The perks and perils of being a digital nomad

Unleashed from the office, freedom is an attractive proposition for long-time office workers. Before jumping headfirst into digital-only, here are the perks and perils of life as a digital nomad.  

Perks are many and varied 

The advantages of not being tied down to a specific location offers opportunities to explore things outside of work. They include: 

Travelling your bucket list of destinations 

Writing for the blog Citizen Remote, digital nomad Danijela Horvat says the top reason to go fully digital is travel. From sitting on a beach to a ski resort, there’s no reason why they can’t both be your workplace. Many cafes, cities, and public libraries have quiet spaces and free Wi-Fi, which can bring diversity to your setting.   

Transition your career 

Working remotely means you can do many things at once. Working freelance and holding a remote job can result in learning new skills or taking on new career paths. To get started, do some homework on freelancing and temporary contracts. Online training courses are a good option for transitioning into different roles.  

Do better for the environment 

Going fully digital and working from home could result in transportation savings to the environment. Better yet, consider how you can limit your greenhouse gas emissions in your nomadic lifestyle, for example by limiting your use of planes and factoring sustainability into your choices in accommodation. In your professional life, you can also try to make your use of digital tools more sustainable. 

Be flexible and present 

Juggling an office job with family, pets, and friends can be challenging. Digital nomads have the choice of rearranging work to fit their lives. Equally, you can work as much or as little as needed. For charities, the option to work from home has widened the talent pool and made the sector more attractive for prospective candidates.  

There are lots of immigration visas available 

Working from various countries used to have legal consequences. However, with the rise of the digital nomad, countries are keen to make themselves desirable. The visas allow for people to work in that country remotely, whereas previously, one required a difficult-to-acquire permit. In Europe, destinations include Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, The Netherlands, and many others.  

Save money 

Removing the commute, office clothes, and external lunches can add significant values back to your bank account. There’s also the possibility of simply owning fewer items since digital nomads want the flexibility to simply pack up and move.   

Cash in on “passive” income 

Make money simply by travelling and sharing your experiences. The recruitment site Indeed says that digital nomads can earn a living by becoming a brand ambassador, building an app, selling stock photos, or renting out their owned properties. All of the activities are “passive” because they make money from alternative sources.  

Perils aren’t insurmountable with good planning 

While becoming a digital nomad might seem like a lot of fanfare to begin with, there are some challenges to be aware of. 

Tax might be a headache 

As pointed out earlier, immigration might be easier but taxation can be more of a burden. Digital nomads might want to consider in which country they’ll need to file taxes and how to save for them.  

Loneliness as a digital nomad 

Travelling and working alone can be isolating. The perils of being a digital nomad are well documented by the BBC. Their video on the topic reveals that most nomads are high income earners in their 30s, who on average, stay between one and three months in the same place. For many, that means relationships are often transient.  

You might always be “on” 

Working across geographies and time zones might give nomads flexibility but a drawback may also be that there’s little downtime. The expectation of always being “available” online might lead to burn out or exhaustion.  

Investing in the right tech 

Always being on the move means having reliable tech. From quality mobile phones to laptops, keeping up might be expensive. You’ll likely also need a collection of adaptors and signal enhancers if you’re looking to work in far-flung destinations.  

Staying motivated 

Productivity might be an issue for digital nomads because there are simply so many things to do outside of work. To stay energised, try to keep the same hourly routine wherever the destination. Use our working from home productivity tips to stay motivated.   

Career progression 

Being a digital nomad is unlikely to help those climbing the corporate ladder. Because many freelance contracts are short term or project-based, it’s difficult to get established enough for the next “level”. Many promotions might also be related to how close candidates are to senior level decision-making, which is tricky when digital is your only medium.