The Truth About Being a Digital Nomad
In recent years, the idea of becoming a digital nomad has gained significant popularity. The lifestyle of being able to work remotely while traveling the world and exploring new destinations seems enticing and exciting. However, the reality of being a digital nomad is not always as glamorous as it may seem.
Firstly, it is important to acknowledge that being a digital nomad requires a certain level of discipline and self-motivation. Working remotely means being able to prioritize efficiently, managing your time effectively, and staying focused even in unfamiliar environments. It may be tempting to spend the day sightseeing or relaxing on the beach, but the reality is that work still needs to be done.
One of the biggest challenges digital nomads face is establishing a work-life balance. Traveling to new places and experiencing different cultures can be thrilling, but it can also be exhausting. Constantly being on the move can make it difficult to find a sense of routine and stability. It is crucial to set boundaries between work and leisure activities to maintain productivity and prevent burnout.
Another aspect to consider is the financial side of being a digital nomad. While the cost of living and working remotely can be more affordable in some countries, it is essential to plan and budget accordingly. This means factoring in not only accommodation and transportation costs but also the expenses associated with reliable internet connections, travel insurance, and any necessary visas or work permits. Additionally, freelance or remote work can be unpredictable, so having a financial safety net is crucial.
Loneliness and social isolation can also be major challenges for digital nomads. While it may seem exciting to constantly meet new people and have the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, the reality is that building long-lasting relationships can be difficult. Moving from one place to another frequently can lead to a transient lifestyle, making it harder to forge deep connections. It is important to make an effort to engage with local communities, join digital nomad groups, and establish a support network to combat loneliness.
Lastly, there is the question of personal growth and fulfillment. While digital nomads have the opportunity to experience different cultures, learn new languages, and explore unique destinations, there can also be a sense of restlessness and always searching for the next adventure. It is essential to find a balance between traveling and personal development to ensure a fulfilling lifestyle.
Being a digital nomad can be an incredible experience filled with personal and professional growth, but it is important to be aware of the challenges that come with it. To succeed as a digital nomad, discipline, adaptability, and a strong sense of self-motivation are vital. Planning, budgeting, and establishing a routine will help in maintaining work-life balance. Engaging with local communities and building a support network can combat feelings of loneliness, and finding personal fulfillment will come from finding a balance between exploration and personal growth.
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I am in Category 2, but I want to transition to Category 3.
At 35 I primarily want to work for myself doing what I love (making vlogs and writing). I don't want to be working for someone at this point, nor I see any benefits in it.
Thing that I like the least about being a digital nomad is that building relationships (or even say family) while you are on the road it hard. It all ends up as either hookups, or friendships. But nobody thinks that you will stay. And knowing myself – I probably won't stay indeed.
Life is a lesson. Being a nomad is a punishment for going against the main flow. But it's rewarding and has pros as well. Can't see myself being static again, but it also means some emotional pain and discomfort along the way.
about cons, an alternative is to work from home and look some smell factory, or Volcano or sea? About internet, sure, but every country has a tourist internet cart. Full time remote is dreamy maybe part time in Asia is total dreamy
Hi! Are you there?
Really well done.
I just started working full time as a digital nomad. At least for now, I'd much rather do this than how I was working before.
I just wanna live in Thailand making big us dollars.
I’ve just left Bali after 1 year working remotely. It was life changing, I’m mentally, physically and financially better off than I was before I arrived. I’d never lived abroad before or even been to Bali but decided to take the jump. Best decision I’ve ever made.
Get out there and experience it for yourself, worst case you can always return home because nothing ever changes there!
What about tax though? Do you have to pay local taxes to the country you’re in if you’re there for a certain amount of time and do you still have to pay tax for example in the U.K.?
Been digital nomad for 8 years now, and I'd add to read airbnb reviews too – sometimes an advertised internet speed is not as good as you'd expect, so best to read (and leave!) reviews regarding that. Save the best part of the day by working in a timezone some hours ahead – say Europe if with US based job, or SEA with Europe based job. Move slowly and stay longer to get to know the place, work week should be no diff than when you were an office working, stay longer so you have more weekends to explore. You can have an amazing life with full time job too, it just needs some planning. Still milion times better thhan office job, so let's not invent new first world problems.
Seems very lonely, family wise. No kids, no love, just wandering and touring.
cafes in portugal hate digital nomads because they take up space for hours while buying 1 to 3 euros worth of food lol. locals hate them because digital hobos drive up local prices
I have been a digital nomad or digital entrepreneur or worked from home since the 90's (and I was a single mom as well). Sometimes I worked a regular job too. I travelled throughout North America.
The plan was to work from my laptop in coffee shops and fast food places. I spent money there.
However there was lately a trend that has been very unfriendly towards digital nomads including 30 minute limits. Coffee shops used to be a place to meet clients, dates and social gatherings. However, it has become overpriced and toxic with super loud music and uncomfortable chairs so they could improve the turnover.
Well done!
I have an rv now, I added solar panels, batteries, power stations and a wifi hub with the money I would have spent in these places. Then I bought a French press, and coffee and groceries since I stopped eating out daily.
Meanwhile these coffee shops and restaurants are shutting down anf going out of business. Closing hundreds of food and coffee franchises.
Youtube has coffeeshop music to keep me company
And since I don't spend hours at these places, I got a dog.
Point is, there's several ways of travelling. I like the rv lifestyle because, like a turtle, I take my house with me when I travel.
I always admire digital nomads for their courage taking. You're living abroad for a few years knowing that taxes at your home country can be enormous when you come back, because you're working from home your pension calculation for that period is basically zero, you're abandoning relationships, job security is a very big unknown and therefore in the end of the month you don't know if you have enough money to survive another day. Digital nomads, I tip my hat for you!
You now should do a video about the effect of the digital nomad on the places they go live in. In Lisbon local can't afford to live in the city anymore because so many digital nomads came that the rental market has gone up 40% the last year alone. The worst part is that most of those worker don't pay their taxes were they live, they go to a poorer country, enjoy the amenities and do not contribute one bit. It is selfish and not sustainable.
And also please stop using those local coffeshop as working space. More and more small coffeshop get crowded with remote worker squatting the whole day, taking all the room, pushing locals away and effectively changing the vibe they came looking for in the first place.
Great video! We have done 2 of the three and they’re great but no version is easy but for us the freedom to be in different places in our downtime is completely worth it.
remote work is cool only on youtube
With a CS background, I would like to land a remote job eventually, but I feel like as a less experienced developer that having face to face communication with experienced developers helps me improve a lot more.
Pathetic environment, petite bourgeois in new clothes, all of you digital nomads – what the f*ck should this mean anyway – perhaps it means you are not real anymore, derealised, disconnected from yourself and your environment, emptied out, hollowed and boring, creating boredom. Omg what a dystopia
This lifestyle is especially appealing to people who do not have children, however, I have met a lot of people with children doing this lifestyle. Great vid.
The video says nothing about taxes, visas (yes, you cannot overstay your tourist visa and just be fine with it) and ethically, how to be a good neighbour and resident of your adopted country.
I have been a freelancer for 25 years. I guess I could’ve been a digital nomad long before the word was even used but frankly I didn’t make enough money as a freelancer to do any traveling not even to the next day seriously working freelance is very hard you are basically running a business. It’s a joke to say that your laptop is going to be working on the beach. The only people who can get away with that nonsense it’s probably someone with a technical skills but with artificial intelligence who knows about the future of the parents or they are living and working in some really non-interesting Third World country. I am not interested in the third world that’s why it’s called the third world. So I’ve been a nomad if you will not digital and I’m sorry freelancing sucks. You put up with a lot of people some of them are not very nice and think that you’re a slave. Some are nice but the majority of the clients and freelance world are not very pleasurable to deal with. And you need to find clients! Constantly.
For most companies you cannot work from abroad due to taxation concerns. Even if you do it anyways your options are pretty limited if you are an middle – eastern European citizen, due to your salary won’t be enough to afford a single bedroom apartment in other more privileged counties.
Any of these types saving for retirement?
I’m currently trying to get to level 2 and 3 in tandem. Still working a FT job at this point and it’s a commuting job, but I know I’ll join the remote fam soon.
The thing to be is a trust fund nomad, then you can wear raggy clothes, let your hair turn into dreads, splash patchouli all over your body, and go on a perpetual quest to find ever cooler places to hang out, with ever cooler people…
Ok, but it sounds like it's only available for programmers what about the rest of the fields?
I'm not a nomad. I just emigrated to another country, working 4 (long) days a week. Work like crazy during the week, then enjoy a 3 day weekend every weekend.
Full time working remotely since 2004, company & sales administration, marketing & communication management, all remote with very few in office sessions. Mostly I have been living in fixed places for years at a time, but a fair share of on the road travelling every now and then. I notice that when I am out on the road, I am very focused and productive, as I always have new experiences to look forward to after work. Co-working spaces generally function better for me than cafés and public spaces, easier to focus, and more rewarding to take a break and get outside and have a nice lunch or coffee at some lovely new place. Would never go back to in office ever again. Building on a van life strategy atm planning to have at least two longer yearly periods out on the road.
So one thing to remember when watching videos like this is that, as he mentioned, some places are becoming very popular for digital nomads, which depending on your tax situation, can become tricky to handle. While places outside of Europe are eager to offer lower taxes for working there, in Europe I believe that will change, because you are using their services but if you are not planning to stay there long term, you are not helping their economy, which is why the concept of a visa exists.
There's also one more thing that's happening that is becoming dangerous, and its the housing situation. Same as with what happened with Airbnb, higher income people moving into a lower income area will drive up the prices for everything, for EVERYONE, not just the higher income people, the digital nomads in this case. The issue with Airbnb is that big companies or just people with a large enough wealth will buy up the properties in a city like Lisbon, pricing out the locals in this process, which are still earning the same amount of money. Let me tell you, that's not something that you want to deal with as a local. Tourists coming into your city are staying in designated places like hotels, for a short period of time, they do their thing and they leave. Digital nomads staying 3-24 months need a proper place to stay, and because of their income, they are able to pay for Airbnbs in more desirable locations.
I've heard from multiple friends that went to Lisbon in the past 1-2 years that in the city center, the touristy parts, you won't find locals out and about, they are just working in places where tourists/digital nomads spend their time. The same is happening with Bali, where locals are being priced out of formerly desirable locations because big companies are building digital nomad spaces, while using just a small percent of their income there.
I'm not a nomad, I don't travel around all the time, but I've been living on a tropical island for more than 20 years thanks to making my money online
it's great !!
pro-tip; get the online job first then start traveling
I’m travelling all year long but I don’t need the hassle of digital work. I just spend my inheritance
Remote entrepreneur here trying to extract myself out of the day to day of my business so I can stop trading time for money… It's hard but i know i'm getting closer.
I try to keep work and play separate. I find that if you try to combine them the play is less fun because work intrudes and the work is less productive because even thinking about the play intrudes. If you want to enjoy life more, just work less. There are plenty of ways to enjoy life without spending as much money as is expected. I only work half time and I have for many years. I have to make sacrifices of course but freedom to me is worth more than luxury. I own my own land and I built my own tiny house. To others that's no way to live but to me, it's a castle. It's not that I don't enjoy work either. I like my work. Doing it less keeps it fresh and I have more energy to give it. I have less money but I'm happier overall.
I am a developer and want to start some business on my own. But have no clue what to do as a backend dev. I'm sure I'm not unique. Would work hard for a worthy idea, but can't come up with one.
As someone who has worked with multiple companies to find solutions to digital nomads, I would like to share a few other things that must be taken into consideration before you just "hop on a plane off to your new remote location to work"…With respect to Tom's category one option, not all countries allow for digital nomads and many of those that do still require you to get a special visa. In many cases, you must pay local taxes in the country you are living in, it's not free to work there. If this is not squared away prior to you working, you and/or your company could become liable for taxes and fines. In some extreme cases, you could be arrested and deported. A good example is that Tom's category two example, it's possible he was in fact violating Finish law by working there while entering the country on a tourist visa. I will be the first to say that I would love a world with borderless countries, and everyone could travel, work, and live wherever they wanted but sadly this is not the world we currently live in. If you want to be a digital nomad, go for it but make sure you do your research beyond just watching a 'super positive' video like this. Make sure you are protecting yourself from legal actions and if everything checks out, have an amazing time doing what you can.
Yes, exactly, solopreneur is the way! I develop and sell my software to translators, while ocassionally working as a translator myself (some 3 hours per day). It is perfect for a digital nomad lifestyle.
I don’t really want to travel around the world all the time. I would just like to earn a living in a small town in Nevada where the main employer was a gold mine. Occasionally traveling would be nice, but if I could live in just one beautiful place in the middle of nowhere while being able to earn a living that would be awesome. I just need to learn the right skills.
I am digital nomad and I dont prefer traveling. Because there is too many cons. I prefer work from home with no stress
not my cup of coffee, for me when I travel, I dont want work to be in the backside of my head
I don't know if this still qualifies for the 'digital nomad' badge, but I spent the last decade working overseas in a total of five different countries. For as little as six months in one country to nearly five years in another. The work you do doesn't have to be related back to the country you came from, but can be found wherever you happen to be. Like every choice in life, it comes with its positives and negatives, but I've been able to see and experience as much in these 10 years as many people would in a lifetime. I work in tech (surprise, surprise) and everybody needs our skills these days, so work can be relatively easily found everywhere you go. (Language being a hurdle to overcome of course).
Nice video. Inspiring. But… not sure how possible it is to be a nomad (a digital one) in the longer term … like 6 months or more… as a life style. While your video is inspiring, but I am not without doubts about its longevity.
Its me goal
Alternatively, you could be a stay at home digital nomad— as in, I have a wife and kids, but run my own business out of my home. Still tons of flexibility, but I don't get to travel, LOL. Nice video, Tom. Keep up the great work.
Subbed. Greetings from Jakarta