Is digital nomad life for you?

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Anirban, you know, in 2024, everyone wants to be a digital nomad, but only a few understand what the digital nomad lifestyle involves.

Yeah, I do, Shagufta. It’s full of fun and challenges. But if someone is an adventurer, they’re going to love exploring this lifestyle.

Well, hey, this is Shagufta, and today I am collaborating with my best friend Anirban. 

In this edition, we will help you understand if the digital nomad life is for you or not.

If you ask Google, it will define digital nomads as remote workers who travel to various locations, relying on wireless internet. 

But if you ask Anirban he has the best explanation, he says, It is not only working from anywhere but It’s also about dedicating yourself to work that genuinely matters to you while exploring new cultures. 

The world has changed after COVID-19. People are adopting remote work more. But there are a lot of people who’ve turned to full-time remote work just because of COVID-19.

Here is a stat, you would love to see:

2.8% of employees in the education sector and 3.9% in public administration worked remotely pre-COVID. (source)

Many businesses decided to maintain remote work arrangements even after the COVID period ended, with 41.3% considering a permanent shift to virtual settings for at least some positions.

Interestingly, people are not just working remotely anymore. They are also trying to work from different locations because they want something more than ‘remote work.’ They want to experience new cultures, countries, people and of course people like us who want to try new food. (Shagufta cooks really well 😋)

But it is all good till you explore the real side of digital nomad life.

2. What You Don’t See on Social Media: The Downsides

What you see on social media is the freedom that the digital nomad life gives you. But everything comes with a cost, and so does freedom.

Community, health expenses, and other costs are a few things you must think about before adopting a nomad life. 

Here are a few things you need to know before shifting to a new lifestyle.

Extra travel costs: You might face increased transportation and visa costs when moving to a new place. And these services are expensive and go beyond your plan.

Health insurance: Your regular insurance won’t cover your medical bills in another country. So, you’ll need some travel health insurance which can break the bank. 

Internet and tech costs: Wi-Fi issues are very common when you’re living a digital nomad life. Fixing your tech stack can be pricey in an expensive country.

Feeling lonely: Moving to a new city very often means you’ll have a hard time making new friends.

That can make your journey lonely. And it will be more difficult if you love to work in people’s company. 

3. Is it for You? 

I am sure you must have seen the images of people spending hours on a beach and making biggie biggie $$ by working 2-3 hours, haven’t you? 

But well, they are probably selling you a dream they have never lived. 

So, before you get excited and choose a digital nomad life make sure you have the answer to these questions 👇

1. Why do I want to live a digital nomad’s life? Is it just for freedom or adventure?

2. What are my personal & professional goals? Do they match with this lifestyle?

3. How will I manage my finances? Do I have a stable source of income?

4. How will I enjoy travelling and adventures while working remotely?

5. Am I prepared to travel constantly? Even with no friends?

6. How will I manage relationships while travelling?

7. How will I manage health emergencies?

8. Am I ready for a new way of life?

These are the questions that can help you decide if the digital nomad life is for you or not. 

You can’t just let social media influence your decisions. Think about what you want from life and what the digital nomad life can give you. Then decide if it suits you.

4. Flexibility is Your Superpower

The real growth in everything lies in adaptability, and the same goes for the digital nomad lifestyle.

Jim Rohn said it best: “Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change.”

We are all slaves of our habits, and we become what we do. So, if you want to choose the life you want, you must leave every past habit behind. It might be sleeping on your couch in the evening or eating only non-veg food.

The way you adapt and accept makes the difference.

Maybe you can take tiny steps today if you’re sure about it, or you can let it go and enjoy your current life to the fullest.

5. Finding Your People

If you think living a digital nomad life is easy, think again. You’ll need to find a group of people who share your interests because it can be tough to navigate this lifestyle all alone, especially if you enjoy company.

So, what can you do to find your people every time you visit a new place?

1. Start by searching for and joining online groups on Facebook related to your city. Introduce yourself and ask questions.

   It makes finding new people with similar interests easy.

2. Also, look for local events for digital nomads, these can be great opportunities to meet fellow travellers.

3. Don’t forget to attend local activities that interest you. Whether it's a workshop, a meetup, or just a social gathering, these are fantastic ways to meet new people living in the area.

Except these, you can have apps like Hostel World Zostel Couchsurfing

6. How Can You Stay Productive?

Productivity, in itself, is a tricky term. According to Google, productivity means how much output you can produce. But in what sense? What outputs are you looking for?

Are these outputs pre-defined? For instance, many people say you have to work 8 hours to be productive, but is that true? How do we measure productivity?

Well, if you ask me as a digital nomad, I’d say productivity is all about doing the best work in a limited time while ensuring ample rest to avoid burnout.

When you choose a digital nomad lifestyle, you may find yourself exhausted and burnt out. In such a state, whatever you do can’t be productive, as your body and mind will not be in sync.

So, what should you do? You need to adjust your work hours to local time zones to prevent burnout or find a quiet park that makes you feel like you’re in an office.

7. Focus on Long-Term Success

Most people are chasing short-term success, which is not sustainable in the long run. 

If you want to sustain and live this lifestyle, think long-term, at least 20 years ahead into your future. But the thing is you don’t know what life has to offer, so you can’t predict anything. You can only make the best plan and work according to that. 

If you feel it’s only about travel, then I’m sorry. You should also make sure you’re healthy. Start taking care of your body and enjoy it fully.

8. Are You Ready for the Journey?

See, the thing is not about digital nomad life or ordinary one, it’s about your dreams. If you’re ready to embrace a solitary and uncertain life, welcome to the digital nomad lifestyle.

So are you excited to be a digital nomad or it doesn’t feel like your cup of tea? 

Reply with your thoughts 

We will see you in the second edition. Till then, travel more, eat more and talk with 100 new people.

Bye 👋🏻 

Follow Shagufta here → Shagufta

Follow Anirban here → Anirban

Resources you should follow

1. Nomadic Matt website 

2. The Blonde Abroad newsletter 

3. Couchsurfing 

4. Freaking Nomads 

5. alivewithad Blogs