Work and Wander: How to Master the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
The digital nomad lifestyle has certainly seen a surge in popularity over the last few years, as more and more people are attracted to the freedom and possibilities it provides. As a digital nomad, you are location independent, which means you can work from anywhere in the world—as long as you have the tech you need to do your job. That’s why most digital nomad jobs are remote work that can be done around the world in coffee shops, libraries, co-working spaces, and even recreational vehicles.
But there’s more to being a digital nomad than just having a remote job. Here’s the rundown on how to master the digital nomad lifestyle.
Why many are drawn to the digital nomad lifestyle
MBO Partners’ 2022 State of Independence research study revealed that nearly 17 million Americans identified as digital nomads in 2022—that’s a 9% increase from 2021! What gives?
More people are adopting the digital nomadic lifestyle because it offers a much better work-life balance than the conventional 40-hour work week. As digital nomads, people are realizing that they can not only achieve their professional goals but also see the world and collect countless new experiences along the way.
Overwhelmingly, digital nomads describe themselves as self-employed (a whopping 83%, actually). In addition to business owners, this number also includes freelancers and contractors who have embraced the digital nomad lifestyle. And they’re not just scraping by. According to a March 2023 study, 36% of digital nomads report making between $100,000 and $125,000 per year.
These digital nomads are living proof of what makes the location-independent lifestyle so attractive: No bosses and no commutes. But yes to traveling the world and developing your business along the way.
Embracing the digital nomad lifestyle: a breakdown of the pros and cons
The digital nomad lifestyle certainly seems shiny from the outside—and for many, the way of life is just as rewarding and thrilling as it seems. But you don’t get something for nothing.
Being a digital nomad isn’t for everyone, and there are some drawbacks to always living life on the road. Ready to dip your toe in the digital nomad waters?
First, consider the pros and cons:
Pros
Flexibility: Say goodbye to the 9-to-5. Flexibility is one of the biggest perks of becoming a digital nomad. Want to make a rule of no work on Fridays? It’s done. Want to wake up without an alarm clock and never see 6:00 AM again? You got it. As a digital nomad, you make the rules.
More Travel: No, duh! When you embrace the location-independent lifestyle, you can travel the world without having to give up your career. This gives you the chance to explore more states, cities, and countries than you ever could with just four or five weeks of PTO.
Expanded Network: Sure, you can meet new people everywhere—but are they your people? When you join digital nomad meet-ups and travel groups, you get the chance to meet, mingle, and make friends with people who share similar lifestyles and interests.
Personal Growth: One thing’s for sure—being a digital nomad will push you out of your comfort zone. As you take on novel challenges, travel to foreign places, and meet people from all walks of life, you’ll get the chance to gain a new perspective and see the world in a whole different light.
Cons
Time Zone Differences: If you want to live like Mr. Worldwide, then you’ve got to get used to time zone differences. Besides dealing with jet lag whenever you hop on a long flight, communicating across time zones can sometimes put a big damper on your plans, whether that’s communicating with clients or staying in touch with friends and family back home.
Loneliness: It happens to even the social butterflies: loneliness. Isolation. Thinking you have no friends. And these feelings of loneliness can often be amplified when you’re living solo on the road. The key to beating the digital nomad blues? Put yourself out there and mingle BEFORE you start to feel lonely.
Visa and Legal Complications: Unfortunately, this one is totally unavoidable—and definitely a drag in your free bird lifestyle. Depending on where you travel (and how long you stay there), you’ll have to find solutions to problems like applying for visas, establishing residency, and paying taxes as a digital nomad.
Lack of a Routine: Sure, getting out of the daily drudgery is one of the perks of being a digital nomad … but sometimes the drudgery is actually kind of nice. As a digital nomad, there’s no local barista who’s nailed your favorite drink after years of faithful latte ordering or the bartender at the local joint who greets you as a regular with a free pint.
8 tips for building a nomadic lifestyle
It’s important to remember that the digital nomad lifestyle looks different for everyone—there are no right or wrong answers. Of course, there’s no harm in turning to your neighbor for a little help along the way.
Here are a few tips to bookmark when learning how to build a digital nomad lifestyle:
1. Travel slowly
Despite what Instagram may want you to think, nobody gets a prize for visiting the most countries the fastest. So no need to let yourself fall into the competition of racing to add the most flag emojis to your bio.
Instead, set your sights on slow travel.
Not only is slow travel better for the environment, but it's better for you! By spending more time in one place, you’ll be better able to immerse yourself in the local culture, form relationships, and even save money.
2. Don’t forget about your finances
While being a digital nomad can make you feel in some ways like you’re forever on vacation, let us be real with you: You’re not. You still have to “adult.” And that means staying on track with managing your finances.
You may be living out your best digital nomad dreams—but it’s still a good idea to hold yourself accountable to a monthly budget. It’s also smart to build up an emergency fund (especially if you’re self-employed), save a portion of your income every month, and consider travel and health insurance options everywhere you go.
3. Reach out to others
Putting yourself out there is hard sometimes, but it’s the only real way to stop yourself from feeling lonely. Because like it or not, friends are not going to find you and knock on your door. YOU have to make the effort.
For example, you can join digital nomad communities and groups, go to local meetups, or even look for groups online.
Plus, since a large percentage of digital nomads are also entrepreneurs, consider this a one-two punch for both your social life and your professional network.
4. Pack lightly
We’re not going to diva-shame you, but you’ll really be doing yourself a favor as a digital nomad if you learn to pack lightly.
Of course, if you’re living on the road for months or even years, it’s simply not realistic for most of us to just live out of a carry-on bag. To pack up your life in a checked bag, a carry-on bag, and a travel backpack, learn to embrace the philosophies of minimalism.
For example, invest in a capsule wardrobe so that you can look and feel your best everywhere you go—without traveling with an entire retinue in tow. Over time, living with less will also help you save money, so you can count this one as a double win.
5. Stay active
Without a local gym or yoga studio to attend, staying active as a digital nomad can easily fall by the wayside. But it goes without saying that exercise is a must-have for both your physical and your mental health—even when you’re on the road.
While you can buy day passes to local gyms where you’re traveling, this can quickly become expensive. But jogging is always free! If that made you laugh out loud (here’s to the anti-jogging club), consider renting a bike in your local city. It’s cheap, environmentally friendly, and great exercise.
You can also turn to the Internet to stay active. There are plenty of fitness videos for free on YouTube, or you can subscribe to an online membership, like Sculpt Society or Tracy Anderson.
6. Try joining a travel group
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: Travel groups are where it’s at for digital nomads.
Even if you’re not feeling lonely, travel groups lend so many other benefits for travelers.
For example, joining a travel group or remote work program pushes you out of your travel comfort zone, giving you the opportunity to try new experiences you might not have booked for yourself. Travel groups are also great options if there’s a specific country or region you’d really like to visit but you’re nervous to go on your own.
7. Adopt a go-with-the-flow mindset
No matter how many tips you read about being a digital nomad or learning to be location-independent, things will go wrong.
You will miss flights. You will be lost. You may even have your bag stolen. (We’re sorry.)
Bumps in the road are everywhere. So the best thing you can do is arm yourself with a go-with-the-flow mindset to help yourself remain calm, stress-free, and positive even on the worst days.
8. Document your experiences
No matter how much we try to live in the moment, time just goes by too fast. Help yourself hold onto all your travel memories as a digital nomad by documenting your experiences.
Sure, you may already be filling up your IG stories on the regular, but writing long-form content can often be a lot more rewarding. As you travel, you can create a blog to share your digital nomad experiences with your world—or keep things personal on paper and pen in your own intimate journal.
7 resources to support you along your digital nomad journey
You know what they say: Sometimes it’s easier to get along with a little help from your friends.
These days, with networking groups, social media, and the Internet, it’s never been so easy and accessible for people to travel the world. Still, becoming a digital nomad and transitioning to a fully location-independent lifestyle does come with its challenges. We got you.
These resources will help you live your best digital nomad life:
World Clock: No more calculating time zone differences in your head. (And then accidentally putting the wrong time for a work meeting in your calendar and then accidentally missing it … ) World Time Buddy helps you make time zone conversions, easy-peasy, so you’re never caught with an out-of-sync calendar.
International Banks: Banking is one of the more finicky details to iron out when becoming a digital nomad, but the number of options is growing. Check out the best banks for international travel.
Digital Nomad Communities: Help fight loneliness before it even materializes. As a solo traveler on the road, it’s essential to put yourself out there and meet and mingle with new people. Joining digital nomad communities and groups is one of the best ways to score new traveling tips, expand your horizons, and make new friends.
VPNs: When you’re working on the road, the importance of the Internet cannot be overstated. Plus, if you’re working in cafes or coworking spaces, you need to protect yourself against the risks of joining public WiFi networks. Enter the best VPNS for digital nomads.
Adaptors: Have you ever shown up to the hotel on vacation and realized that the outlet is not the same as in your home country? Facepalm. Make sure you don’t run out of charge by preparing ahead of time with the appropriate travel adapters and converters.
Rental Sites: If you need a break from the hostel life and/or are feeling lonely staying in your rented AirBnB apartment, know that there are other options! Whether you want to live on your own or room with other travelers, these are the best rental sites for digital nomads.
Travel Newsletters: Banking. Insurance. Restaurants. Coworking spaces. Travel groups. Apartments. There’s a lot to manage as a digital nomad! Get help staying in the know on what it takes to live your best digital nomad life by subscribing to some of our favorite travel newsletters.
Wrapping up
More and more people are jumping on the digital nomad train—and we’re leading the group, full steam ahead.
For the latest research on what’s going on in the digital nomad community, plus travel product recommendations and an inside look at SiteSee founder’s location-independent experiences, consider subscribing to the SiteSee newsletter.
Emails are sent every Friday. The advice lasts forever.
Digital nomad lifestyle FAQs
Is being a digital nomad stressful?
We won’t lie—being a digital nomad does come with some newfound stress. But you know what? That’s a good thing! Dealing with new stressors means you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, learning something new, and, above all, growing as a person. Besides, just think about moving to a new city or starting a new job—what in life doesn’t come with a few stressors? By doing your research, planning ahead, and leaning on a community of other travelers, you, too, can learn how to master the digital nomad lifestyle. It is so worth it.
Is 30 too old to be a digital nomad?
No way! In fact, the highest percentage of digital nomads (8%) is 34. But there’s truth in the belief that age is just a number. It’s never too late to make your location-independent lifestyle a reality. If you still think joining the digital nomad party after 30 is too late, consider taking a trip with a travel group for 30-somethings—you’ll quickly see firsthand that travel is for everyone, no matter your age.
What is the average age of a digital nomad?
Think most digital nomads are young kids fresh out of college? Think again! Actually, the average age of a digital nomad is 32. And according to the 2023 State of Digital Nomads report, most digital nomads are between the ages of 23 and 44. That’s quite a big gap!
