The truth no one tells you about life as a digital nomad

A dose of reality for you who want to become a digital nomad

For most people, work and travel are separate experiences. You work continuously for a year or two, save some money and go on holiday. Then you go home and start a new work cycle without breaks until you go on holiday again.

There’s nothing wrong with living this way, however, as remote work became a viable option in some professions, work and travel have become an integrated experience for a group of professionals known as digital nomads. I have been part of this group for six years; between the beginning of 2017 and the first half of 2023.

I began my nomadic journey by offering services as a freelance writer. Soon after came online courses, lessons and in-house training and, as my audience grew, I started producing content for big brands in the role of influencer.

Also, in 2019 I published a book on digital nomadism which sold quite well and was a finalist for the Jabuti Prize. In other words, I have more than one source of income, which requires some good hours of work.

Work-life balance

After a long period of physical and mental exhaustion working as a CLT, today I manage to balance my personal and professional life perfectly. Over the past six years I have had incredible experiences in exactly thirty countries. I’ve explored beatnik Mexico, followed in Anthony Bourdain’s footsteps in Vietnam, ridden souped-up scooters in Thailand and Indonesia, and even lived on a boat in Portugal.

However, I did these experiments in my free time – except for the boat (and this was a mistake). Digital nomads, unfortunately, are not full-time tourists. Let’s work. Too. The big difference is that during our free time we can discover new cultures, places and people of different nationalities.

In general terms, what changes in the work vs travel relationship is that, unlike professionals who need to clock in every day and wait for holidays to be able to travel, a digital nomad has the geographical freedom to carry out their work from anywhere in the world. world .that has a good Internet signal. And this opens up a world of possibilities.

Some people understand this, but some really don’t. That’s why I wrote a book on the subject.

Demystifying life as a digital nomad

When I received an invitation from the publisher Autêntica Business to write a book on digital nomadism, I saw an opportunity to demystify some aspects of the topic (like the photo on this page, for example), but, above all, to educate aspiring digital nomads through a guide based on my experiences and those of other Brazilian nomads.

In “Digital Nomad: a guide to living and working how and where you want“, I show the step-by-step guide for those who are thinking of abandoning office life. You will not find magic formulas or cake recipes, but rather an honest vision of those who live it in practice.

Demystifying the stereotype of the “traveling backpacker”, I reveal how to prepare yourself to experience all aspects of this trip: the glamorous side of travel and exotic experiences and also the difficulties of dealing with limited budgets, setbacks, remote working , as well as pleasant unexpected surprises.

So that it didn’t feel like an autobiography, I interviewed other digital nomads with different profiles. There are nomads who travel alone, nomad couples with and without children and even a nomad who travels with his pets.

Traveling the world won’t solve all your problems

There’s a big fetish in this business of traveling the world and working at the same time, but you have to be careful with projections. If you’re unhappy in your job and think you’ll only be happy when you become a digital nomad, maybe you should reconsider your true motivations. I’m very happy doing what I do and traveling the world, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have my problems and bad days.

If you don’t make an effort to understand what makes you unhappy at work, preferably with the help of a professional, traveling can only make things worse.

Traveling alone won’t magically cure serious problems like depression or anxiety. It won’t get you through the end of a relationship, nor will it guide you towards your life’s purpose. It doesn’t matter your geographic location: if you have a problem, deal with it. Traveling can help with all this, but it cannot be seen as a solution. Don’t make projections when it comes to your mental health.

And, above all, know that even if you manage to achieve your goal of becoming a digital nomad, taking advantage of all the advantages that this lifestyle and job brings, you will have your bad days. I miss family and friends, language and even technological barriers, like the time I spent five days without internet in my apartment in Serbia, the week I needed to finish an important project.

Do you still want to be a digital nomad?

Well, that was the dose of reality. An attempt to show a little behind the scenes of the perfect photos you see on Instagram.

If that’s what you really want, after weighing all the pros and cons, go for it. The path isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. I wouldn’t trade the last six years of my life for the world; I would do it all again.

Matthew of Souza

is a writer, educator, and TEDx speaker. He is the author of “Digital Nômade”, a book finalist for the Jabuti Prize.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.