The Disadvantages of Being a Digital Nomad

The Disadvantages of Being a Digital Nomad

Being a digital nomad sounds like nothing but excitement and new experiences: the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, flexible schedules, and the opportunity to explore new places.

In many ways, it’s a dream come true for those who have been bitten by the travel bug. However, just like any other lifestyle, being a digital nomad comes with its own set of drawbacks.

I have been a global citizen and digital nomad for the past decade, and in this article, I will share my own experiences of the disadvantages of being a digital nomad.

This article is not to say that there are only disadvantages to the nomad lifestyle… of course, there are countless positive aspects to the digital nomad life, however here I will explore some of the drawbacks to consider before starting out on your nomad adventures.

Loneliness and Friendship on the Road

One of the biggest challenges of being a digital nomad is the lack of community, and the constant need to start over in new places.

Although some digital nomads may travel with friends or partners, many are on their own, which can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Building meaningful relationships take time and effort and can be tough when you’re always on the go. Even if you do find like-minded individuals, you may have to say goodbye after only a few short weeks.

One tip I have personally learned from my experience being a digital nomad is that it’s important to connect with others who have similar passions and interests as you. This can mean connecting with others who are also digital nomads or perhaps if you run your own business online, others who are entrepreneurial as well.

It’s important to meet friends and make connections with those who have similar interests, and this helps to ensure a long friendship, even if you are across the world from each other.

Another tip is to stay connected with nomads you meet during your travels on Instagram. If you connect with these people via social media, it is much easier to stay connected in the future, see where they are in the world and if you are nearby for a meetup.

I always make sure to grab my new nomad friends IG handles before departing and going separate ways, as you never know when you will happen to be in the same place at the same time again, and Instagram can help in coordinating that.

Missing Out on Important Life Events

When you’re constantly traveling, it’s inevitable that you’ll miss out on important events back home, like weddings, birthdays, and graduations.

I have personally missed out on some big family events and felt the regret later on. This can be especially challenging for those with close ties to family and friends in your home country.

When you know a big event is coming up for your family or friends back in your home country, it’s important to plan ahead. I always make sure that I plan a FaceTime or a Zoom call, either before or during the event if possible.

I try to be as present as possible through life events with my family and friends while I’m on the road. Just because you’re a digital nomad doesn’t mean you have to be completely disconnected from your life back home.

Unpredictable Work Environment

While it’s true that as a digital nomad, you have the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, the reality is that not every location is conducive to work.

Unreliable internet, lack of privacy, and noisy environments can all impact productivity. As a result, digital nomads may find themselves scrambling for a workspace at the last minute or working strange hours to accommodate for time zones.

The lack of a consistent work environment can also make it difficult for some to establish a routine, leading to burnout and stress.

Personally, I’ve had quite a few bad experiences of an unpredictable work environment while on the road as a digital nomad.

One of these instances was when the internet went out in my Airbnb, and I had a meeting that morning. Thankfully, I ended up waking up early, and I was able to go to the local Starbucks to get Wi-Fi.

You never know when your internet or electricity may go out, especially when in a foreign country, so always be sure to have a back plan in place… whether it be bringing a portable hotspot, or knowing where the closest Starbucks is!

It’s also important to note that a lot of the time you will be working from places where you don’t have complete privacy. If you do have an important call or a meeting, I highly recommend booking a co-working space somewhere such as a WeWork.

Financial Instability

Another disadvantage of being a digital nomad is financial instability.

Many digital nomads have a mix of freelance work and their own projects to make enough income to fund their travels. This can make it difficult to predict earnings and can lead to stress and anxiety in the long-term.

If you’re traveling long term, you may also find that your savings don’t stretch as far as you thought, and that you need to go back to full time work sooner than expected.

There are a few options I would suggest to mitigate financial instability as a digital nomad or traveler.

First, I would recommend looking into freelancing or starting your own business. While this is something that will take time, skill and patience to grow and scale, it is very rewarding if you are looking to embark on a journey of self-development, discovery, and a lifelong entrepreneurship adventure.

If you have questions surrounding incorporating your business for low tax, or optimizing your nomad life for diversification, reach out to us at Worldwise Capital, and we would be happy to guide you on the best options for your specific case.

Another option, if entrepreneurship is not something that interests you, is to find a remote job. Remote jobs can be very difficult to find and are in quite high demand. However, it can be very rewarding when you do find one.

It’s important to note that with remote work, you may be asked to stay in a specific time zone that you company operates in. While this position may not be completely remote, you can still travel to different countries and live a digital nomad lifestyle.

Health Concerns

While it’s true that being a digital nomad allows for more flexibility in terms of schedule and travel, it can also make it difficult to maintain healthy habits.

The constant change in time zones, irregular work schedules, and lack of routine can take a toll on physical and mental health. Those with pre-existing health concerns like asthma or allergies will also need to ensure they have the necessary medication and treatments available as they travel.

Another concern when it comes to health is diet and proper eating. This can certainly be difficult if you are traveling to many different countries, experiencing different and local foods, not knowing what food you will find at the grocery store, and being tempted to eat out more than often.

Of course, you will want to be able to indulge and eat treats and delicious local food during your travels, and it’s a great idea to balance that with cooking at home. This ensures you are eating healthy and also enjoying local, and getting the nutrients that your body needs.

I personally try balance eating out at local restaurants with cooking at home, and with the occasional delivery meal every now and again. It can be easy to press BUY and have a meal delivered to your door when you’re working online for a majority of the day, but you want to have good local supermarket options as well to keep your meals healthy.

Self-Motivation

This is one of the most important aspects of being a digital nomad, and I would say self-motivation is the number one item that will prevent many people from actually becoming digital nomads.

Self-motivation can be a major disadvantage in living a digital nomad lifestyle. If you are not self-motivated and find it very difficult to work or get tasks done in your daily life without having a structure or going into a nine to five office job, then the digital nomad lifestyle may not be best for you.

I highly recommend reflecting inward before becoming a digital nomad and asking yourself if self-motivation is something that you can truly sustain for months or years while on the road.

Being a digital nomad is not a holiday, and it does require a lot of work to become a successful nomad… sometimes even more work than a traditional nine to five office job.

However, there are many types of nomads, and you have options for which type of nomadic lifestyle you want to live.

There are part time digital nomads, nomads who do RV and van life, nomads living out of a suitcase, and so many other types of digital nomads.

Don’t think there’s only one way to become a digital nomad. Be sure you know yourself and how you work best before figuring out how you want to embark on your unique digital nomad journey.

Possessions

Possessions and minimalism can be a tricky topic as a digital nomad.

While there are many different types of digital nomads, as previously discussed, and you may not need to sell everything you own to become a digital nomad, many nomads do opt to sell a lot of their things so that they can live a simpler and more minimalistic digital nomad lifestyle while on the road. This can be one of the major disadvantages of being a digital nomad.

I recommend that you to figure out what type of nomad you want to be first, whether that be living RV or van life, part-time traveling, or others.

For example, if you want to pursue van life, you may not need to sell everything you own, and you will want to keep some kitchen and bedding suppliers.

I live out of a suitcase full-time, so I had to get rid of almost everything that I owned in order for everything to fit into one single suitcase.

This is the type of digital nomad lifestyle I have opted for; however, it doesn’t need to look the same for you.

Be sure to look into the different types of digital nomad and what you really are wanting from your digital nomad journey before hitting the road.

My Final Thoughts on the Disadvantages of Being a Digital Nomad

Becoming a digital nomad is a dream that many have, but it’s important to balance this dream with a dose of reality.

While there are certainly some disadvantages of being a digital nomad, it’s important to know them beforehand, and to realize there is a whole world of amazing experiences you wouldn’t otherwise know unless you live a nomad lifestyle.

I hope this article highlighted some of the disadvantages of being a digital nomad, however it’s time to make your own decision on if the nomad lifestyle is one that will fit into your life.

Be sure to view more of our posts about life in Latin America and see if the nomad life, whether in Latin America or elsewhere, is for you!