?

Everywhere.

I’ve worked from:

  • Apartments
  • Coffee shops
  • Hotels
  • Airport lounges
  • Coworking spaces
  • Train stations

The scenery changes constantly.

The routine doesn’t.

Reliable Wi-Fi, a comfortable chair, and enough quiet to think matter far more than having the perfect Instagram backdrop.

Remote Work Tools I Actually Use

People love asking about gear.

The truth is that expensive gadgets don’t make you productive.

Reliable tools do.

Some essentials include:

  • Laptop
  • Cloud storage
  • Password manager
  • External SSD backups
  • Noise-canceling headphones
  • Project management software
  • Video conferencing apps
  • VPN service

I’ve put together a complete list of everything I use in my Remote Work Tools Guide.

Internet Is More Important Than Ocean Views

Social media has convinced people that digital nomads spend every day working from beaches.

Let’s be honest.

Sunlight makes it impossible to see your screen.

Sand destroys electronics.

Wind blows everything over.

Reliable internet is worth far more than a tropical backdrop.

Whenever I book accommodation, checking Wi-Fi speed is almost as important as checking the location.

Avoid Burnout

One lesson I’ve learned the hard way is that freedom doesn’t automatically create balance.

Without clear boundaries, work can slowly consume every hour of your day.

Now I intentionally schedule days where I don’t write.

Don’t edit.

Don’t answer emails.

I simply explore.

Those days usually produce my best ideas.

Remote Work and Living Abroad

Working remotely is only one part of becoming a digital nomad.

You’ll also need to understand:

  • Visas
  • Taxes
  • Healthcare
  • Banking
  • Residency

I’ve written detailed guides covering each of those topics if you’re planning to move overseas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Portugal?

Absolutely, provided you have the correct visa or residency status. My Portugal Digital Nomad Guide and Portugal Visa Guide explain your options in detail.

What internet speed do I need?

For most remote workers, anything above 50 Mbps is more than enough for video calls, uploads, and everyday work.

Is remote work lonely?

Sometimes.

That’s why I recommend joining coworking spaces, language exchanges, hiking groups, and local meetups whenever you settle somewhere new.

Community matters.

Can beginners find remote work?

Definitely.

Customer support, administration, marketing, sales, design, programming, and writing all offer remote opportunities for newcomers.

Continue Your Journey

If you’re serious about building a life around remote work, these guides will help you take the next step.

Internal Guides

Helpful External Resources

Atypical Last Thoughts

Remote work didn’t just change where I earn a living.

It changed how I experience the world.

Instead of squeezing travel into two weeks of vacation every year, I built a life where travel became part of my everyday routine. I get to immerse myself in places instead of rushing through them. I can spend months getting to know a city like Coimbra rather than trying to see everything in a weekend.

That doesn’t mean every day is easy. There are deadlines, frustrating internet connections, and plenty of long hours behind a screen. But those challenges feel different when I can close my laptop and step outside into a place that inspires me.

If remote work has taught me anything, it’s that you don’t have to choose between building a career and building a life you love. With patience, discipline, and a willingness to keep learning, you can create both.

That’s what this journey has been for me, and I hope it becomes the beginning of yours.

Meet Carter

Traveler • Storyteller • Punk Rocker

I’m Carter, an American traveler living in Portugal and the creator of Atypical Vagabond. After selling my technology business, I traded the conventional path for slow travel, life abroad, and a slightly unreasonable number of long walks across Europe. I share honest Portugal guides, Camino stories, digital nomad advice, and practical lessons to help you explore the world with greater confidence and purpose.

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