The truth about being a digital nomad

Intro

There are mixed sentiments about the digital nomad community.

When I first started my remote business journey I knew that I wanted to create a life of independence, growth, and abundance. 

Having lived in Dubai for 10 years, I had already enjoyed the whole “beach club/nightclub/lounging life. And I had had enough.

So thinking of life in which I’d be focusing on myself and my professional growth (while connecting with people who had the same mindset) seemed like the perfect thing to do. Little did I know that it’d be hard to find.

Having moved to Bali, I’ve met so many people, including digital nomads, who have their minds and focus somewhere else. A party place I definitely don’t find relatable. 

You’re not always welcome in every country.

Here in Bali some people are nice and love to have us here as we boost the economy of an island that mostly relies on its tourism (around 60 percent of the island’s gross regional product (PDRB) comes from the travel industry). To give you an idea, in 2014 alone, Australian tourists contributed $1.8 billion AUD to the Indonesian economy.

Others hate us, and love leaving nasty comments on our social media. But what they don’t realize is that who they hate are tourists who come here to make a mess. 

We as digital nomads tend to nurture the communities we live in, get to know/get involved in the culture and bring lots of money in (we rent homes long-term, we buy food, we buy clothes, goods, you name it).

It can be difficult to keep up with work when you’re constantly moving.

For the first 6 months of 2022 I moved through different countries (Spain, Italy, France, UAE, Colombia, USA, and my home country Uruguay). 

I never spent more than a few weeks in each place (except in my home country, I spent 2 months there).

It was never long enough to settle down, build a routine, find places where I felt comfortable working.

That made me stress and fall behind on the growth/expansion plans I had for my business.

You’ll end up spending SO. MUCH. MONEY (if you’re not careful).

Airbnb isn’t affordable everywhere. In fact, I’ve rarely stayed at airbnb’s because the cost of the house + the fees attached to those rentals are astronomical.

You need to research what’s best for each city: it can be grabbing google maps and tapping on each guesthouse or hotel and emailing them, or it can be Facebook Marketplace, who knows! Find what works in that city and use it.

It’s easy to get distracted by all the traveling + new places.

If you have your own business, it’s so difficult to live this digital nomad life. 

Or if you have a short attention span (like me).

I now choose the Slomad life, where I’m based in one place for a few months and do short trips and/or relocate around the country. That allows me to work better and not get distracted from my professional goals.

Would you choose the nomad or slomad life?