The nomadic lifestyle offers numerous advantages, including freedom, flexibility, and enhanced life experiences. However, it also presents challenges such as constant movement and uncertainty. Living a nomadic lifestyle means not being tethered to the same place for the rest of your life, either working from home or traveling from one place to another. This lifestyle often involves navigating visas, bureaucracy, organizing accommodation and travel, making new friends, saying goodbye to new friends, and finding basic necessities.
The pros of a nomadic lifestyle include location independence, connecting with new people, and much more. However, there are also challenges such as constant goodbyes, new experiences, uncertainty, affordability, feeling rootless, learning about oneself, and isolation.
One of the biggest advantages of a digital nomad lifestyle is the ability to travel and explore new places while still earning a living. However, living a nomadic lifestyle can be lonely, as maintaining friendships can be difficult. Dating can be even harder, and people may question one’s nomadic lifestyle.
A nomadic lifestyle allows travelers to explore new destinations and immerse themselves in the culture and cuisine of new places. However, it can also be challenging to maintain friendships, dating, and staying in one place.
In conclusion, the nomadic lifestyle offers numerous benefits, but it also comes with challenges such as constant movement, uncertainty, and isolation. It is essential to weigh these factors when choosing whether to pursue this lifestyle or not.
📹 Why I STOPPED being a Digital Nomad
Being a Digital Nomad can be amazing! But what you see online is not always the full story. And for us, being digital nomads was …
What are 3 facts about nomads?
Nomads are individuals without a fixed home who travel, often during seasonal changes, in search of food, water, and animal grazing. Originating from the Greek word “roaming about for pasture”, these cultures have existed for centuries. Today, there are 30-40 million nomads worldwide, categorized into hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads, and peripatetic nomads. Hunter-gatherers are the oldest type of nomad.
What is a nomadic lifestyle?
The term “nomad” is used to describe individuals who move without a permanent home. They often walk long distances or use animals, such as horses, to facilitate their movement. This is because they have no intention of setting up in a new location.
Why is life hard for nomads?
It is a well-established fact that human beings require friendships for optimal mental health. However, travelling can have a detrimental impact on the formation of meaningful, long-term connections. The formation of deep connections may be impeded by short-term stays, whereas amicable relationships can develop between individuals with similar personalities and positive dispositions when they are in a convivial mood and engaging in lively conversation in a social setting such as a pub.
What do nomads do for a living?
Nomads move for various reasons, including foraging for game, edible plants, and water, as seen in Aboriginal Australians, Negritos of Southeast Asia, and San of Africa. Pastoral nomads, like the Fulani and their cattle, make a living by raising livestock, such as camels, cattle, goats, horses, sheep, or yaks, in search of pastures for their flocks. Some nomadic peoples, especially herders, may move to raid settled communities or avoid enemies. Nomadic craftworkers and merchants also travel to find and serve customers, such as the Gadia Lohar blacksmiths of India, the Roma traders, Scottish travellers, and Irish travelers.
Many nomadic and pastorally nomadic peoples are associated with semi-arid and desert climates, such as the Mongolic and Turkic peoples of Central Asia, the Plains Indians of the Great Plains, and the Amazigh and other peoples of the Sahara Desert. Pastoral nomads reside in arid climates, such as the Fulani of the Sahel, the Khoikhoi of South Africa and Namibia, and the Bedouin of the Middle East. Most nomads travel in groups of families, bands, or tribes, based on kinship, marriage ties, or formal agreements of cooperation.
What is a disadvantage of being a nomad?
Digital nomads face several challenges, including loneliness, isolation, distractions, and unfocused work. Loneliness can negatively impact mental health, especially in difficult-to-make-connection locations. Communication barriers can exacerbate the feeling of isolation, and missing out on holidays, special events, or important milestones can further exacerbate the feeling. Maintaining contact with loved ones worldwide can be challenging, especially in different time zones.
Distractions can also hinder focus, especially when exploring a new country or finding a suitable workspace. Balancing work and personal life can lead to burnout and poor performance due to overworking or poor performance.
Reliable Wi-Fi connections are crucial for digital nomads, as hotspots and café Wi-Fi connections can be unreliable, impacting the quality of work and potentially affecting work results. Overall, digital nomads face numerous challenges, including isolation, distractions, and unreliable Wi-Fi connections, which can negatively impact their mental health and productivity.
What are some of the challenges of nomadic life?
The nomadic lifestyle presents various social challenges, including distance from family, friends, and partners, difficulty building community, remote work, financial problems, and financial instability. While some find these challenges to be the actualization of their dreams, others may find them unavoidable. To understand these challenges, consider if you have the necessary skills and resources to become a digital nomad. For instance, if you were trying to make yourself lonely, you would need to adjust your life and make changes.
What are the pros and cons of being a nomad?
The nomadic lifestyle offers freedom, flexibility, constant goodbyes, new experiences, uncertainty, affordability, feeling rootless, and self-discovery. It can be a dream come true, with the possibility of working in a coffee shop in Champs-Elysées, enjoying wine on the Sena river, and flying to Costa Rica to explore the colorful streets. However, it can also be isolating and can lead to feelings of rootlessness. It’s essential to determine if a nomadic lifestyle is right for you and your personal preferences.
What are two advantages of nomadic?
Nomadic herding offers numerous economic and social benefits to local communities, including food, fiber, and other essential products. It also creates jobs and supports local businesses, and plays a crucial role in maintaining cultural traditions and identity. However, the sustainability of nomadic herding is threatened by the loss of pasture and water due to agricultural and mining expansion, which can lead to conflicts with other land users. Additionally, climate change can impact the land, causing changes in precipitation patterns.
To address these challenges, it is essential to support nomadic herding and recognize its value as a sustainable way of life through measures like providing access to education, healthcare, and other services.
What are the pros and cons of being nomadic?
The nomadic lifestyle offers numerous benefits, including being affordable, feeling rootless, learning about oneself, isolating, and allowing creativity. However, it can also be expensive and time-consuming. The dream of working in a coffee shop in Paris and traveling to Costa Rica for a day can be achievable through a nomadic lifestyle. It is essential to consider the pros and cons of a nomadic lifestyle before making a decision. The article provides more information on the pros and cons of a nomadic lifestyle and whether it is right for you.
What are the disadvantages of nomadic life?
The disadvantages of a nomadic lifestyle include being alone, constant ups and downs, lack of private space, low excitement levels, money, losing everything, reaction to your non-nomadic environment, and missing out.
Being alone can lead to feelings of loneliness, which is easier for those who are settled down by entering stable relationships, meeting family members, or developing a circle of friends. Nomads face this challenge, but there are still ways to create a social life on the move.
Continuous ups and downs are another disadvantage of a nomadic lifestyle. Nomads face both good and bad surprises daily, as they constantly encounter new experiences and lack information. This emotional roller-coaster can be challenging for nomads, as they need to learn to ride through these ups and downs.
Lack of private space is another disadvantage. Nomads often feel the need to have a place to feel comfortable and secure, but constantly changing locations means they don’t always have that private home-base. This can make traveling boring and mundane, especially if focused on one region like Europe.
Money is another disadvantage of a nomadic lifestyle. While location-free lifestyles may seem more advantageous than corporate jobs, it is generally better to stay in the same place financially. The two pillars of financial stability are revenue and expense.
Economic savings can be achieved by staying in low-cost countries, but due to information gaps, it is likely that nomads will spend more than locals. Earning money while changing locations is also challenging, as it is difficult to form a real connection with clients and focus on a revenue stream.
Instead of holding onto the dream that a nomadic lifestyle will improve financials, it is important to recognize that it has its costs. For nomads, happiness comes first, and they should not hold onto the dream of improving their financials.
The nomadic lifestyle is a unique and challenging one, as it involves moving around constantly, losing home, favorite places, and social circles. This can lead to envy reactions from others who may question your ability to maintain a nomadic lifestyle, or people thinking you’ve lost it entirely. Some nomads thrive on this reaction, but addiction can lead to hiding or lying about the disadvantages of living a nomadic lifestyle.
Missing out on family and friends can be a significant challenge, as you may not be present for them during their growth and death. It’s important to accept that even the people we leave behind change, grow, and die. Spending quality time with family and friends is crucial, but it’s essential to return home every six months to find solutions.
The nomadic lifestyle can also be disadvantageous for finding the perfect match for a job or relationship. The travel period can appear as a black hole on a resume, making it difficult to explain to potential employers. Although fulfilling work can happen while traveling, the chances of finding the perfect partner are reduced. However, finding someone to share the journey with can be a better option than staying on the road.
Attachments can be negative for nomads, as they can be sweet and addictive. They may be the key to an amazing relationship, a great home, or the right job, but they must be given up to continue in the nomadic lifestyle.
In conclusion, the advantages and disadvantages of a nomadic lifestyle should be considered before deciding whether it’s worth the effort.
What are the disadvantages of being nomadic?
The disadvantages of a nomadic lifestyle include being alone, constant ups and downs, lack of private space, low excitement levels, money, losing everything, reaction to your non-nomadic environment, and missing out.
Being alone can lead to feelings of loneliness, which is easier for those who are settled down by entering stable relationships, meeting family members, or developing a circle of friends. Nomads face this challenge, but there are still ways to create a social life on the move.
Continuous ups and downs are another disadvantage of a nomadic lifestyle. Nomads face both good and bad surprises daily, as they constantly encounter new experiences and lack information. This emotional roller-coaster can be challenging for nomads, as they need to learn to ride through these ups and downs.
Lack of private space is another disadvantage. Nomads often feel the need to have a place to feel comfortable and secure, but constantly changing locations means they don’t always have that private home-base. This can make traveling boring and mundane, especially if focused on one region like Europe.
Money is another disadvantage of a nomadic lifestyle. While location-free lifestyles may seem more advantageous than corporate jobs, it is generally better to stay in the same place financially. The two pillars of financial stability are revenue and expense.
Economic savings can be achieved by staying in low-cost countries, but due to information gaps, it is likely that nomads will spend more than locals. Earning money while changing locations is also challenging, as it is difficult to form a real connection with clients and focus on a revenue stream.
Instead of holding onto the dream that a nomadic lifestyle will improve financials, it is important to recognize that it has its costs. For nomads, happiness comes first, and they should not hold onto the dream of improving their financials.
The nomadic lifestyle is a unique and challenging one, as it involves moving around constantly, losing home, favorite places, and social circles. This can lead to envy reactions from others who may question your ability to maintain a nomadic lifestyle, or people thinking you’ve lost it entirely. Some nomads thrive on this reaction, but addiction can lead to hiding or lying about the disadvantages of living a nomadic lifestyle.
Missing out on family and friends can be a significant challenge, as you may not be present for them during their growth and death. It’s important to accept that even the people we leave behind change, grow, and die. Spending quality time with family and friends is crucial, but it’s essential to return home every six months to find solutions.
The nomadic lifestyle can also be disadvantageous for finding the perfect match for a job or relationship. The travel period can appear as a black hole on a resume, making it difficult to explain to potential employers. Although fulfilling work can happen while traveling, the chances of finding the perfect partner are reduced. However, finding someone to share the journey with can be a better option than staying on the road.
Attachments can be negative for nomads, as they can be sweet and addictive. They may be the key to an amazing relationship, a great home, or the right job, but they must be given up to continue in the nomadic lifestyle.
In conclusion, the advantages and disadvantages of a nomadic lifestyle should be considered before deciding whether it’s worth the effort.
📹 Living the Nomadic Dream: The Pros and Cons of a Modern-Day Nomadic Lifestyle #nomad #travel
In this video, we explore the pros and cons of living a modern-day nomadic lifestyle. From the freedom and flexibility it provides to …
This is so interesting. And deep. We went through a digital nomad phase and I hit a wall. I also realised that I wasn’t amazed any more. I intellectually appreciated what I saw but I’d stopped saying ‘wow’. Then I had a weird feeling. Actually, it was at Machu Picchu. I remember thinking it had been there long before I was born and would be there long after I die and what difference did my life make to it. Then I thought about the difference my existence made to the people I loved and who loved me and realised I was spending my time with places and people who didn’t really care if I was there or not. Now I have a home and I’m surrounded by family and have little kids who are ridiculously excited by having just a cardboard box to climb into and play. I’ve got the ‘wow’ back into my life and feel really happy. We still love to travel but love to come home too.
It all gets old, I played basketball overseas professionally for 9 years. Sometimes I was in 3 to 4 different countries(not including the U.S.) in one year. You are absolutely correct you get numb to the experience. I remember seeing the Osorno Vulcano looking at it for a few moments then going back to sleep. I passed up opportunities to see waterfalls and Pyramids just to get some extra sleep, you get numb to it all.
I considered becoming a digital nomad, but decided to go all in instead and moved to Spain from the United States. I’ve been here for a year and a half and put down some roots. What I’ve discovered is that I am able to travel quite enough regionally to satisfy that desire while still having some structure and stability in my life.
I’ve been an expat since 2015, and the one huge thing that is never talked about on social media or YT is the never ending paperwork. If you’re only making short trips to many different countries, then it won’t be a big issue. But once you start to settle 3 months, 6 months, or longer then you have to figure out VISAs, residency paper work, and taxes. It’s a lot to manage!!
My wife and I are in our 3rd year now of being a DN. I think the key is slowing down. Our rule is no more than one country per month. Usually, we are staying in one place for about 3 months before moving on. We also combine our hobbies with travel, going to kiteboarding locations and meeting other like-minded people, which helps with a sense of community as we travel. I can’t say we will do this forever, but I certainly don’t regret it!
Traveling is actually hard work–dealing with immigration/visas, languages, local customs and laws, new relationships, currencies, foods, time zones… etc. If you’re strong and healthy it’s wonderful, even in spite of difficulties. But you can still be knocked off your game by unexpected events. And, since no one is immune to change, returning home becomes increasingly more difficult the longer you are away–after a long enough time there’s nothing to return to. Eighteen months is about the right length of time to have the best of both worlds. Salud!
Thanks for this insight! I definetly dont like the idea of constantly travelling – but I’v lived in Bali for 4 years more as a expat, than a digital nomad. Life couldnt be better! I’m all for setting up my life here long term, and keeping a few locals as close friends with the possibility that I might set up a family here in the long run. You only live life once, and I believe its important to maximize your environment in a way that suits you best. I get to surf everyday, eat out everyday with super healthy food – and train at some of the best martial arts and yoga studios in the world. Something simply not possible for my homeland of Singapore. My point is that, if you can work remotely and travel do it! – it gives you the freedom to eventually decide if theres another country that suits you better than the typical city work life. Travel in perpetuity is not sustainable, but finding a better place to settle down and have a routine is! I believe people should make educated choices about where they choose to settle down. You cant make an educated choice if you dont at least travel and work remotely for a period of your life. Why should you live in a stressful city environment with bad unhealthy food, mundane uninspiring backdrops, lack of fresh air and nature, boring uninspiring overweight people? High Cost of living, and poor ROI on your income. Not for me thanks!
Thanks for the realistic take. As someone who was floating around various countries for over a decade, I empathise with all your concerns. I think the pull of friends and family and home is the biggest challenge for everyone. The only solution I can suggest, is trying to make your home wherever you are at the time. I think you can only really establish yourself properly and feel ‘at home’ if you spend more than a year in any one place. We all need roots of some sort.
I think it’s fantastic that you did it and then made a new choice when you realized it wasn’t sustainable for you. You had great experiences and you won’t spend your life wondering and dreaming about what it would have been like. You two made some amazing memories and then chose on a new way. Some things are not meant to last forever. I see the same thing with Full Time RVing websites – nobody talks about feeling isolated or missing their loved ones. My wife and I decided long ago that RVing Full Time is not for us for that reason. When we retire, we will take much longer trips, but we won’t stay away from home for too long. Thank you for being honest. Most people dreaming of the full time travel lifestyle don’t consider that part.
Thank you for this article! We became DNs Jan. 1 and have experienced exactly the same emotional, experiential, and social issues you discuss. We have returned to OUR home town to purchase a condo so that we can travel a little more slowly and still see friends and family. The lack of a close community became an issue, and we also felt very little wonder when visiting wondrous things. Oh, another fountain, oh, another museum, oh another cathedral… We thought something was wrong with us. And, the extraordinary amount of time spent researching the next location and lodging. Lots of deception on ST Rental sites. We are newly back home. You have no idea how much we appreciate this honest account.
Travelling full time is great but you’re right so exhausting 😅 especially while working. We’re constantly told that we have a dream life and how others would love to do it but I honestly think if people saw the hours we do and the constant changing and figuring everything out that they would run a mile. We have been going for about 3 years now, we love it but it’s way more exhausting than our old life.
Not the same but I understand where you are coming from. My husband and I have been traveling for almost 5 months before he begins his new job in June. I never thought I’d want to come at the end but I’m actually looking forward to having more control over my environment, being able to make healthier food choices and seeing people I care about!
I’m 50. I love traveling and plan a long trip a year, about a month in a foreign country during my vacation time. I’m a professor, married, but I like traveling alone and that’s ok, because I need that time to “put myself in order”. I used to post my trips on instagram and facebook, photos, experience, food, tours etc. However, I’ve come to the point I started asking if I was doing that to show off or helping others. I realized most followers were there to check my life and even said I was lucky etc. I simply got tired and started thinking that was not that funny anymore for me. Numb is the word, like someone wrote here! Last year I traveled to the North of France. It was an incredible trip to Normandy and Brittany, although it was in a difficult period because of pandemy and the rest everyone knows about, forms, fears etc. I felt relieved when I got home. I even thought once about the possibility of becoming nomad, but I realized that was not for me. I like to visit new places, try different cultures, but I miss my base, that’s the truth. I admire people who retire or sell everything to live like a nomad in a foreign country, however that’s not what I want for my life. The point is that we always look for reason for living and sometimes we get confused about goals and dreams. I like to say I’m always “putting the happiness ruler down” What does that mean? When I feel bored about my life, I try to go back at a time when my dream was to reach the point I got now. I bring memories of my teenage time, when I wanted to achieve a kind of comfortable professional and personal life, job, house and some free time to do what I like.
I wouldn’t be able to put it better! I’ve been living nomadically with my boyfriend for 15 months now and the happiest we’ve been this last week was when we bought our tickets to Brazil (home). I would add some things such as – having bad knives and pans and pots; unpredicted internet issues; understanding how safe the places we are really are; having a hard time connecting with locals depending on their culture (e.g. Bulgaria, Serbia); and now, on top of it all – not being able to keep a good posture, given that it is hard (if not impossible) to find places with a decent office structure.
I did a year of group travel. By month 8 I was completely ready to come home not that I didn’t still have great experiences in those last 4 months but yes, I was numb and exhausted from the constant planning. I learned to appreciate a lot that I took for granted back home. More recently I did 3 months by myself and by the end of month 2 I was ready to come home. There’s definitely something to be said for a month or two here or there. Depending on how much of an extrovert you are, spending longer may be easier for you. If you’re an introvert then going by yourself will be good for you but will become exhausting so I would recommend shorter periods by yourself. If you go with a group or partner then I’d say 4-8 months is doable but perhaps start with two. As I said, one of the unexpected benefits is being excited about back home, you get more clarity on the things you want to do when you get back.
Wow! I was a digital nomad for about six years. I lived in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Panama and Barbados. I’ve never heard anyone put the “experience numb” phenomenon into words. You definitely do get a little experience NUM after a while of seeing beautiful waterfalls and landscapes and beaches all the time. It just becomes normal and you start to crave routine again 😂 at this point I think I would rather just get a high-paying job in my home country and be able to travel all the time, then you don’t miss important dates with friends and family and you still get to see the whole world without going numb to how cool it is.
I could imagine if you like to travel all the time while working it’s a bit taxing but a lot of people just rent a place in Thailand, for example, and just stay in a condo for 6 months or 1-year contracts, and just chill out. For them, it is about changing their environment and having a warm place to stay. I personally couldn’t imagine working while traveling all the time.
My idea of being a digital nomad is setting up in a country for 12-18 months and doing weekend trips in the region once or twice a month, before moving onto the next country. That is what I plan to do when my youngest child graduates high school. I would do it now, but my divorce prevents me from taking my kids with me and there is no place I want to see bad enough to leave my school age kids for an extended period of time.
It depends on how you do it. What I realized early was that I didn’t have to be in a hurry. As long as basics are met, you’ll still find awe inspiring places. I’m in Colombia and live in simple places and go to the locations. It makes it special that way. Instead of constantly traveling, pick 2-4 for the year. By doing that you can use one place as a home base to work and still explore the pretty places in the country. Doing it this way keeps you a bit more grounded. If you don’t like the place, don’t go back. If you do, make it part of your jet setting. Staying with a family or in a family compound can be great too. Families often want to share their space with foreign people. They will keep you safe, fed and offer good advice on places to go. It does get lonely but the trade off is the memories you create. New food. Interesting people. Inspiring adventures. Unique wildlife and geography. It’s not easy. Language barriers can be frustrating and scary. The pros outweigh the cons to me. I love Colombia. It’s beautiful. Cheap. Perfect weather. Looking at Brazil or Vietnam next. Great article.
Totally resonate with what you’re saying.. To me, long term travel definitely took the “fun” out of traveling lol constantly planning and catching flights is tiring and you’re always just comparing your last destination to the new one instead of just enjoying them all. Living in a home and traveling frequently is just the best option for me
Traveling constantly is hard for various reasons. I traveled for years working digitally and after a while the burnout was real. Not from my work but the constant travel and never having a base or real home. It just got old to be on the road per say all of the time. Now I do moderate traveling and it has worked out better at least for me. I like having a base and then traveling when I feel like it.
With all due respect, the problem is not the digital nomad life style, but rather the truth is not everyone has the right personality to be constantly on the road. It takes a special person to genuinely enjoy the super busy on-the-move life style, and never feel home sick is another big personality trait required to make this work. My advise is to slow down your pace, stay longer in each new city, so you don’t feel exhausted from constantly having to hit the road. The longer you do it and the more you travel, the less and less homesick you will be, because you no longer have connection to any particular place that reminds you of home, but you get used to the concept home is anywhere in the world you want it to be.
I have been a teacher in a private school in London for 17 years (The private schools get much longer holidays here) with 4-5 months of holidays a year. I have seen the world during that time. It has felt like having the best of both worlds. Stability for a while and I can see my friends and family often while also having the freedom to roam the world. When you are on holiday you can just focus on the travel. Never numb to the travel experience because I have worked hard all term and the routine before i set out has become mundane again so i am again eager to see the world again. I always rent out my apartment while I am away from between one and two months at a time
Interesting take and definitely some things I’ve heard before from other travelers. I’ve been a digital nomad for almost 5 years now. Even though some things are worth noting. Others I have a different point of view on. I still love traveling. I love the flying and getting to know a new place. I still feel the awe of the everyday. The smiles on locals faces when they greet you. Messing up when trying to speak a different language. For me, I have no desire to return to my former life in Los Angeles. I’m truly grateful for my life now. I agree it’s not for everyone, but a lot mentioned is simply perspective. A good example is having a routine. I’ve maintained my routines, such a working out 4 times a week. Mostly in my Airbnb. Getting up early to meditate. They are interrupted by the traveling, but I simply go back into them once I’ve settled into the new place. I love my life now. You couldn’t pay me enough to ever go back to what life was like before I left.
One good trick that I have found for maintaining a routine is to pay for things upfront on a month to month basis. Particularly when travelling through Europe, I look up the nearest public indoor pool and pay for 12 entries per month membership upfront so that I always go for a swim 3 times a week. I then plan my work and other activities around the opening times of the pool and I find it really helps to provide me with structure 😊
I’ve been a digital nomad for 10 years and the biggest problem is routine. You can never manage consistency like maintaining good habits because places, environment change regularly and there are so many different variables and factors that keep you from maintaining consistent habits. Also you can’t have too many goods. Everything need to hold in a luggage. That’s a huge limit in life.
Great article! In college I did a term in the Swiss Alps and being from New Jersey I was SO amazed for the first month of the beauty but then like you said became “experienced numb.” On a side note, I really wish the American public educational system would invest in a second language for all students so we can speak as eloquently as you do in English (which is better than most Americans! 😂)
I’m living abroad in a third world country, have a six-figure net salary, and work from home most of the time. And still, I believe that as a student in high-school, I was much more productive and for some reason also had more fun and more free time. I spent about 8 hours per day in school, was happy to see my mates every day, would systematically learn new things, had extracurricular activities and partied hard every weekend. Now, I can do whatever I want each day. Since I’m not forced to go to the office, it’s difficult to motivate myself to go there. I do the couple of things that must be done for the job, the rest of the day, I watch articles or read online articles. I hardly ever go to the Gym, as I only realize 1-2 hours before they close that I should go again. So, all in all, I’m not really living nor achieving anything. I’m not unhappy, but I’m missing the days, where I was truly productive and working towards something in lieu of just having this weird routine of unproductiveness. Sometimes, I wish I would just have the 9-5 job my dad had, without all these options to move. The more structure I had in life in the past, the better it was, because on a weekend, I could fully enjoy it and while working, I was fully focussed on getting the stuff done. Now, it takes me ages to get even the simplest things done. So it feels as if I had less time than I actually have. I’m definitely not dreaming of an even “freer” life in Colombia, the Philippines or wherever. Especially not as a freelancer.
I go someplace for 6 weeks at a time twice a year. Coworking space with a monitor, suitable desk, chair, and air conditioning is mandatory. The big lie is to believe that you can go everywhere – but nope! You cannot just go to South East Asia if the time zone is an issue. You cannot change places every 2 weeks. You cannot go to very rural areas. Don’t stay for months if you miss your family. You are not on vacation, you have to treat your travel like a business trip because you are a business person, not a tourist. Work in the week, enjoy stuff in the evenings and weekends. no alcohol from Monday till Friday evening. Stay a couple miles away from tourist hot spots. Be a smart digital nomad, not a complaining dumb one.
Aww thanks! I’ve been a freelancer and an expat for a decade and one thing that’s never mentioned in social media is that being an expat or nomad seems very cool on the outside, but means dealing with isolation and loneliness on a daily basis. I love to travel and I love the fact that I can choose to do so whenever I want but I’m also happy to get back to my daily ‘normal’ life until the next adventure, and spend my Saturdays having coffee with my Dad or my bestie. It makes you more enthusiastic this way than traveling non stop and being ‘spoilt’ as you rightfully mentioned. How many times did I hear kids on a trip that are not impressed by anything because they just saw something more spectacular last week in another country lol
Agree with your experience. I’ve been on the road for almost 5y now and crave a base. There are lots of challenges that most people don’t see on Instagram or youtube. Yet, I think everyone should give it a try as it has never been easier to “try out” out this lifestyle. Also the personal growth aspect is invaluable.
I can confirm what you said here. My wife and I have tried the digital nomad thing, and may well try it again, BUT the work, the prep that has to go into the planning and adjusting to each place is not really a pleasure, and the new place may not be a pleasure either, it’s always a shot in the dark. Reliable/unreliable wifi is something that is only revealed on arrival too.
Digital nomad was a fad that is now ending. Everyone took off in 2013 and all went to the same places. Then reality hits, they go back to their homes, and a new group of nomads went to the same places to create the same content. Then covid. And now the new nomads are not having the success rate of the previous 2 groups because of content over saturation.
Thank you for this article, As someone who has lived in 9 different countries (5 constinents), for the past 12 years – I couldn’t agree more. I wasn’t a digital nomad, but I was travelling a lot for work and studies and having to change countries to build a top career in research (the career might be top, but academics don’t earn a lot by the way). It was an amazing experience but in the end you miss establishing roots somewhere – the healthcare aspect can be tricky so can visa issues. I’m now back to my own country – setting a side business to earn in a stronger currency while continuing to build my career in research. So far, it has been working for me and I don’t plan to change it.
Thank you for this article. My husband want to be a nomad ( not a digital one) . The idea was exciting before we had a kid and when I was in my 20s and 30s. But as I get older and my toddler is on the autistic spectrum, my intuition tells me that my son and I would benefit more from being stable in one place. You mention this feeling of researching places and starting over constantly, not being able to set routines etc… these are the specific reasons I am very reserved about the idea on this nomadic lifestyle. So your article kind of revealed I have good reasons of not wanting to embark in this at this point if our life. Thank you! All the best to you and your partner
Loved this completely honest perspective. For us, the “nomading” that works is staying at least 3-4 months in one place if we’re moving around. We also found that having a hub of renting out an apartment for the whole year, and then traveling for 2-3 months also works, but not being constantly on the move. I think it’s the only reason why this lifestyle has been sustainable for us for over 3 years, because we spend enough time somewhere to actually make a home and connections, and still rent an apartment back home when we want to go back to friends and family 🙂
I agree. I have lived for around 6 months in my campervan and traveled around europe. At first it felt amazing but after 2-3 weeks you get exhausted from continious searching for parking spots, camping grounds. No routines could be sustained hence you gain weight and generally its harder to keep your standards and it all felt so fake just to impress some strangers on the internet. Like so many in the comments are saying: Its much more interesting to have your main point around family and friends and spend maybe a longer weekend or a week or two somewhere nice.
The problem is, is that all these glamorous locations are always looked at from a leisure point of view. How beautiful it is, how amazing the food an all that. You almost never see article’s about how it is to work somewhere. Like, how the roads are, hospitals, public transport, supermarkets… You know, the stuff you need on a daily basis. And when you live in a place for longer, all that stuff starts to matter a lot more than that beautiful beach.
Great article! I am a digital nomad, but a structured one. For starters I think it’s about different strokes for different folks. If you leave “home” and always look at it as home, you’ll probably want to go back at some point. And I think some nomads go too extreme, moving around “too much.” Then get burn out. I have several bases in Europe which I rotate between, this way I know the places and I have friends there. I want to explore more and will go farther afield, but these 5 or 6 locations allow me to have multiple homes as such. I think this is a good compromise. This way you become more or a global citizen rather than just an endless traveller. Perhaps a little more comfortable.
The most difficult thing for me a a DN was that everything was temporary in my life – i didn’t have a place a could really call “mine”, so I couldn’t shape my home the way i like because i didn’t even have a real home. Friends were also temporal, and they’ve become more like an experience than people to me – here I spent time with this guy, in another place with other one and so on. To sum up – it was nice to live this kind of life and what I did and saw is mine forever, but I’m happier now, with my fam and friends thinking to buy a new sofa and planning vacation
I totally agree with you. I’m travel addict. When I had to work during my trips, I didn’t enjoyed as I expected. We are actually happy living at least one year in each country. We can have good habits, that are essential to be healthy and enjoy holidays when we can discover even remote areas with short flights or driving.
I felt same, I work in IT and during covid times I was going to holidays with family without taking vacations. Sitting on nice beach with laptop drinking mojito looks great on instagram but when you do this in reality it sucks. everyone around you are having a good time and relaxing while you are exhausted trying to balance job and vacation time. Now I really appreciate my quiet home office )))
Totally agree with you, I’m doing this since 2.5 years and I’m starting to get tired, I’m craving a base somewhere (didn’t find one yet) to stay at least 6-8 months and maybe the rest of the time traveling somewhere, so when I come back I can settle again and I don’t have to constantly be in new places with new people. Thanks for your honest review, we need more like this. I also started feeling numb to new experiences and thought it was just my problem, but thanks to your experience, I feel less weird!
Your first mistake is accepting and using without question a fashionable, puerile and inane descriptor like ‘Digital Nomad’! You are either a traveller who works to travel… or you are a holidaymaker trying to work online to extend your ‘holiday of a lifetime’ whilst getting ‘homesick’! ‘Digital Nomad’ therefore becomes nothing more than a slightly irritating, overused meaningless ‘online’ idiom! Just your mention of missing family, friends and special occasions automatically puts you into the ‘extended holidaymaker’ crowd with no offence intended. I left the UK with a backpack and the world to go and see more than 7 years ago… working online is always convenient but working locally has the potential to open alternative doors… mixing/combining them being the most prudent and enjoyable of course! Having just returned to Thailand from seeing the French Polynesian islands, a lifelong ambition, I am now working two online jobs ‘intensely’… having spent my travel budget in weeks rather than months too… it was very disappointing regarding how expensive Tahiti and the islands were! Having Thailand to return to as a very low cost of living ‘base’ was therefore essential! So of course the work/travel cycle now begins once again for me… work and save… still in paradise of course but I’m a ‘traveller’ with Tahiti taking me geographically speaking, half-way round the world from England! WTF is a ‘digital numpty’ anyway?.. sorry I meant nomad! Conversely, you two are too young anyway.
Also take into account that working from a different country also means you might be obligated to pay taxes in said countries. I’m sure most digital nomads don’t do this and the chances for getting caught are low, but it could happen that you get thrown in jail if you don’t formally file taxes in the countries that you were living and working in.
Hello, I can understand what you said about planning the trip and accommodation and continuously moving from one place to another. It can be very stressful and exhausting. The same is true when you feel almost indifferent or emotionally numb when you see a beautiful place, because you have seen so many places that are equally beautiful or equally extraordinary. As for me, I’m finishing a tour of Italy that I started almost a year ago (I’ve been taking photos and posting them (slowly) on Instagram since April), I visited Venice and Burano, and I I loved it. Even though two whole days there left me totally exhausted physically and emotionally. There are so many subjects to photograph, it’s overwhelming. I am happy to note that I have not totally lost my ability to marvel at beauty and strangeness like those I encountered in Cefalú, Syracuse, Noto, Catania, Agropoli, Naples, Lecce, Rome or Matera, which I saw briefly in your article. I can’t wait to return to Venice in the next few days. Regardless, your explanation of why you stopped being a digital nomad is sincere and truthful. Take care of yourself
I definitely relate to your points. After 13 months of being a digital nomad across 3 continents I’m incredibly excited to be able to have a true home base with a sense of community and being able to create an environment for healthy habits (even though Kansas City isn’t quite as glamorous as some of the places I’ve been)
Moving every month or so is a choice. You can stay in most countries for 3 to 6 months and more countries are offering DN visas. You could literally have two homes and bounce back and forth every 90 days for less than living in Western Europe or North America. That won’t suit everyone, but travel has always been interesting for me.
We have been digital nomads for a few years, and I wouldn’t change it with anything else. But I agree, is definitely not as glamorous as people think. When you explore all day, it means you might have to work late at night to finish a project. It means working on a chair with the computer on your lap because the hotel you booked doesn’t have a desk. I’ve found myself exporting a article (we are article editors) while sitting on a bus from Thailand to Cambodia. People think digital nomads are always on holiday, but there is nothing further away from the truth. Is an awesome lifestyle, but definitely not for everyone.
The key is: how long you stay in the places. 2-3 months for me it’s ideal nowadays (I started staying max. 28 days when was in Asia – because of Airbnb monthly discount). Less then this is stressful life… today I’m going to Moda, Istanbul, and I know it will be a lost day of moving myself and stuff around. But it’s part of the lifestyle..
No offence, I think you need to look at the dissolving affect of another’s culture by your presence; everywhere is becoming Canada and not in a good way, just sameness. You asked if it was good or bad, being a digital nomad, Its bad! You need to build community and put down routes, rather than extracting value from a place and its people. The idea of a bucket list of places to visit is getting larger and so is everyone’s’ CO2 emissions.
I’m a digital “Slow-mad” I’m currently in Costa Rica and have been here for the last 7 months in 2 different towns. Before this I was in Mexico for 8 months and lived in only 2 towns as well. I like getting to know a place and moving around a little less. Next stop will be Italy or Portugal. I love traveling with more of a local experience so I rent apartments medium to long term for a better price. I also love coworking places to make new friends.
Thanks for speaking the truth! In my opinion, I’d prefer experiencing new places stress- and workfree so I can fully enjoy that place. I’ve taken work with me on trips in the past, and it was less glamorous indeed. 1. I didn’t fully experience the trip 2. I was tensed instead of relaxed because I was thinking of work all the time 3. I worked less efficiently and thus didn’t provide good work
In some ways not much has changed. 25 years ago, I spent 2 years teaching English in Korea. A very popular way to live abroad at the time. The desire to travel and live in new places definitely has become easier and the opportunities have expanded, but as he points out most of the time you’re still just working. No glamor, just a different location, different language, different culture, different food. All fun to consider as I plan my next living abroad adventure. Will do the, find a home base and do day or weekend trips while I’m there. I did the 8 countries on 3 continents in 5 weeks a few years ago and, fun though it was, I prefer taking it slow and connecting with the locals.
I’ve done it for years and years. If you are working a 9 to 5 it can suck because you can’t do anything. You traveled around the world to sit in an Airbnb taking meetings and one day a week to take a tour. It used to be cheap but now flights and Airbnb are thru the roof so you better have a tech job or you’ll be literally in the ghetto or in a windowless basement Airbnb.
I think the problem often is trying to see as much as possible and traveling too fast. It’s very important to move on a very slow pace if continuing nomad life. 1-2 years globetrotting is okay, but after that it becomes overwhelming to work and travel continuously. We have slowed down a lot in recent years and ended up having a base in Belgrade. And after 7 years of nomad life we are actually doing the same thing that you are now, having a home base in our native Finland at least for a while. In the future I think a smooth pace would be two live 6-12 months in one country.
Digital Nomad is an umbrella term that you can tailor to your own preferences. For most people constantly traveling to a new place every month or two is probably unsustainable and you’ll get burnt out quickly. It’s also important to understand the reason you are doing it. Are you doing it for the high of going to cool exotic places and to make articles and instagram posts to show off to your friends and acquaintances your glamorous lifestyle or are there more practical reasons behind it? If you are running a business there are tons of financial benefits of doing business outside western countries such as tax benefits, lower cost of living, cheaper to higher people and opportunities to meet likeminded entrepreneurial people and stay long enough to form relationships with locals. From there you can research which places offer the lifestyle best tailored to your needs and spend more time there and just sporadically travel to other places when the itch to go somewhere new or exotic. If you’re from a western country you can skip the cold seasons and go back to see friends and family during the spring and summer. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing thing it can be anything you want it to be.
Digital nomad isn’t for everyone..you’ll have to be a person who enjoys being constantly on the move and hates being stuck at home. “Home” is where your heart is. Or as the Bible puts “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Don’t travel for the sake of travelling. Do it with passion.
You don‘t have to change location every week/month when being a nomad. You certainly can for a while if you want to first find out where the best places are for you. But you can also stay in one place for 3 years and then move on. I think that is nomadism too. The good old going abroad for a semester, year or multiple years is in essence nomadism too, not only the perpetual traveler lifestyle which often is more focussed on tax and bureaucracy optimization than really enjoying the world.
“biggest cons of being digital nomad: not being able to be with friends and family” so no cons for me since i have no friends and almost no family… objectively, i think experiences that you had being a nomad like this, most of the population will never experience so it doesnt matter if you missed birthdays or whatnot, anyone can have friends and go out but not anyone can be a nomad
Thanks for the honest talk. “Digital Gypsy” is a person with no home, no race, no tribe and no country. If you think about it – it is sad, and lonely life, among people who are not your own. Better work very, very hard in your beautiful country, make lots of babies w/your beautiful girlfriend (or wife) and go on loooong vacations.
I’m not a digital nomad but I moved to Malaysia from the USA. Malaysia feels like home and is a great place. However, I do miss big events back home and it makes me sad. I moved to Malaysia because I married a Malaysian. We both work in education and we get alot of holiday time which I equate to about 12 weeks a year and a few long weekends. So we work in our travelling around are holiday time and it is amazing. I was able to go home to the US for 3 weeks during Christmas time. So if you are planning to move abroad like into education. Some international schools offer good benefits.
this does very much seem like a personal preference issue than anything else… amount of resources seems to also play a role… I am amazed every day with every new experience, I am wowed all the time and I appreciate each moment. being jaded is not an issue of how many places you see, maybe discuss this with your therapist. I have been a nomad (NOT a digital nomad to be clear) since 1995, one may have butlers, chefs, housekeepers, a whole team to plan trips and travel… it really all depends on your own personal situation
Dude! – wish i saw this 11 months ago, mrs and i did the same thing, rented out the houses, modified our 4×4 & bought a caravan traveled the coast of australia for 6 months and found it so boring, no routinie, no base, no space, no real family and friends to enjoy the moment….. we ended up agreeing after a few months on the road and now we are in a new state new house but still far from everyone! we’ll see how we go…
Who’re you trying to make happy though? Your friends and family? Your woman? Been doing DN lifestyle and emigrated many, many years ago, before DN was even a term and didn’t think anything of it either. My life, my choices, my risk taking. Friends and family have always had tons of excuses to not visit me, but expected my return instead. They didn’t book tickets and went out of their way to comfort me. Parents just the same, they’re trying to guilt you into “coming home” to be close to them. Birthdays and weddings, really? In the end, they’re only serving themselves and don’t care about what I want or think, they’re just stuck in old models of what home should be and are busy leading their lives the way they want. What’s making you happy, man? Did anyone ever ask you?
Digital Nomad lifestyle(*as I am one and have been one for many years) **ISN’T FOR EVERYONE** especially if they are with ANOTHER PERSON. Gosh!!! Like sooooooooooooo many reasons why I really dislike the current ANTI-DIGITAL NOMAD but “I’M a “RECENT” digital nomad like in the past 3 years” crowd. These are some reasons WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BE A DIGITAL NOMAD 1 – You don’t have a skill to sell 2 – You don’t love the work you do 3 – You don’t want to take risks 4 – You don’t have a back-up plan 5 – You want a steady paycheck 6 – You like fast food from time to time to taste EXACTLY like it does in YOUR HOME COUNTRY 7 – You are a serious workaholic and haven’t figured out how to STRIKE THE BALANCE of working remotely. 8 – You Get BORED easily. And you aren’t content with SOLITUDE & PEACE WITHIN YOURSELF 9 – You can’t take naps without winding up SLEEPING LONGER THAN your NAPTIME 10 – You don’t have ALL THE ACCESSORIES ON THE ROAD NECESSARY TO DO IT FULL TIME. **MAJOR ONES** 11 – The current **PASSIVE INCOME AMOUNTS** recommended and/or suggested before you begin the travel abroad I would recommend SEVERAL investments necessary that MAKE YOU MONEY WHILE YOU SLEEP OR WHILE ON THE ROAD via a serious INTERNET CONNECTION and/or SATLINK connection service or equivalent 12 – You have a SEVERE SHOPPING OR “EATING OUT EXPENSIVE AND LAVISHLY” habit(*this one I see comes up alot with fellow nomads who think they can spend $50(USD) in another country & have nothing in their fridge. 13 – You have entomophobia(fear of bugs/insects).
Easy for you to say when home for you is Copenhagen, one of the nicest cities and countries in the world! I’m from northern Virginia in the U.S. For me it’s mind-numbingly boring, and there’s nowhere in the U.S I want to live (used to live in NYC which was fun for a bit, got tired of it). I’ve been nomading for the last 5 years. I totally agree with you. and would like to have a home base. Just haven’t found a place that feels like home enough for me to want to really invest in living there. I think Europe is awesome, especially because it’s so easy to travel between countries. But again, haven’t found one city/country that I like enough to want to invest in getting a long-term visa and go through the whole immigration process. Also Europe has definitely gotten a lot more expensive, and that’s part of the reason I’m in Asia now.
I have worked almost a decade as a deck officer on merchant marine (LNG vessels), then 5 years on yachts during cruises at summer season. After gathering some earnings I got into real estate and tourism services. I went to the sea because I was in the need of the money and got away as soon as the opportunity appeared, can’t imagine myself doing a nomad lifestyle ever.
Some people need this wake up call and to go through it to appreciate what’s at home and the foundation they’ve left behind, which makes you cherish it more afterwards. They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. By suspending your current foundational lifestyle and relationships, you can learn to appreciate it more in the long run through digital nomading, which is a net positive. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!
I am actually going to try to make cruisin a money maker. I want to cruise around the world and go on vacation-holidays and just show people what they can do as a family or as a disabled person. I will be a digital nomad sort of, but in reality I’ll only need wi-fi when I want to upload content. Currently, I am just learning all that I can learn and taking notes. Thanks for your honesty! In my case, I won’t really miss what I don’t have, so living on my own and going away from what I know, won’t be the problem. The problem will be my food allergies, so I hope that SAAT therapy might help me. If it does, great, if it doesn’t oh well, I’ll make do!
I could not agree with this article more. Personally, I’ve settled in two or three places that I rotate around. The effort, both mental and physical, that discovering and getting set up in a new town takes is not often talked about. I also rarely bother with all the tourist / Instagram experiences anymore. Spectacular viewpoints are like sunsets and churches, nice the first few times but I really don’t need to see any more. Missing the family definitely. I understand the friends thing but that will probably change as you get older and they are all doing their own things anyways. Once a year to catch up can be enough.
We worked on the road for years while traveling in an RV. It does wear you down with moving continuously. Now, we take long trips for months at a time abroad. Sadly, having a local business now prevents us from being able to leave it too long. I personally prefer the nomadic lifestyle though. Your article was excellent. Thanks for sharing this.
I traveled and lived in different world for on and off for 10 whole years. It was amazing to be able to travel around whole world. Those memories I will never lose and live with me forever but traveling world is hard work. It’s difficulty you exchange with new experiences. So I’m finally retired from world traveler and now on my way to be come pilot
During my world exploration, I meet many digital normads. I always wonder how they can make enough money by being one. They seem to escape expensive countries, but they don’t earn enough stably anyway. It’s much better with thrifty hitchhikers and bicyclists. They are seeing and experincing more of the interaction with the locals, instead of sitting in front of computers.
I’ve been living the solo digital nomad life for a cool 2 years now, and it’s taken me to some incredible places – Africa, the Canary Islands, Bali, Australia, Europe, America, you name it! I absolutely love striking up conversations and making friends along the way, but I’ve come to realize that it’s not as cool as it may seem. Especially when you’re a solo traveler, you often feel lonely, even when you’re in a room with 10 people talking to you. Every relationship is volatile, and to be honest, while traveling, I don’t perform at work as well as I do when I’m with all my familiar surroundings back home. On top of that, I’d like to mention that I’m not a YouTuber or someone selling “dust” – I’m a data scientist with a substantial academic background. Digital nomad is a lifestyle, but people think is a dream to achieve.
I’ve been doing it for 7 years and I’ve long been at the point of ‘dedigitalnomadisation’ as I call it. 1-2 years is ideal. But any longer than that and you have to be prepared for the irreversible damage it does to your mental health, character, and so on. I’ve recently become a UX Designer and will be looking or jobs later in the year and moving back to Europe (I’m British/Polish dual citizen). I cannot wait to work for someone else again and not have to live a life where everything is connected to your income. I mean, I’ve been fortunate – I’ve never particularly had to budget and things work-wise have always just ‘worked out’. Experience numbness! The worst part – and complacency. No where is interesting anymore and you have no understanding of danger because you’re so comfortable. I don’t regret a moment however!
Thanks for the realness of this article. My current goal is to be able to work from home / work from anywhere. The problem is knowing how to do it. I’m currently a Personal Trainer so I’m trying to transfer onto online. But I think I defiantly resonate I think I’d like a balance of working from home mostly / and then travel go on trips when I want.
Your problem is you didn’t understand what digital nomads is. It’s not a way how to escape home. It’s freedom to live where you want because you you have remote work. That’s it. If you miss family, friends and so on. Your place always was Copenhagen. And you need go to holidays 2x per year and that’s it. Some people like myself want remote jobs because I don’t wanna live in cities. I like to be in country side. But without driving license your movement is limited. Good luck.
Travel isn’t your passion. That’s all. You describe travel as taxing, tiring, and work. Of course you wouldn’t want to do it all the time. If your passion were traveling and travel planning then being a digital nomad makes sense, but not everyone has that passion. Follow your passion, and it won’t feel like work.
I started my Onlinebusiness more then 20 years ago when there was no Social Media – for us it was a Business and not vacation in Bali. We met in different parts of the world but we were working and went back home to continue working…. When the word “digital nomad” came up, I was shaking my head – I called it “modern low cost backpacker”.
Thank you for the article, my wife and I had a similar experience to what you just mentioned. I have been working remotely for over 13 years, but only 2 spent as a full-scale nomad. I agree especially with the fact of not being able to feel any excitement. … but after a bit of a break, we wish to do it again 🙂
Good article! I was also traveling and working at the same time and it’s such a mess. Keeping a routine is almost impossible, internet connection was not always as stable as I’d have liked and moving among countries causes lots of stress. It’s difficult to focus on work, even more when other people are going for holidays and you have to work. I think I need one full year at each place. At least, this would help create a routine and a settlement, but changing every 2 months it’s insane for your mental health. Greeting from Spain!
thanks for being on hinest on youtube. I am currently planning to become a digital nomad. For me, my home is just a base, as you said, my family and friends are in my place of origin. Additionally, I have been trying remote work for a while. After several attempts, I believe I am well-suited for this way of working. So my current plan is to live in different cities for 2-3 months each year (it could also be the same city, depending on how much I like the place), working while having fun. Then I will return home for 2 weeks to a month to spend time with my family. This intermittent global nomad lifestyle suits me better.
Plus I think in general people are over that. I know I am. I live and work around the world as part of my job as boring licenced teacher not a cool english teacher. at 56 after 7 years in china i now live in myanmar for minimum two years. I make real articles with stories. not the camera wave around and fly off rubbish
“Having the freedom to choose” Well said, Adam! I think you had the advantage of doing it with your partner. Solo traveling as a digital nomad is even more tiring I think, since you’re either MEGA SOCIAL or COMPLETELY ALONE. There’s not much of an in between. After 10 years of traveling the globe, I’m also finally at that moment of reassessing things. Great article, cheers!
I would like to find a new home outside of the united states. But I would like to be able to come back to the states for a couple of months per year for our family. So I would like to travel and search out what places we like until we find a nation to settle in. Then travel as we are led to and come back to the states for family a couple of months per year. So we would be “temporary” digital nomads.
I’m SEMi-digital-nomad, so, what is it? Instead of always being on the move, you choose a country, get job there and settle down for a while (about 2 years or so), immerse yourself in the culture, and then shift when you feel the need for change. Perks? Compared to full-time digital-nomad, you can actually save more money. Plus, the 2-3 year stay meshes well with typical job changes, meaning you can level up your income. Best of all, you gain in-depth knowledge about different cultures and people. Drawbacks? Shuffling between countries means a fair share of red tape. You may also lose out on some potential wealth-building, like owning property or starting a local business. Also, it might be tricky understanding local rental laws. Be cautious of potential scams. And, while you’ll make friends, maintaining those connections can be tough with constant moves, though online friendships can help. All in all, being a semi-digital nomad is a cool blend of adventure and stability. It has its challenges, but with some planning and a good dose of flexibility, it can turn into a rewarding lifestyle.
I stayed in a hostel in the Philippines recently. It was supposedly for Digital Nomads. The place look so PRETENTIOUS. Some locals were just there to meet foreigners. Which is okay. But when you are pretending to be working and posing with a laptop to drool over some hipster who doesnt even drink coffee, that is just sad.
I`ve just quit my digital nomad lifestyle after almost 3 years of non-stop living abroad and traveling – it`s actually really exhausting and similar to you I did it because with my income I actually couldn`t really survive in my home country (how F** up is that?) it was cheaper to travel – but now I`ve returned back home and got a “normal” job to get back to “normal” life. I have some articles about it on my website in case you`re interested in the story, for me the digital nomad just isn`t sustainable anymore and it isn`t the dream anymore. I`d rather work hard for a while and then take proper days/weeks/months off to travel than to work while traveling. the other hack is to find work (like a 9-5) abroad, I feel it`s easier to have a routine and a somewhat simple life.