One of the best things technologies have brought us is the ability to do our job wherever we want. When your job can be done through your laptop, you can do it from anywhere. There is no more spending countless hours in stuffy offices, counting down the minutes until we can finally go home. Now you can do your job from your couch or somewhere on the beach. The options are limitless, which is why the number of digital nomads is rising yearly. These are people who do their job remotely via the internet while traveling. And while this lifestyle sounds amazing, that doesn’t mean there aren’t downsides and things you should be mindful of if you ever decide to start living like this. We decided to shine a light on that aspect of this lifestyle and made a list of things to avoid when living as a digital nomad.
Not thinking ahead
Living as a digital nomad is an incredibly exciting lifestyle. You are traveling the world, exploring new and interesting places, and there are no long office hours or dress codes. It’s all about living in the moment and being free. But unfortunately, that is not always a good thing. Getting carried away with this way of living and not thinking about your future can lead you down the wrong path. One day, you might want to have a more peaceful life and settle in one place, but you have done nothing to prepare for it. You have no savings or prospect of a new job or any idea where you want to actually settle. That’s why it’s good to have a plan. Enjoy the nomadic lifestyle but think about where you would like to be five years from now and work towards that goal.
One of the things to avoid when living as a digital nomad is not budgeting properly
To live successfully as a nomad, you will have to budget carefully. Any experienced digital nomad will tell you that they wouldn’t be able to sustain this lifestyle for a long time if they hadn’t prepared a solid financial plan. While it may seem exciting to spend money carelessly around the world, it’s not quite like that in practice. Make a list of all expenses you are going to have at your next destination. That includes all the traveling costs, plane tickets, trains or buses, and taxis. Also, you will have to pay for moving supplies when moving abroad. It’s best to make a list, so you get everything you need. Then the food expenses for however long you are planning to stay at that place. This is a great way to know if you can afford your next trip. You don’t want to end up stranded in some European city with no money to come back home, right? Proper budgeting saves you from these uncomfortable situations.
Moving too often
While traveling is one of the best aspects of this lifestyle, that doesn’t mean you should go to extremes. Going to new places is great, but you must be realistic. Traveling to a new location every couple of days would be extremely difficult. Not to mention the toll it would take on you both mentally and physically. All that traveling would put a strain on your finances; just imagine how much money you would need on travel costs alone. You would also be exhausted from constant moving. And no matter how big of a nomad, you still need some semblance of a normal life. Otherwise, you are risking completely losing touch with reality. Stay at your new destination for at least a month before moving again.
Failing to make connections
The life of a digital nomad can often get lonely. Traveling so often makes you forget that you still need to have meaningful relationships in your life and a support system. Isolating yourself can lead you to some dark places mentally. So, while traveling, make a conscious effort to forge those relationships. And then, when you leave, make sure you stay in touch. And chances are you will meet other digital nomads on your journey, which can be extremely beneficial. You will get to share experiences, connect, and give advice to each other. Having a healthy social life can vastly improve your quality of life and make you more productive.
Not researching
One of the things to avoid when living as a digital nomad is traveling to new places without researching them first. While yes, this lifestyle is all about being free to go wherever you want, that doesn’t mean you should inform yourself beforehand. The first thing you should ask yourself is what you need from your next destination. What are the requirements your next location must meet? Then start researching the place. The number one thing you should look into is the cost of living. There is no point in traveling somewhere you can afford to live in. Then research the local laws and customs so you know how to behave and how not to get in trouble. Researching is key when traveling as often as nomads do.
Not knowing when to stop
As we said previously, the life of a digital nomad is incredibly exciting and freeing. For many people, it’s a dream, and they could go on living like this forever. And there is nothing wrong with that. But some simply cannot keep up for that long. The issue comes when people don’t know it is time to stop and take a break from it. Often people push themselves too hard, and this leads to burnout. There is nothing wrong or shameful about saying, “I am tired of being a digital nomad, and I need a break.” It’s completely normal, and knowing your boundaries is a great trait to have. So, when you feel like your mind, and your body is telling you it’s time to take a break, don’t force yourself to continue. Instead, listen and take some time off.
In conclusion
These were the main things to avoid when living as a digital nomad. As you can see, there are some upsides to this lifestyle and some downsides as well, but that is also true for working in an office. The most important thing is knowing what you want and what works for you.
