Lying in the sun as you work with sand between your toes, and the sound of beach waves. Or maybe working by day and out for dinner at night, in Paris! Who wouldn't want to trade in an office for traveling the world as you work? Sounds perfect, right?
Or is it?
Photo by Anastasiia Nelen on UnsplashIt's hard to imagine there are anything but positive reasons or pros to being a digital nomad, but there are cons as well!
What is a Digital Nomad?
"A digital nomad is a person who travels freely while working remotely using information and communication technology such as the internet." They can easily travel and work as long as they have Wi-Fi.
Photo by OPPO Find X5 Pro on UnsplashExamples of Digital Nomads
A freelance writer who travels across Europe while writing. They submit their work as they complete articles, stories, and other pieces, and receive feedback.
A virtual assistant who provides admin or technical help to clients remotely. They could live in Italy for a month, then move somewhere new. Their remote work allows them to work anywhere.
An online teacher or tutor. Their work can be done virtually with video conferencing platforms (think Zoom, Teams, Google Meet). They might need a quiet space, but could find one in a hotel, quiet cafe, etc.
Content creators. They're social media professionals who manage accounts and create content for people or businesses. As long as they can access the social media accounts, they can work from anywhere.
If you want some inspiration, follow these accounts on Instagram. You can see the jobs above, plus other jobs you can have as a digital nomad.
Pros of Being a Digital Nomad?
It sounds like the perfect scenario: being able to work from a beach or a mountaintop, or travelling the world. What exactly are the pros?
Travelling full-time. Relocate every few weeks or "slow travel", and stay awhile.
Whenever and wherever. Cafes, bookstores, hillsides, if there's a table and Wi-Fi, you can work. You can even move with the weather, living in an endless summer!
Learning and growth. New cultures, about yourself, the world, and all the interesting people.
Lower cost of living. Most destinations will have lower living costs, and expenses will be less without a car, insurance, etc.
Photo by David L. Espina Rincon on UnsplashIncreased creativity. You can seek inspiration everywhere and you have more people and places to find it.
Better pay. You can work for clients in countries that pay well — better than some clients back home.
Freedom from the everyday. No more 9 to 5, shirt and tie, boardroom meetings, lunch at your desk.
Looking for more reasons? Check out this reel about working in different cities with a digital nomad visa.
Cons of Being a Digital Nomad?
Truthfully, you likely won't sit on a lounge chair in the water, OR directly in the sun. "A laptop is a digital nomad’s livelihood, and few will risk dropping it in the water or overheating in the sun." Some other cons:
Wi-fi. Finding good, stable wi-fi can be difficult in remote places. And without it, you can't work abroad.
Stress. Navigating new places, time zones, organizing SIM cards, groceries, etc. This can all be stressful.
Loneliness. Making friends is hard if you're always on the move. Technology makes it easy to stay in touch, but you may miss physical connections.
Photo by Donald Merrill on UnsplashLack of stability. It's comforting to have a cozy home, comfy bed, your favorite eatery close by. Some may miss those comforts that make life stable.
Income insecurity. You may need to rely on a few streams of income. That can be unreliable and unpredictable.
Travel fatigue. Exciting, exhilarating...and exhausting! Fatigue can make it hard to enjoy all these new experiences and can also lead to burnout.
Lack of structure. With freedom comes choices. You need to motivate yourself to stay on track with work as the beach calls to you!
Finding the right place can be hard, too. Check out the reel below that ranks locations out of 10:
Quiz
Consider a digital nomad who values a sense of belonging and structure. What are some challenges they may face?
Becoming a Digital Nomad
Did those pros intrigue you? And did those cons NOT scare you away?
Ask yourself these questions to get you thinking:
Do you want a lifestyle change?
Do you want to travel?
Do you have the necessary skills, or are you open to learning them?
Do you want to work for yourself?
Do you want to be free and independent?
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
If you're even more excited, here are some resources that you can explore:
Noma Collective and WiFi Tribe allow you to travel with a community of digital nomads as you work remotely.
Digital Nomad World is a platform that helps you find places and jobs.
How to Become a Digital Nomad With No Skills (9-minute video)
Take Action
Photo by Austin Distel on UnsplashBefore you become a digital nomad:
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