Travel for most of us is only really possible on special occasions. We mark holidays or time away from work by seeing new places and experiencing new things, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Possibilities for remote work now allow many to travel the world as a part of everyday life. It’s called being a digital nomad, and an estimated 35 million people have already adopted this unconventional employment approach.
If you work remotely now or have the opportunity to in the future, this could open up a new way to live that you might never have considered. Before assessing the move or jumping right in, however, you need to consider the challenges ahead.
What About Your Stuff?
A big problem faced by many new digital nomads is what to do with all their belongings. If you’re fresh out of high school or are otherwise quite young, you might be able to leave your things with your family. Older digital nomads (and there are many of all ages) will instead have to consider the cost of storage, renting through Airbnb or something more permanent, or selling their existing property.
While storage and renting out a house is fairly simple to set up in the short term, selling in today’s market can be more complicated. If you’ve tried selling and have had a house chain fallen through before, you’ve experienced this first-hand. Chain breaks occur in around 25-30% of UK home sales, and the result can leave you stuck, frustrated, and stressed. Online options can help with guaranteed sales and free cash offers within minutes, so you don’t feel like you’re without choices.
Digital Nomad Practice
The digital nomad lifestyle can be a perfect fit for many, but it’s also not unusual to see people romanticising the idea before they experience it. Being a digital nomad means travelling, seeing new things, and eating great food, but there’s a downside here too. You won’t be able to put down roots, it can be difficult to maintain relationships, and you might struggle to work efficiently.
There is no perfect way to plan for how you’ll feel six months or a couple of years into a digital nomad lifestyle. However, you can at least test the waters first with a practice run. See if you can work remotely while travelling for a month or two. How do you feel about constantly booking new rooms, moving your things, and balancing your budget? If you can make this work, then you can be more confident in your choice when you approach the act for real.
Life has no one right path, and the perfect situation for one person might constitute a waking nightmare for another. Some people might hate the idea of being a digital nomad, but for others, it can be a real way to connect with your soul. It’s not just a pipe dream with the technology of today, so if you need a change or want to try something new, consider what digital nomad life could do for you.
