15 Oct
People who can work everywhere
The digital nomad movement is growing rapidly. As more people are traveling the world, finding ways to do their work remotely has become more critical. Instead of working at home or in an office for part of the week, digital nomads can work from anywhere they want.
The motives
Digital nomading is a style of living. People choose it for some strong good reasons:
- Diverting the 9-6 routine
Spending every free evening differently by discovering a new place. Trying exotic food. Changing accommodations. The nomadic state of mind implies a fulfilling traveling experience while offering a getaway from the ordinary boring reality.
- New travel achievements
Do you have a long list of desirable locations? If so, there is no more time to waste. Life is just a certain period of time that you can use for making long-lasting memories. Putting down temporary roots in unknown foreign places provides rich experiences and vivid leisure time.
- Community belonging
The digital nomad journey gives an opportunity to meet new people and make friends as an expat. There are plenty of groups for remote workers and travelers who are open to communication. There are also special co-working and co-living spaces where you can start long-life friendships. Becoming a nomad you’re joining a vast network of like-minded people who can help you along the way. Did you know that the nomad community is so huge that if it was a country, it would rank #41 by population size, just after Canada (37,742,154)?
The challenges
The wandering lifestyle is not for everyone. The most common problems people face are:
- Things might get expensive
Traveling on a regular basis can be tight for the budget. Trips often call for unpredictable expenses, e.g., your laptop is broken or the cost of utilities in winter outreaches the usual level. Your purse must be ready for such circumstances so you don’t find yourself broke in a long-time perspective.
- Lack of motivation
Nomads are usually very well-organized and maintain work-life balance masterfully. Publisher and teacher Sara Tyler in the interview for Bright Nomad recommends to set SMART goals to stay disciplined. She doesn’t allow herself to go to the beach or do anything for leisure until she has completed her goal for the day. Otherwise, if you relax too much, it will affect your career and well-being in general.
- Homesickness
Traveling means distancing yourself from friends and family. While the new experience of a foreign country may be exciting at first, it’s common to feel homesick over time. It’s easier to overcome this challenge with making new acquaintances and facetiming with the closest ones. Make yourself ready for this feeling and don’t be hard on yourself, it happens to everyone.
Being a digital nomad
If you already have a job you love and feel tired from your daily routine, weigh in the pros and cons and maybe give it a try. Anyway, the nomadic experience will bring into your life new travel adventures and memorable moments you will cherish afterward.
