Globetrotting Gal

What could possibly be better than sitting on a white sandy beach with a coconut in hand as you casually work a few hours on your lifestyle business? You’ve seen countless influencers make it look so easy, but is becoming a digital nomad all that glam?

Please allow me to break it down, from my own personal experience as well as the opinions of those close to me. I’ll throw in some trustworthy stats from Forbes for good measure, too ;).

What the Heck is a Digital Nomad?

In case this term is new to you, a digital nomad is someone who works remotely (online) while traveling the world. Some have thier own businesses and some work as contractors for other companies. Unlike a remote worker, they change locations often, embracing spontanity and location independence.

Pros of Being a Digital Nomad

1. Be your own boss.

Yeah, who doesn’t want that? Go where you wanna go. Do what you wanna do. Stay as briefly or as long as you like. Eat stupid amounts of pad thai. Sleep in.

I would also say “make your own hours,” but that really depends on the company you work for if you are doing freelance work.

2. Live like no-one is watching.

When you stay in one place your whole lives, it’s sometimes hard to be who you really are on the inside. Family and friends can be judgemental. Small towns especially can make it feel like eyes are on you ALL THE TIME.

Fear of ostracization is real. Perhaps what I’ve enjoyed the most as a nomad is this freedom of creative expression.

3. Get your zen on.

Mindfulness and spirituality tend to go hand in hand with being a nomad. If you’ve been living a high-stress life, time away may be just what you need. And when choosing the perfect location, why not go with a place with lots of great wellness studios?

Top cities for digital nomads interested in yoga:

1. Ubud, Bali
2. Ericeira, Portugal – Here’s a great list of yoga studios in Ericeira.
3. Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

These are just a few of the smaller cities where you can easily add yoga and relaxation to your daily schedule. They also represent 3-different time zones, which might be a factor with your work schedule :).

4. Have a better quality of life.

Work less, play more. If you choose one of the many inexpensive cities around the world to live and work remotely in, it’s like hitting a jackpot. My cost of living in Chiang Mai, Thailand was half of what is was in both the US and Portugal.

If you can secure a job with a US/Canadian/Australian or other high-paying country, you are well-positioned to work only part-time. Enjoy the rest of your time doing whatever the hell you want.

5. Life is one big party (if you want it to be).

This may or may not be on your list of pros, but it’s undeniably a pro for many who choose the nomad lifestyle. I once saw a guy on Tinder write “Here for a good time, not for a long time” in his profile. That pretty much sums up 90% of the male digital nomads you will meet, if I’m being honest! And about 50% of the women, if I had to guess.

The world is full of digital nomad hubs just waiting for your arrival and debauchery. Think spring break, except it lasts indefinitely. This is especially true in places like Koh Phangan, Thailand and Medillín, Columbia.

So yeah, I think this goes on both the pro and the con list…

Cons of Being a Digital Nomad

1. Hard to maintain friendships made on the road

One of the biggest challenges you’ll face as a digital nomad is having to say goodbye to some of the friends you’ll make along the way. It’s human nature to attach and build social circles, so when you lose someone close, loneliness is likely to follow.

In my own experience, this was exciting at first, because I was meeting so many new and interesting people. But after some years as a nomad, I felt overwhelmed by the number of people I no longer had the bandwidth to stay in touch with. I also found it hard to share personal things with people I just met. Finding ways to create meaningful connections is important.

2. Difficult to begin a serious romantic relationship

If finding a lasting romantic relationship is important to you, you should know that being a digital nomad makes that harder. Men and women who are stable, living in one place and looking for a commitment will be wary of you! Meanwhile, other digital nomads or travelers you meet will often be looking for short flings only.

One way to overcome this challenge is to stay longer in each place. Or as my friends here in Lisbon say – become a slowmad. As a slowmad, you can dive deeper into the culture and become a part of the community. Another way to keep more serious romantic options available is to choose base cities with less turnover. Lisbon, for example, has more expats, slowmads and locals compared with little island towns like Koh Phangan, Thailand or Canguu, Bali.

3. Lack of routines can create stress

When your address changes every month, creating routines can be hard. Every time you move, there is inevitably an adjustment period. You may not even notice that the fatigue you develop after some months is due to the lack of routines that humans so naturally crave!

Try to have rituals that stay the same no matter where you are. For example, if you like to exercise 4 mornings per week, look for places to stay with a gym in them or nearby. (Consider staying at least one month to make memberships more viable.) If Monday is your busiest work day, ensure a good workspace is available and don’t let outside distractions get in your way.

4. Missing out on friends and family in your home country

When your friends at home are celebrating milestones – like a graduation or a marriage – you are likely to feel you’re missing out. The FOMO can cause a little depression or uncertainty at times.

While you won’t always be able to fly home, I highly recommend making efforts to maintain the relationships that are most important to you. Carve out a little time for lengthy phone calls. Go home for the holidays if you can. Old friends are dear and irreplaceable. One day you may return home and you’ll be glad that those connections are not lost.

Are You Ready to Roam Free?

First ask your boss if they are open to letting you work remotely. (You don’t know until you ask!). Suggest a trial period so they can see that your productivity won’t change. If it’s a definite no-go, check out these sweet websites for remote work.

Plan Your Exit-the-Matrix Strategy!

Becoming a digital nomad may have been on your mind for a while now. As a transformational travel coach, I can help you overcome any doubts, weight your options and plan the transistion. Set up a quick chat with me to see if you’re the right fit for my program :).