You have no doubt seen articles on the digital nomad life. Sitting by a pool – laptop in one hand and cocktail in the other certainly looks like the dream life but there can be downsides of digital nomad life. Of course these may not apply to everybody but read on to get an insight into what these could be.
The Downsides of Digital Nomad Life
I love to sit by a pool working like anyone else and take it easy but this can quite often not be the case. The life of a digital nomad can be more stressful than what the social media accounts project.
1. Digital Nomad Life can be Stressful
No matter how good an area, accommodation or country is there is always that flurry of thought that spring to mind every time a journey leg is coming to an end and you have to move. Every time you move to a new country there are several stressful factors to consider:
Losing 1-2+ days to travel time
Depending on how far we travel we can lose a number of days just to travel time alone. The requirement of getting to airports 3 hours early, potential delays and cancellations can really affect plans. Money can be lost and it’s all time that could be dedicated to earning the money required to survive.
Sim Cards
This may seem like a silly cause of stress but getting to a new country and having to immediately source a sim card can be a nightmare! Some airports have vendors that sell sim cards whilst others don’t. Without a good sim card there’s no 4G / 5G data which means relying on WiFi to get to the hotel of which is not always guaranteed.
Then there is the process of re-registering to any services that require the use of a contactable number. Personally I use a dual sim phone and a Skype secondary number but this requires an active internet connection to operate.
Getting Used to a Totally New Environment
Constantly adjusting to a new environment can be a pain, as creatures of habit we tend to visit the same grocery stores, petrol stations and other amenities in our daily routine but first arriving at a new area disrupts this. Whilst it can be exciting to see the landscape or restaurants of an area it can be stressful when you need some milk and you have no idea where the nearest shop is.
The Time Zone Adjustment
When I first started travelling I headed to Asia and one of the main adjustments I had to get used to was the time difference. Between Thailand and the United Kingdom there was a 7 hour time difference. This meant that for a good amount of the day friends and family would be asleep. When working with colleagues and clients there is this constant fact you need to consider.
These several causes of stress are on top of any other stresses you would likely find in day to day life and this is something that is often missed when looking on the Instagram of a digital nomad and seeing the perceived image.
2. Loneliness is a Real Issue of Digital Nomad Life
Leaving your home country quite often means leaving family and long term friends. Quite often when travelling abroad you are sure to bump into people who are like minded and friendly enough, maybe you will even hang out several times but then comes the often asked question:
How long are you here?
Then the familiar realization returns that in a short time it will be one or both (or all) of you that will be moving on somewhere else. Short term interactions are valuable and I have met some amazing people on my journey, hopefully I see them again but you kind of see my point.
Long term friendships where we see each other on a regular basis are very few and far between. This can create the void of loneliness that can be a very real downside to life as a digital nomad.
Travelling with a partner can help with this issue but everybody’s situation and preferences are different. Not every partner may want to travel and not every couple can thrive in a close quarters accommodation situation, navigating these challenges is a whole other can of worms.
3. Stable Internet Becomes a Crucial Necessity
Depending on your home country you may be used to a stable internet connection, this can often be taken for granted and quickly becomes apparent when you arrive in some countries where a reliable internet connection cannot always be guaranteed.
Internet can be slow or expensive in certain parts of the world and when your job relies completely on a good connection this can cause a lot of frustration and issues so it becomes a vital necessity to research prior to moving or choosing a new area.
4. Finding that Perfect Work Environment
When travelling and working remotely it is very important to have a good work environment. This can make a huge difference to your productivity, stress levels and job satisfaction.
As a digital nomad you may not always have a dedicated workspace to operate from. I have tried working from the hotel room and whilst this can be achieved to a degree it quickly becomes apparent that separating the work/life balance becomes more difficult. It is also not always possible, especially in smaller rooms. Cabin fever is real folks!
It is possible to find spaces outside of the accommodation, for me like others coffee shops are an option when available however these can be noisy, crowded or just not sustainable long term. It is hard to stay focused in a loud environment.
5. Managing your Expenses
I have personally found this to be one of the biggest challenges. Sustaining the lifestyle of a digital nomad is perfectly possible but it is also important to note that there is a lot of managing of expenses to facilitate this.
I found when I was back in the UK, it was much easier to manage my expenses, direct debits make things easy and paying the same amount for rent, bills, internet etc made savings easy to maintain and track. When in another country I have found myself paying more than I am used to because I am a short term customer but I have also found some bills are no longer in existence, this changes whenever I move country so recognising and managing this can become a real hassle.
Recurring costs are easy to manage as you know the amount and when it is leaving your bank account but the challenge is to be able to know when you can spend money on yourself. Those cheeky drinks at the bar or slightly more expensive food are easy to buy into but these small amounts quickly add up and reflect in your savings.
6. The Culture Shock
No matter how much you think you have seen it all, some customs and traditions can completely take you off guard. Travelling to new countries is exciting and these differences are exactly what make the world unique but it is not always positive depending on your previous experiences.
Adjusting to local cultures and customs is a great amount of fun and I always love learning the basics of a new language or trying something for the first time but it can sometimes impact productivity if you are trying to work remotely and outside of your comfort zone.
7. Trying to Manage your Time Effectively
Working fully remotely can be done in several ways and this issue may not affect everybody but I believe that managing your time effectively can be quite difficult if you are in a role that is perhaps freelance or working to vastly different time zones.
Using myself as an example:
I write and manage Backpacks and Memories but ultimately I am in control of my own schedule. The hardest part about this is that it can be so easy to become distracted or on the other side of the spectrum – lose track of time and overwork myself.
Keeping a schedule is incredibly important and can help with this issue as it sets boundaries. A routine is the best thing to keep the perfect work life balance whilst maintaining focus and productivity.
Conclusion
In this article I have listed the downsides of digital nomad life but despite these challenges I (and certainly many others) would personally say they are well worth it. By acknowledging these we can navigate the issues in this article the best we can.
With careful planning, maintaining a positive attitude and a good level of understanding then we can look past these difficulties and enjoy a fulfilling digital nomad lifestyle. The rewards far outweigh the negatives.
Now that you have an understanding of the downsides of digital nomad life, check out the upsides to it in our article here:
