Digital nomads are remote workers who usually travel to different locations. They often work in coffee shops, co-working spaces, or public libraries, relying on devices with wireless internet capabilities like smart phones and mobile hotspots to do their work wherever they want. With 34% of remote employees working 4-5 days a week out of the office, the digital nomad lifestyle could be an exciting possibility if you’ve caught the travel bug and want to break free from the shackles of 9-5 life.
Living as a digital nomad, you’re able to see incredible places, learn from different cultures, and work when or where you want to — true freedom. There are many types of digital nomads out there. Some people travel around their own country by campervan or RV. Some live on sailboats, working from different ports of call. Others stay in backpacker hostels or rent Airbnb apartments while flying from country to country.
There are many upsides to the location independence that digital nomads enjoy. Who wouldn’t want to check off their ultimate bucket list while working from a laptop anywhere in the world? Here are some of the benefits:
- Save money living in a low cost-of-living area
- The flexibility to live where you want
- Ditch the toxic environment of office politics
- Experience new cultures & make new friends
- Learn new skills or languages
- Broaden your mind through travel experiences
- Set your own schedule and take time off when you want to
- Spend winters on the beach, and summers in the mountains!
Working from anywhere is a dream for many people. But like all life choices, there are both pros and cons to a nomadic lifestyle. Here are some of the downsides:
- Moving constantly is exhausting
- Your productivity can suffer
- Digital nomads often battle loneliness
- Finding stability is difficult
- A general lack of private space
- Travel loses its luster & wow factor
If you like to travel and move around from place to place, enjoying new experiences then this line of work can be really worth it. However knowing the drawbacks is also a good thing to keep in mind.