The digital nomad life is full of excitement, adventure and usually a big helping of wanderlust. Travelling from country, having new experiences and gaining more and more understanding of the world makes for a lifestyle many aspire to.
In reality though, like most lifestyles, living as a digital nomad is not without its challenges. I’m going to talk about 9 of the most common struggles, and how you can overcome them.
Lots of acquaintances and few deep relationships
This is a big one when travelling the world. It’s not difficult to meet people because there are lots of travellers around, but it’s hard to make deeper connections with people because of always moving about. And although these connections feel good at first, they sometimes leave you feeling a little lonely because they are so fleeting.
What I find really helps is staying in contact with friends at home using Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. I also find keeping in touch with fellow nomads that I’ve met in nomad events and travelling with them from time to time. It’s great to share experiences with other people who are on the same nomadic journey as you. The best networking events where I have made real friendships include DNX and Nomad Cruise. I also have good friends who recommend WifiTribe… I have yet to personally go on WifiTribe but I will definitely try it soon. Check out this article to find out about the best ones.
FOMO
Missing out on things that happen with people you love happens. FOMO (fear of missing out) can really get people down, but it sometimes happen. Of course there are going to be events back home that you really try to get back for (births, deaths and weddings come to mind), but if you don’t manage to make it you have to learn to be ok with that. When you feel FOMO bubbling up, take a step back and look at the amazing life you have created for yourself just by daring to be different.
Time management
Procrastination is something that self-employed people and remote workers struggle with. I find the pomodoro technique works really well as keeping me in check on procrastination days. Check it out here.
Being your own boss can also go the other way and mean you are working around the clock non-stop.. or leave you with the feeling that you should be working. You can manage this by organising a routine around your day where you work certain hours and check emails at certain times can help with this. Also, creating a to-do list with a time expectancy of how long it will take to complete is another way to manage your time whilst working.
Bad internet
Weak internet is the bane of working whilst travelling. If you don’t have a good internet speed, work can just go out the window and you just spend all day waiting for it to work. It has happened to me for a certain amount of time and I don’t wish this for any body! I usually go and work in 4-5* hotels as they tend to have better internet connections or co-working spaces.
Keeping healthy habits
Maintaining a regular routine as a digital nomad can be challenging. You can end up drinking a lot and eating lots of delicious food so your healthy diet can go out the window! But it really does help to keep on top of your health. Read some of my other blogs on fitness whilst you travel. It is also worth taking a few days off drinking a week or ordering more vegetables. Click here for one of my blogs with staying fit as a nomad.
Good healthcare
Finding a good doctor abroad, who speaks your language and that you’re comfortable with is not always easy. Luckily, if you are reading this, you speak English, so although it might be difficult, it’s not impossible to find someone to speak with. Another option is to sign up to an online doctor. You can get consultations over Skype whenever, and wherever you are. Make sure you have good health/travel insurance so you are covered just in case. World Nomads is a great one.
Budgeting
Budgeting can get any nomad down! But you shouldn’t let it. You can make the most out of your budget by knowing what you can and can’t afford. Be realistic about the money you have, the money you have coming in and how you are likely to spend it.
Here is a list of places and how much living expenses cost by Numbeo:
Its a big list, but it will help you budget.
Language barriers
Language barriers can feel awful when you travel. We can’t all be language geniuses and when we travel there will inevitably be times when we can’t speak the local language. Always try and learn a few words and work towards being conversational when you are there. You can do this using the Duo Lingo app. Also, learn to speak English well as it is the universal language of the world. You should be able to travel well as an English speaker. It is also thought that you need to be at a conversational level in Spanish to travel South and Central America properly.
Living out of a suitcase
It can get challenging at times, but this is part of the digital nomad experience. It can be annoying wearing the same clothes over and over again, so throwing away clothes to allow new additions to the wardrobe is a must. Also, when I was in Malaysia before I came home, I ended up buying another suitcase and paid extra at the airport for luggage. I know some people who have shipped clothes back. When there is a will, there is a way with this particular struggle.
If you are struggling as a Nomad or would like some freedom coaching to enhance your lifestyle, why not send me a message? I’d love to help.