Digital Nomad Who’s Labored in 60 Completely different Nations Makes Mexico House

• Hannah Dixon turned a digital assistant in 2013 and has labored in 60 nations.
• Dixon plans to use for everlasting residency in Mexico, after her four-year residency expires.
• Being in a time zone that aligns with most of her US shoppers has been a sport changer, Dixon says.

This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with Hannah Dixon, a 36-year-old digital assistant coach, recruiter, and founding father of The Digital Excellence Academy, dwelling in Mexico. It has been edited for size and readability.

In 2013, I began my digital nomad life, dove into entrepreneurship, and have become a six-figure digital assistant. My former associate, who labored on-line, set me on a path to be taught every little thing I may about this profession.

It was an alluring path as a result of it allowed me to proceed to journey and make a dwelling whereas doing so. This trade allowed me to stay and work in additional than 60 nations. Whereas I beloved touring quick and seeing so many superior issues, key issues like disconnection from others made it difficult at instances. After some time, I made a decision to decelerate and began noticing the folks and locations that handled me effectively.

I lived in Bangkok for 2 years, then spent a while in New York with household; in France with my stepmom; and in Budapest, Hungary, alone. In 2021, I moved to Guanajuato, Mexico.

Since transferring to Guanajuato, it is turn out to be a superb residence base that serves me, my spouse, and my canine effectively — and my enterprise has grown tremendously.

I attempted to stay in Austria

In April 2020, proper earlier than the pandemic lockdown, I took one of many final trains from Budapest to Graz, Austria, realizing that issues would change quickly. A brand new love curiosity, my now spouse, who’s German, was getting her grasp’s diploma and dwelling in Austria. I moved there as a result of I did not need to be alone.

I am American and British. As a UK citizen, I had the proper to stay and work within the eurozone, however as soon as Brexit was finalized, this proper was revoked. My spouse and I married in 2021, and after making use of for residence in Austria, I acquired a letter indicating that I needed to depart.

Throughout the pandemic, Mexico was one of many few nations that saved its borders open. Mates, who had been fellow digital nomads, recommended we think about transferring to Guanajuato, Mexico.

Guanajuato welcomed me and my spouse with open arms

Throughout our six-month vacationer visa, Guanajuato equated to a stage of ease and connection I hadn’t skilled earlier than. We shortly turned a part of an eclectic neighborhood that felt like a selected household and skilled unprecedented hospitality from folks of all ages and backgrounds.

In 2022, my spouse and I acquired a four-year momentary resident visa and formally turned residents in Mexico — versus long-stay vacationers. We acquired our visas on the Mexican consulate in Kansas Metropolis, one of many breezier consulates.

Some consulates are identified for lengthy wait instances and weeks of delay, however Kansas Metropolis processed us on the identical day. I might spent prolonged intervals in Mexico earlier than transferring right here, so not a lot got here as a shock in regards to the course of. However I realized that renting a spot to stay in Mexico is one million instances simpler when you’re on the bottom. There are indicators with WhatsApp numbers on properties for hire all over the place that helped simplify issues.

The transition went easily, and I would not change something.

I additionally realized in regards to the world of “fixers”

There’s a complete trade of individuals whose solely job is to make immigrants’ lives simpler by serving to with issues like opening financial institution accounts, extending residency visas, shopping for a automobile, driving your pets cross nation whilst you fly, and so forth.

We spent round $290 for fixer help with renewing our residency visas, which included early morning pick-up providers, an hour’s drive to the Nationwide Institute of Migration, being available for our interview if we would have liked assist, and driving us again residence with our extensions in hand. Additionally, after we purchased a automobile, we used what might be thought-about a fixer service.

Since making this transfer, my enterprise has grown tremendously

This stability has allowed me to focus extra intently on my enterprise and spend extra time studying and implementing progress methods. Being in a time zone that carefully aligns with most of my shoppers and collaborators within the US has been a sport changer. I have been in a position to improve my frequency of launches, produce extra social media content material, and spend extra time refining processes.

With out the fixed have to adapt to new environments, I’ve reclaimed a substantial period of time and psychological power that was beforehand spent on life logistics like securing dependable wifi, discovering appropriate lodging, and so forth.

Residing right here has inspired me to embrace a extra laidback life-style

I’ve discovered it straightforward to strike up conversations with attention-grabbing strangers who flip into pals simply from strolling round city. Guanajuato is the form of place the place you ask a query in a neighborhood Fb group, and by the top of the day, you could have an invitation to somebody’s celebration.

This life-style offers me extra downtime and relaxation, which retains me mentally sharp. My schedule feels extra versatile, which has helped me make smarter decisions about investing my time. I’ve invested in private progress, expanded my staff, acquired extra shoppers and college students, and devoted myself to spreading the phrase about my providers.

Residing within the mountains and frequent visits to Mexico Metropolis and seashores present the proper stability for me. Mexico has a little bit of every little thing.

There are issues I have not preferred a lot

Mexico is not identified for being quiet. There’s a number of avenue noise and constant canine barking. However the issues I have not preferred a lot are sacrifices I am prepared to make.

I discover it difficult that, in some locations, folks have very totally different concepts on the best way to deal with animals — particularly canine. Many are undernourished and have no socialization. Nevertheless, there are lots of nice organizations in Mexico, like Amigos de los Animales, working onerous to vary attitudes by means of teaching programs.

I additionally attempt to put a optimistic spin on this stuff. The noise could be annoying, but it surely’s a reminder of the sense of neighborhood and life that occurs exterior the house right here. Additionally, the animal points are at instances heartbreaking however create alternatives to be part of the change.

We’ve got a house base to return again to that feels good

For me and my spouse, nothing is eternally. We’re content material with our choice to be right here, however we have additionally taken quite a few journeys throughout this time and are open to new experiences exploring totally different elements of the world.

We’re nonetheless on a short lived resident visa. After residing right here for 4 years, we’ll have the choice to use for everlasting residency, which we intend to do.

We don’t know the place the highway will take us, however we’re very content material within the current and are grateful to have discovered a well timed residence in Mexico.