Location-independent living and working is a dream for many people. More and more professionals want to live as digital nomads. But is it something for you? In this article, I discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this lifestyle based on my own experiences.
In the winter of 2023, I was a digital nomad for three months. From Greece and Canada, I did my work as a web designer and photographer. That included: Building and maintaining WordPress websites and taking and selling photos, all my professional activities I did online.
In January and February, my home base was the Greek capital of Athens; in March, my workplace was the Western Canadian city of Calgary. It was a test to see if this lifestyle suits me. And believe me: it was a great experience, but there are also some drawbacks. Let’s go over them.
Would you also like to work location independent? Then read here how to become a digital nomad!
Benefits of living as a digital nomad
+ Travel when you want
Digital nomads are not tied to fixed vacations and can travel whenever they want. Is winter not your thing? Then you can easily avoid them by working from a warmer place. For example, it is still cold in Brussels in mid-February, but in Athens spring is already breaking in then.
You learn a lot from traveling anyway, even as an entrepreneur. See what entrepreneurs can learn from travel here.
+ New contacts
Strong communication skills are needed for this way of life. Every place you go, you meet new people who can help you move forward both privately and professionally. But, you should not be shy and be open to new experiences.
+ Slow travel: really getting to know a place
Fast travel is out of the question for nomads, as there is also work to be done. For example, by starting work at seven in the morning, you can be free from two or three in the afternoon and explore a different place every day. And on the weekends you can go out.
Furthermore, you can really get to know a culture from the inside out. For example, I discovered that Greece is full of traditional customs (e.g., leaving ash crosses in buildings) and Canada is much more advanced in some areas than the Netherlands and Belgium (e.g., us-versus-them thinking is much less prevalent in Calgary).
Athens is not the first choice for nomads and that’s a shame. Read here the Athens guide for digital nomads!
+ You become flexible and minimalist
A nomadic existence requires strong adaptability. You develop and train that while on the road. So one day I had a zoom meeting from Athens, the next a physical website launch in Brussels and two days I was shooting on a frozen lake in the Rocky Mountains. Sounds maybe a little overwrought, but you can make it as quiet or as busy as you like.
Furthermore, I discovered that you really don’t need a lot of stuff. I was able to travel around for three months with two pieces of carry-on luggage: one backpack for my clothes and one day pack for my laptop, external hard drive and photography equipment. That’s all I needed.
+ Your creativity gets a boost
By adjusting your lifestyle, your creativity can take flight. By that I mean: you are going to see things differently, discover new ways of working and seize new opportunities. For example, in Athens I developed a new offering for schools and in Calgary I made contact with a printing company for fine art photography through a client. I also discovered new conditions to work with as a photographer: for example, Mediterranean and prairie light both give a very different touch to a photograph.
Do you have aspirations to become a digital nomad as a photographer? Then discover here how you can work as a photographer while traveling!
Disadvantages of living as a digital nomad
– Loneliness
If you are used to being among colleagues every day, this way of life is really something different. In libraries, coffee shops and coworking spaces, you get among people, but you don’t see the same people every day. Also, in a new city, you may not have connections yet.
To avoid this, I often choose destinations where I already know people. Then you already have a network you can use when you have questions. I also invite friends to visit me and have regular zooming sessions with family and friends. If all that fails, you can always participate in activities for expats and other nomads.
Loneliness is experienced not only by nomads, but by entrepreneurs in general. Read more about the pros and cons of entrepreneurship here.
– Internet
As great as the internet will be in 2023 in the Netherlands and Belgium, it really won’t be everywhere. Wherever you settle down as a nomad, you need to look for a stable internet connection. After all, you don’t want to experience losing your connection during a video call. This search process can also sometimes take some time. By the way, in Marseilles you will spend some time looking for a good connection, but in Medellín (Colombia) or Calgary you will find it very quickly!
Looking for a cool destination? Calgary I can definitely recommend! View here the Calgary guide for digital nomads!
– Cost
To make ends meet as a nomad and finance your lifestyle, you need to earn reasonably well. Especially if you have a home base in an expensive country like the Netherlands or Belgium. You can try to cut costs by going to cheaper destinations, but even then, once you need more than if you just work from, say, Antwerp or the Randstad. Of course, you can also consider registering in another country, then suddenly it becomes a very different story and you may be able to live much cheaper.
– Alienation and ethical questions
If you are away from home for a long time, the connection with your hometown may diminish. To put it bluntly, you“deconnect.” You may pay taxes in your hometown, but do you contribute anything else to the place where you are registered?
In doing so, I sometimes asked myself the ethical question of whether the average Calgarian or Athenian was made better by the arrival of me as a digital nomad. Yes, I can tell how great these cities are as temporary residences. But did I effectively contribute anything to society on the ground? No.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of advantages to being nomadic, but also some disadvantages. Whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages you must decide for yourself.
For example, I loved this nomadic journey, but feeling part of my home base of Brussels is also very important. Hence, I choose not to be a full-time, but part-time digital nomad. By the way, deep respect for the people who do manage to do this full time!
And so I am not a full-time digital nomad. Discover more reasons why I am a part-time digital nomad here.