The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Living as a Digital Nomad in 2022

Today's topic is something I've been reflecting on a lot the last few days: Life as a digital nomad. That's my lifestyle – with no home I own, or long-term rent I pay, I live life on the road, and manage my business and clients as I go.

I'm not going to lie, it feels good how often I hear my friends and family tell me that "My life sounds awesome." And they're right... but there's a lot people don't understand about digital nomading, and a lot I didn't understand until I started doing it.

How do I make it work? What are the unexpected challenges?

Let me start by saying this: There is no single way to be a digital nomad. Rather, there are an infinite number of ways to do it - because how you digital nomad depends on who you are, what your job is, and what you want or need out of this lifestyle.

To give some context, here's what my lifestyle looks like:

1. I'm single, childless, and 35 years old
2. I'm a lifelong traveler. I was raised on the East Coast of the US, but before I began nomading, I'd backpacked in Europe and Latin America in my 20s, and lived abroad in Australia for 6 years from 2013 - 2019
3. I'm an SEO and Content specialist, and my clients are located all over the world. I work almost entirely independently, and I've never met most of my clients face-to-face.

For me, these three things have unlocked the digital nomad lifestyle. I don't have anything or anyone tying me down, I'm experienced with travel, and I have the kind of job and income that makes this lifestyle viable.

But not everyone does it this way.

Some people travel as couples, or even with kids. Some people nomad and backpack at the same time. Some people nomad on their clients' dime, or don't have client s at all.

Your personal circumstances will design what kind of lifestyle you can have as a digital nomad. It's just up to you to shape it how you want.

What are the wonderful things about living as a digital nomad? There are PLENTY, but I'm not going to spend as much time on them, because they're pretty obvious.

🌍 I've gotten to see so much of the world. In just the last six months, I've partied in Mexico City, hiked mountains in Colombia, discovered hidden beaches, explored ancient ruins, and ate hushpuppies in Atlanta

😍 I've met some incredibly interesting, kind, weird, and wonderful people. People I would never meet if I was settled down in one place.

🧠 I've learned so much about different cultures and other people's experiences, and about myself as cheesy as that sounds. I've also gone from "meh" with Spanish to fully conversational.

🤑 I've saved a lot of money. Since I earn my money in US Dollars, life is MUCH cheaper in Latin America. A month of what I would pay in rent for a studio in my native Boston will get me 2 months in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in the heart of Mexico City. And the savings don't stop there in some countries.

These four things are so wonderful, that it's made everything worth it. But, I'm not really here to talk about the sunny side - that stuff you can see from the outside. I want to show you some of the reality of it - the stuff that doesn't make it onto Instagram feeds or influencer blogs.

What about working on the road? 💼

For me, the nomad lifestyle has inverted the concept of "vacation." Now, when I take vacation time, it's to what I consider "home" - my Dad's house in Maine, where I sit as I write this.

My life is divided into two "modes": About 80% of the time I'm in travel mode, and 20% of the time I'm in "rest mode." That rest mode is absolutely vital for a few reasons:

1. Your body needs to be able to settle and rest (especially when you're my age)
2. You need to be able to visit the doctor, dentist, friends, family, and stop living out of a suitcase for a bit
3. For me, the "rest" period is also when I seriously ramp up work on my own business. Any big projects or new services I want to roll out, I put them together when I'm home, so that I can lean on theme to earn income while I'm traveling. (For example, right now I'm putting together a group training course, which I'll launch just before I resume travel in July).

Why do I work hard when I'm resting? Because my free time is far more valuable when I'm living somewhere new and exciting.

I work harder and longer hours when I'm at home, where things are pleasantly boring, so that I can work less when I'm traveling, and reallocate my free time to exploring and having fun.

And therein lies the biggest challenge: Self-discipline. When you're traveling, your destination is constantly calling your name and asking you to come out to play. If you say yes all the time, you'll end up neglecting work and losing the income that affords you this lifestyle.

This took me a while to figure out, but for me, my ability to be productive while on the road is down to my "mobile work station."

I travel light (one medium-sized suitcase, a backpack, and a fanny pack), but the items that make up my station are by far my most valuable. What's inside?

💻 My laptop (duh)

🖱 A Bluetooth mouse

🖥 A portable second monitor (GAME CHANGER for me)

🎙 A compact and high-quality microphone

📷 A small, clip-on HD webcam

💡 A small ring light

These things are essential to make working comfortable and easy, and therefore much more likely to happen. Lots of people picture digital nomad working from pools and beach chairs - honestly, I never do that ish. When I'm working, my station is set up, and I focus so I can go out and play ASAP.

The camera, microphone, and ring light might not be important to everyone, but for me, they are vital. I have frequent client calls, and I record lots of marketing materials. I need to look and sound good to make sure everything is the quality I guarantee to my clients and audience.

What about living spaces? 🛏

Here's the good news. In just the last few years, there has been a huge shift in the number of options digital nomads have for setting down their shallow roots. In the last year I've stayed in...

🏡 LOTS of Airbnbs

🏨 A few hotels

🎉 A Selina, which is like a hybrid between an Airbnb a WeWork and a hostel

🤗 With friends and family

These are the options that work for me, because of what I need personally. There are plenty of digital nomads who do things really cheap by staying in hostels, but that doesn't work for me - I need my own private space and a comfortable bed.

I choose Airbnb because it has a few additional perks other options don't offer that really suit my digital nomad lifestyle. When I'm looking for a place to stay for more than a week, I will scan for:

👨‍🍳 A full kitchen, which helps me stay healthy and under budget when I'm traveling (plus I love cooking)

💺 A dedicated workspace (which is how it's written on AirBNB listings), so I can be guaranteed an actual desk and comfortable chair, not some barstool that will hurt my back

📶 Reviews that praise the Wifi speed

💪 A gym or nearby park will help me get in my exercise

Airbnb isn't my favorite company morally, but they do have good customer service and guarantees. Recently, one of my Airbnbs lost power. Rather than having to argue with some host or a hotel owner, I just messaged AirBNB and got refunded within 4 hours. Those kinds of protections matter, because stuff like that always happens, and it can eat up a lot of your time and budget if you aren't careful.

My plan is to try more places like Selina and Outsite, especially now as more places are lifting pandemic restrictions. Because here's the truth: Life as a digital nomad gets lonely.

How do you deal with loneliness and isolation? 💔

This is one of the hardest parts of being a digital nomad, and I'm going to give it to you straight;

There will be lots of lonely moments. There is lots of heartbreak. You say goodbye A LOT.

There's no getting around that. But there are ways to mitigate it.

Though I'm single, I have a close friend who is also a digital nomad, and we align a lot of our travel. It's so nice to have someone who's known me for more than a few days, and when I'm in a foreign country, it's really nice to have someone to speak English with and give myself a break.

Of course, making friends on the road is important - and how easy that is depends on where you are. I made more close friends in Mexico in six months than I did in Sydney in 3 years - go figure.

For me, I make friends by talking to strangers in bars or just while I'm out walking around. I chat up Uber drivers and bartenders. I also find dating apps are a good way to meet a local guide. I'm gay, so Grindr is my go to, but I'm going to start using the BFF Feature on Bumble - it allows you to make a dating profile just looking for friends, not dates, with people in the area. (Personally, I'm not looking for romance at this time in my life, but if you are someone who is single and wants to mingle while nomading, trust me - there are plenty of opportunities out there.)

There are also so many digital nomad groups out there, and the more you travel, the more people you meet. Exchange numbers and emails, friend each other on social media, and announce where you're going and when you're arriving. I've met the same nomads more than once, at different destinations.

There's a loose but growing digital nomad network out there, connected by various social media groups, social clubs, co-working spaces, etc. - how much or little you engage with it is up to you.

On the flip side, when you spend a lot of time living abroad and traveling, the people who are back home (wherever that is) won't stop living their lives. You will become someone who blows in and out of town --- which is really cool, and also a bit lonely.

I have really increased how much time I spend Zooming, texting, and voice chatting with the friends and family I have who are settled. They have jobs and kids and lives that keep them busy, but I know they're always happy to hear from me, and I certainly crave the connection pretty much all the time.

But remember: You can never step in the same river twice. The longer you travel, the more people's lives will move on. Their kids will grow up. They'll make new friends. You have to work hard to keep those relationships going. It's something I think about daily.

And on the flip side of that: People will want to visit YOU! When people find out you're on the road, they get hungry to travel as well. And if they're the right kind of friend, that can be great.

But I have two firm rules when someone says they want to come visit me:

1. I am working full time, so please respect that and make sure you can entertain yourself during my working hours.
2. I am not a travel agent. I'm happy to plan some things together, but you'll need to figure out your own travel arrangements and such.

This might sound kind of harsh, but I learned this the hard way - your loved ones want to enjoy the fun parts of your digital nomad lifestyle. They aren't as aware of the work/admin side of digital nomad life, so it's best to be clear about that.

Ok, a few more quick tips for you:

The Kayak Explore feature is a great way to choose a destination. Pick a date, and it shows you where cheap flights are.

The TripIt App is the best app for digital nomads. It hooks up to your email and automatically organizes all of your hotel/Airbnb reservations, flight details, etc. in one place. It also gives you Covid information about your destinations. It's just amazing.

If you are going to really do the Digital Nomad thing, it's probably a good idea to get a Credit Card with miles. I swear I'm not being paid to write this, but I use this one because my miles allow me to get reimbursed for things like Uber, Airbnb, hotels, and it partners with a number of airlines. It's designed for frequent travelers who don't want to commit to a single airline. Just be diligent about paying it off, because credit card debt can kill the nomad lifestyle quickly.

If you enjoy working out, I highly recommend the Freeletics App. It's an AI personal trainer, and you can adapt sessions depending on where you are. For example, you can tell it "I need to work out quietly" if you're in your Airbnb, or "I have some equipment" if you happen to have access to a gym. It's the perfect adaptable app for travelers, if you ask me.

I'm going to wrap this one there, but I'd love to hear any tips from other digital nomads over in TOFU.