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The combined globalization and digitization of the world of work have contributed to the rise of digital nomads, which refers to individuals who use technology to work remotely from anywhere in the world. According to a previous post, being a digital nomad translates into a range of personal and professional benefits, from greater flexibility and control over the scope and duration of their work to better work-life balance.
However, among the most important factors digital nomads must consider are health and safety. Unlike vacationers or ex-pats who only travel for a short time, digital nomads spend years across various destinations to make the most of their experiences. If you’re planning to also live the life of a digital nomad, below are health and safety essentials you must prepare before embarking on a long journey around the world.
Health Insurance
In the article linked above, health insurance was listed as one of the essentials that help every digital nomad maintain their well-being amid the constant work and travel. Since your usual health insurance plan may not include international coverage, the US-based insurance firm WorldTrips has released an insurance product specifically tailored to the needs of digital nomads and remote workers.
The new insurance policy’s features include travel medical coverage for up to $250,000 in medical expenses, emergency support for medical evacuation and crisis response, benefits for unwanted travel conditions like lost checked luggage, and a flexible pay structure that allows you to stay updated on premiums at any point during your travels.
Eyewear
Whether you’re traveling to sun-soaked Bali or looking forward to residing somewhere with a cooler climate like Norway, you need to invest in sunglasses to shield your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which increase the risk of eye strain, dry eyes, and other vision problems. Beyond sun safety, you also need to wear prescription or non-prescription blue light glasses to protect your eyes from increased screen time as a digital nomad.
Fortunately, even if you’re too busy to shop for protective eyewear as you prepare other things for your trip, you can browse retailers’ websites and even try on glasses online. Leading retailer LensCrafters has an innovative virtual mirror tool that gives you the option to select frames like the best-selling Ray-Ban Wayfarer Optics and the oversized Prada PR18WV and see how they look on your face using your digital device.
Medications
Many digital nomads travel with medications to treat and manage acute or chronic health problems. Even if you’re currently healthy and in shape, it still helps to include essential medicines like paracetamol, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve common symptoms like headaches, fever, and cramps.
As such, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise travelers like you to check with your destinations’ embassies to ensure the medicines you pack are permitted. Depending on the specific country’s laws, you may also be required to provide a copy of your prescription or medical certificate when bringing extra supplies for certain medicines.
Compression Clothing
In addition to bringing weather-appropriate clothing, consider packing compression clothing and accessories to improve blood circulation, especially if you have existing health problems that make you more susceptible to muscle pain and fatigue.
Specifically, compression socks, like the limited-edition socks recently released by Vim & Vigr, can reduce swelling and boost comfort and wellness when standing or sitting for prolonged periods. These benefits make the socks especially helpful for digital nomads who frequently board flights and ride public transport to travel between destinations.
Beyond packing the aforementioned essentials, make sure to practice healthy lifestyle changes while working and traveling as a digital nomad. These include adopting a nutritionally balanced diet, exercising regularly, and managing your stress levels through relaxing activities.
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