Freelancing
Should Freelancers Try Digital Nomadism?
Does a digital nomad lifestyle fit you?
The number of remote workers is growing. Whether you’re a freelancer or a full-time employee, the remote work model gives much-needed flexibility. Some remote workers use the benefits of the freedom to work from anywhere in the world and choose digital nomadism.
Digital nomads are people working independently from location, often traveling from one country to another, using technologies and telecommunication tools to do the job.
The model allows them to travel and work from anywhere in the world. Currently, almost 5 million people describe themselves as digital nomads.
I’ve never thought of myself as a digital nomad, but I’ve been traveling and working for almost two years now. Currently, I’m settling in Tenerife, Spain, so who knows? Maybe it’s my last stop, and from now on, traveling will be just for vacation.
Currently, almost 5 million people describe themselves as digital nomads.
But those years of working and traveling helped me figure out what I want in my life and career. It also showed me the lonely and chaotic side of working on the road.
Digital nomadism seems like a dream — you get to see the world while making money. If you’re a freelancer or remote worker, then this lifestyle is more achievable than you think. And it comes with a bunch of benefits.
Benefits of digital nomadism
You get to travel and expand your view
Nothing opens you more than traveling and discovering new cultures. You can’t be ignorant when you learn to live and adjust to different countries and lifestyles.
You become less judgemental not only of other cultures but also yourself. Expanding your world is mainly about you. It helps to realize that not everything in life is supposed to be the way your friends and family are living. It enables you to accept yourself.
You can save some money
You can save money if you work for euros and live for Thai Baths. If you earn an average salary in your country and barely pay the rent, then why not move somewhere where the money you earn could ensure a worry-free life.
A lot of people think that traveling is expensive, but the truth is the most costly part, usually is the plane ticket. Then it’s only a matter of your spending habits and preferences.
You become more adaptable
The ability to adapt is essential in today’s world. You can’t keep the old methods and think you know best with everything changing in the blink of an eye.
Living in different countries prepares you for unexpected changes in life. I feel much more emotionally stronger to face sudden life shifts because I experienced what’s like to do last-minute changes to survive.
You never run out of ideas
This benefit comes from my writer’s perspective, but it’s valid for all creatives. They say you have to live an extraordinary life to have stories to tell. When you’re always on the go, encountering adventures and sudden changes, meeting new people, and trying things, your head fills with ideas. You can always build a story to tell and find a unique perspective to approach the topic.
As romantic as it sounds, digital nomadism is no bed of roses. The difficulties I find are personal, therefore, it can vary from person to person, but these are the reasons why I chose to settle down in one country.
It’s challenging to build a stable career
When you’re always on the road, it is challenging to build a routine and discipline. You want to travel and discover, while there are dozens of pending deadlines. You feel torn apart between work and traveling.
It’s also hard to work on long term projects that require back and forth communication with a client. Your time zones might be different, and you might need to sit at your computer and wait, while the beach is out there. For me to build discipline, I need routine. But it’s difficult to establish a routine and don’t get distracted when you’re eager to discover new things.
You get lonely
I started traveling for long periods when I was 21 years old. While my friends in Lithuania were bonding, going to parties, and celebrating each others’ big moments, I was studying in Belgium, living in South East Asia, or moving to Tenerife. I wasn’t there, and it was painful to see them creating social lives without me.
Don’t get me wrong, during my travels, I met many fascinating people, but it’s hard to keep the contact when you spend only a few weeks together and then scatter across the world.
Blurred lines between work and traveling
I guess this one was the most difficult for me. I would mix living in a country for a few months and then going to visit other countries for a week or two. It would damage my work quality, and I wouldn’t get to see much. I would get anxious to the point where I would just wish to be at home, focusing on my work. My clients were unsatisfied, and I wasn’t enjoying my trips.
But all in all, I believe everyone should try digital nomadism. Even for a short time, it’s a great experience that gives you much more than you can wish for. While I’m still eager to travel and live in other countries, I also want to have a place I could call home. Somewhere where I could go back. Now, this place is Tenerife, but who knows.
If you can automate most of your work and generate money while traveling. And if you can do most of your work independently from clients, then I would suggest, pack those bags and book a flight to the country you always wanted to visit. (Of course, wait for the pandemic to be over).
