The Pros and Cons of Being a Digital Nomad
As digital nomads, we’ve had the chance to travel the world while working remotely. It’s an incredible journey, but like everything else in life, it has its ups and downs. In this article, we’ll share our personal stories and experiences of living this lifestyle, along with the pros and cons of being a digital nomad.
Pros of Being a Digital Nomad
If you’re considering becoming a digital nomad, there are so many appealing benefits that might be calling you! From flexibility to personal growth to cost savings, there are many advantages to this lifestyle.
Flexibility
As a digital nomad, you have the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. This means that you can set your own schedule and work on your own terms. Whether you prefer to work early in the morning or late at night, you can create a schedule that works best for you. For Monica and I that means we are able to prioritize our mental and physical health in ways our “traditional jobs” never allowed us to. Instead of waking up groggy and rushing off to work, we are able to spend the morning working out, meditating, and making healthy breakfasts. Plus our flexible schedule allows us to take breaks during the day and get some sun. 🌞
Additionally, if you have a passion for travel (which I’m guessing you do since you’re reading this), being a digital nomad allows you to combine work and play, exploring new destinations while still earning an income. Our digital nomad lifestyle has allowed to to explore much of Southeast Asia and Latin America while building our business.
Work-Life Balance
As a digital nomad, you have the flexibility to create a work-life balance that suits your individual needs. Whether you want to work full-time or part-time, take time off for travel or personal pursuits, or simply have more control over your schedule, being a digital nomad can help you achieve a greater sense of balance and fulfillment in your life. You can work at your own pace and take breaks whenever you need to. For us sometimes that means taking afternoon siestas or taking the afternoon off to go surfing. 🏄‍♀️Having a good work-life balance allows you to enjoy your life more and provide more value to your clients and build a business you love without burning out.
New Experiences
Traveling as a digital nomad allows you to experience new cultures and meet new people. We’ve had the chance to try amazing new foods, learn new languages, and explore new cities. It’s the most enriching experience that we wouldn’t trade for anything.
Since one of the advantages of this lifestyle is the freedom to travel and work from anywhere, it’s essential to have reliable and comprehensive insurance coverage that can protect you in case of unexpected medical emergencies or accidents while traveling. While there are many options, we have found SafetyWing to be the best option for digital nomads who need insurance coverage that can travel with them around the world.
With SafetyWing, you can get coverage for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, trip interruption, and more. Plus, their policies are flexible and affordable, starting at around $45.05 per month. With no annual contract, you can sign up for only the months that you need coverage. Joining is easy and can be done online in just a few minutes. Don’t risk going without insurance as a digital nomad – join SafetyWing today and travel with confidence.
Cost-Effective
Depending on where you choose to travel, being a digital nomad can be a cost-effective way to live. In fact, Monica and I have saved a TON of money while traveling the world. This can allow you to stretch your budget further and potentially even save for long-term goals such as retirement or buying a home.
One of the biggest money savers for us has been not having a mortgage to pay. You’ve still got rent to pay, but the housing costs in other places around the world are often much more affordable. You can also split the cost of rent with your travel buddies!
You can also save money on transportation by using public transportation, walking, or our favorite mode of transportation around the city: biking. We love how biking and walking allow us to see the city in a whole new way! We have found some of our favorite places by walking and/or.
Increased Productivity
When you work from home or in a traditional office environment, it can be easy to get distracted by coworkers, meetings, and other interruptions. As a digital nomad, you have the freedom to choose your work environment, whether that’s a coffee shop, a coworking space, or a quiet corner of your home. Once you have honed in on your work style you can find places that help you stay focused and productive, allowing you to complete tasks more efficiently and effectively.
Opportunities for Personal Growth
Traveling and working as a digital nomad can be a transformative experience, exposing you to new cultures, languages, and ways of thinking. It can also challenge you to be more self-sufficient and adaptable, as you navigate unfamiliar environments and work with people from different backgrounds. We can personally attest to the immense personal growth and development that comes as you learn to be more resilient, resourceful, and open-minded.
Cons of Being a Digital Nomad
As always we love to be as transparent as possible for people considering the digital nomad lifestyle. That means talking about pros AND cons of being a digital nomad, not just the highlights.
Before we get too much into it we need to get one thing clear – we love being digital nomads. But of course, there are also some potential downsides to consider, such as the challenges of working remotely and the need for self-discipline and time management. However, with the right mindset and approach, being a digital nomad can be the best decision of your life!
Unstable Income
One of the biggest challenges of being a digital nomad is having an unstable income. While there are many ways to make money as a digital nomad, freelancing is the most common. Freelance work can be unpredictable, and it can be difficult to find new clients. This means that you need to have a solid financial plan in place to ensure that you can support yourself.
As a business dedicated to helping digital nomads find ways to make money online, we understand that having an unstable income can be one of the biggest challenges of this lifestyle. In fact, in many studies, it’s seen as the #1 challenge facing digital nomad entrepreneurs.
We want to help you navigate this challenge by providing resources and support to help you build a sustainable online business. Check out our list of 85+ Ways to Make Money Online or join us on our podcast for a free Nomadic Journey Kickstarter!
Isolation
Traveling can be lonely, especially if you’re traveling solo. As digital nomads, we often work from cafes or coworking spaces, which can also feel isolating. It’s important to find ways to socialize and connect with others, whether it’s through meetups or joining a local group. Some of our best friends have been made by meeting up with other digital nomads. This does require putting yourself out there a bit. It can be scary, but we have never regretted it! It’s always been worth the effort.
Time Zone Differences
Working remotely means that you can work with clients from all over the world. However, this also means that you might have to work odd hours to accommodate different time zones. While traveling SE Asia we often found ourselves staying up until midnight or later to take client calls in the United States. If you are an old soul like us, this can be challenging and can disrupt your sleep schedule.
Lack of Stability
Being a digital nomad means that you’re always on the move. This can be exciting, but it can also be tiring. It can be difficult to maintain a sense of stability and routine when you’re constantly traveling. Check out this podcast episode for more on how you can create a sense of comfort in places far outside your comfort zone.
Our Personal Experience Being Digital Nomads
As digital nomads, we’ve had our fair share of ups and downs. We’ve had the incredible chance to visit some incredible places, meet amazing people, and learn about new cultures. We’ve also experienced some of the trickier things of this lifestyle, such as a lack of stability and isolation.
One of the funniest experiences we had was when we were working from a beach in Tillamook, Oregon. Since we’ve seen so many pictures of other digital nomads working from laptops at cool places we were excited to give it a go! We were so excited at the possibility of working from anywhere, that we decided to try the beach! It did not take long at all to realize that no one ACTUALLY gets any work done at the beach. Computers + wind + sand = not a great idea.
Another time, we were working from our apartment in Cambodia when the power suddenly went out. We had calls scheduled for that day, so we had to scramble to find another location with power and a stable internet connection. It was a bit of a stressful situation, but we managed to find a solution and get our work done.
Despite these challenges, we wouldn’t trade our experience as digital nomads for ANYTHING. There are definitely pros and cons of being a digital nomad, but for us, the pros always outway the cons!
