Why I STOPPED being a Digital Nomad
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- Being a Digital Nomad can be amazing! But what you see online is not always the full story. And for us, being digital nomads was never something we wanted to do forever.
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This is the first digital nomad I've seen on TH-cam that isn't just selling the lifestyle. Thanks for the real talk.
That's because he can't sell it, his branding, topics, and film styles are as pedestrian as can be. This channel will never blow up unless they develop an original take.
There are more than one.
I've always wondered what these "digital nomads" are actually doing with their coffeeshop laptops to create value for others that generates the income to sustain the lifestyle.
@@BGTuyaumost of us work the same laptop jobs than all the other people, we just do it remotely and mostly as entrepreneurs. Most of us nomads don’t make living by telling how to become a nomad but our channels are much more of sharing free information. And many of us don’t even have blogs or vlogs.
@@BGTuyau Well, usually they can sustain this lifestyle only in quite poor countries, where prices and accommodation are much cheaper than in Europe or US.
Honestly I think a better plan is just to work from home and travel regularly for short periods of time.
Problem is getting a stable income to take that time off
That’s what I do.
That is a good plan.
It's hard to get time off with American employers most of the time. No matter how much PTO you get, it doesn't mean you'll get to use it, and it goes away at the end of the year if no used, and doesn't get paid out if you take another job. So basically they lie about how much PTO you actually get.
@@filipepedro8272 not time off, build it in a way that you can maintain it with 3-4 hours of work a day
This is what I do.
This is so interesting. And deep. We went through a digital nomad phase and I hit a wall. I also realised that I wasn't amazed any more. I intellectually appreciated what I saw but I'd stopped saying 'wow'. Then I had a weird feeling. Actually, it was at Machu Picchu. I remember thinking it had been there long before I was born and would be there long after I die and what difference did my life make to it. Then I thought about the difference my existence made to the people I loved and who loved me and realised I was spending my time with places and people who didn't really care if I was there or not.
Now I have a home and I'm surrounded by family and have little kids who are ridiculously excited by having just a cardboard box to climb into and play. I've got the 'wow' back into my life and feel really happy. We still love to travel but love to come home too.
This is very deep
I had a similar epiphany and have no regrets moving back home. I love to travel but I love the community I have at home, and the lifestyle my family and I enjoy.
I hope you enjoyed your time in my country. I wish you and your family the best.
That is an exceptional observation. I never thought of it that way but you are so right.
This was a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing!
It all gets old, I played basketball overseas professionally for 9 years. Sometimes I was in 3 to 4 different countries(not including the U.S.) in one year. You are absolutely correct you get numb to the experience. I remember seeing the Osorno Vulcano looking at it for a few moments then going back to sleep. I passed up opportunities to see waterfalls and Pyramids just to get some extra sleep, you get numb to it all.
Yeah, you were a slave to your job. It's exactly the opposite of the idea. I'm numb enough at home already (no need to travel lol).
That happened to me when I visited Iceland for 10 days. At the end of the trip I had seen so many great landscapes that I stopped caring.
I think it's called "beauty fatigue". It happened to me in Iceland too. I'm an immigrant in Norway and I've seen more places in Norway than some locals (they tell me too!), often times a waterfall here, a fjord there or a mountain there doesn't excite me anymore. Unfortunately. One becomes jaded by the beauty over time...
Sounds like overwork.
You can literally have the same life at home too if you get a job. Its still better that atleast you are out and about rather in a cubicle all day.
I've been an expat since 2015, and the one huge thing that is never talked about on social media or YT is the never ending paperwork. If you're only making short trips to many different countries, then it won't be a big issue. But once you start to settle 3 months, 6 months, or longer then you have to figure out VISAs, residency paper work, and taxes. It's a lot to manage!!
Agree. It's more than people think it is. It is work. You need to be organized.
what all the legal immigrants n students go through in the US from the moment they set foot here. No wonder they are always stressed.
yessss and then it's all that work just to have a cozy home to sit inside
I think the word "nomad" and "settle" are pretty exclusive of one another. These are all reasons I'd prefer to just take long vacations lol.
If you are from Eu and you travel across Eu you dont have to do nothing
I considered becoming a digital nomad, but decided to go all in instead and moved to Spain from the United States. I’ve been here for a year and a half and put down some roots. What I’ve discovered is that I am able to travel quite enough regionally to satisfy that desire while still having some structure and stability in my life.
That´s what I want to do too. Did spend 6 month in Spain and then went back to Germany. Now looking for moving there permanently. I work as a freelance law consultant.
Awesome man! What industry do you work in remotely while in spain?
@@yonathcole3067 - I work for a Spanish tech company as a technical program manager in data infrastructure. They sponsor my visa (Spanish equivalent of an H1B).
Agreed. That is the path I would take... it is so Nice to have a place where you know people and are known.
where in spain?
This lifestyle is best for those who didn’t have close friends and family in their hometown in the first place. I didn’t so I have never felt that I missed anything by leaving my hometown behind forever.
I think it can also good for people that grew up in military families. I moved around a bunch growing up and so I don’t have any childhood friends and I have a deep rooted wanderlust. I find it difficult to stay in the same place for more than a couple years, it becomes boring to me and it just feels natural to leave.
Exactly, same here. Sounds like the issue with most people.
True. I started nomadism at 31 - because through my 20s I had lot of close friends/family in the UK. Loved those times & had no reason to leave. But by 31 most friends had either moved away or were getting married, having kids etc & that wasn't for me. I think my younger immature self would have really struggled as a nomad with 'FOMO' knowing the people I was closest to were the other side of the world. Glad I did it this way.
Yeah, I'm mostly alone now but i can see that being a huge issue for people
@@WorldTaxAndyhi Andy, i currently work in taxes and I am interested in exploring this lifestyle for at least in year in the future. I need to build more experience and skills first. Ill be checking your videos. Do you have a blog where you explain more detailed how you manage to work remotely as an international tax advisor?
My wife and I are in our 3rd year now of being a DN. I think the key is slowing down. Our rule is no more than one country per month. Usually, we are staying in one place for about 3 months before moving on. We also combine our hobbies with travel, going to kiteboarding locations and meeting other like-minded people, which helps with a sense of community as we travel. I can't say we will do this forever, but I certainly don't regret it!
nice, that's smart (community & slowing down)
I did that for a while too, but even then i missed having a home.
I’ve done that for years. But I’m getting tired of it. Every 2 or 3 months off you go because your visa free period is going to run out. So I’m going beginning of next year to Georgia where it’s 12 months visa free.🙂 6:22
@@GaryAJMartinI thought you could renew your visa and stay longer
@@openaudio4432 oh, I don’t bother with visas. I stay where it’s visa free. So I can a certain period of time without all that hassle. But the downside is I can’t extend.
Traveling is actually hard work--dealing with immigration/visas, languages, local customs and laws, new relationships, currencies, foods, time zones... etc. If you're strong and healthy it's wonderful, even in spite of difficulties. But you can still be knocked off your game by unexpected events. And, since no one is immune to change, returning home becomes increasingly more difficult the longer you are away--after a long enough time there's nothing to return to. Eighteen months is about the right length of time to have the best of both worlds. Salud!
10 yesrs living Asia, pandemic pushed me back. I can't stand it back home, but I'm also in the west.
What you said is true, you change when you live abroad too long
This is SO true, after a while there's nothing to go back to, and me personally Im at the point of feeling kinda lost because of that. I miss my family and friends, but it's never gonna be the same, so I get myself thinking is it even worth it to come back? And then I think what country should I go next ahah
That is key. Strong and healthy. For the most part, this is a game for people in their twenties and thirties. I planned to go in my fifties and right before I was going to leave I had an eye problem. It made me think hard about my plans. What if something happened while on the road? If I needed emergency surgery in some backwoods area, it would be trouble. A friend of mine had a retina tear and she had to have emergency surgery, or go blind. I did not need to think of this in my twenties. I had no idea of all the crap that can happen to you when you get older.
Someone said, "Youth is wasted on the young." I'm old. Wish I had some of that youth again.@@CroisMoi
Routine! Agree. Big problem with constant travel. I have lived not as a digital nomad, but just as a professional who has to travel a lot, and the lack of ability to form regular routines has been hard on my physical and mental health. Good video, thank you.
regular routines...huh?
100% correct. I could live full time in many places but bouncing around from place to place would get extremely old. I just came back from my 13th trip to the Philippines with my wife and I couldn't wait to get home and back to work. Back to my regular gym. Back to my own vehicle. Back to my own bed. These are so many things one lacks always traveling. Living out of a suitcase is not fun. Always trying to figure out where are some places you might like to eat in a foreign country is not fun. Figuring out where to get your underwear washed is not fun. I love where I live....but if I was staying in this same town in a hotel...I would hate it.
Human societies eventually built and lived in settlements for a reason. Instagram influencers scammed us into thinking all that glitters is gold.
Van life suffers from the same, we are hard wired to settle
The dilemma for me is that I do like having a bit of routine, but routine also can bore the hell out of me.
Thanks for this insight!
I definetly dont like the idea of constantly travelling - but I'v lived in Bali for 4 years more as a expat, than a digital nomad.
Life couldnt be better!
I'm all for setting up my life here long term, and keeping a few locals as close friends with the possibility that I might set up a family here in the long run.
You only live life once, and I believe its important to maximize your environment in a way that suits you best.
I get to surf everyday, eat out everyday with super healthy food - and train at some of the best martial arts and yoga studios in the world. Something simply not possible for my homeland of Singapore.
My point is that, if you can work remotely and travel do it! - it gives you the freedom to eventually decide if theres another country that suits you better than the typical city work life. Travel in perpetuity is not sustainable, but finding a better place to settle down and have a routine is!
I believe people should make educated choices about where they choose to settle down. You cant make an educated choice if you dont at least travel and work remotely for a period of your life.
Why should you live in a stressful city environment with bad unhealthy food, mundane uninspiring backdrops, lack of fresh air and nature, boring uninspiring overweight people? High Cost of living, and poor ROI on your income.
Not for me thanks!
Perfect comment and insights. Thanks.
I totally agree. I also don't have any childhood friends left as they moved away. Not a lot of my family is still alive too, so for me these aren't really factors that matter. I 100% agree that setting up a homebase somewhere you love is a great step, as well as choosing an environment that fits your needs and interests. Quality of life goes through the roof!
yo sounds nice but how did you generate ur income? think thats the most rel. thing.
Thank you for this video! We became DNs Jan. 1 and have experienced exactly the same emotional, experiential, and social issues you discuss. We have returned to OUR home town to purchase a condo so that we can travel a little more slowly and still see friends and family. The lack of a close community became an issue, and we also felt very little wonder when visiting wondrous things. Oh, another fountain, oh, another museum, oh another cathedral... We thought something was wrong with us. And, the extraordinary amount of time spent researching the next location and lodging. Lots of deception on ST Rental sites. We are newly back home. You have no idea how much we appreciate this honest account.
This is a great insight too. Thank you for sharing :)
yes so true! the travelers are so nice, but everything comes and goes ...
Nomadism is not about seeing yet another cathedral. You should always try and connect with some people and if it is only other expats or nomads, even better with locals. Maybe you wanna give it another try once you discovered how to enjoy being a nomad vs. a non-stop tourist.
@@38countries we made friends everywhere we went. and we were not tourists, we worked every day. We have jobs. Assumptions can be wrong. As in this case.
@@38countries True ethnic nomadism happens in families and communities though, so it's really not that when we're talking about being a DN. If your social needs are met by talking to locals who you will see anywhere between once and like eight times, that's great but there are people out there who need a a tightly knit support system and deep friendships. It is not feasible to make really deep connections if you come and leave so quickly and that's a big issue for some attempting this lifestyle. It has nothing to do with doing it wrong, it's just the given environment.
I was a traveling nurse for 20 years. I eventually got tired of living out of a suitcase and missing my family. Now I have pets and a garden and am available for family. I have marvelous memories and would do it all again.
You did however, experience a lot of amazing things that most people wouldn't have, no? If you have to redo it all over, would you do it the same way? Would you settle down AFTER travelling or would you settle down from the beginning?
@@chingchingbling2145 I wouldn't change a thing. I learned to SCUBA dive and love it, traveled to Africa twice, visited European countries, worked in the Middle East, made wonderful acquaintances and we still keep in touch.
@@judytaquino6412hello, i'm interested in nursing and i'm interested in travelling as well. May i know how is it possible to work as a nurse in different countries? I thought nurses have to pass the license exam in a country to practise in that specific country. Can you please tell me how it works, it would be helpful for me, thank you.
@@autumn399I think it’s for Red Cross probably, or some international organization like that
Thanks for the realistic take. As someone who was floating around various countries for over a decade, I empathise with all your concerns. I think the pull of friends and family and home is the biggest challenge for everyone. The only solution I can suggest, is trying to make your home wherever you are at the time. I think you can only really establish yourself properly and feel 'at home' if you spend more than a year in any one place. We all need roots of some sort.
"I like to be amazed when I discover a new place"
Very important statement that applies to all areas of life.
I like to be amazed when I watch a TH-cam video, I am regularly disappointed
@@peterkelly8357 You are jaded. What do you expect? These are normal people telling their normal experiences. If you expect to be waowed, you have to look inside yourself, not at your screen.
I’ve been a digital nomad for nearly 25 years. It has it’s pros and cons. Some of the cons are being cheap and broke all the time. Most ways to make money online don’t earn much money and even when they do the income is volatile and short lived.
I hope the cryptoeconomy has changed this somehow for you. It's a bit like investing 50 dollars every month for 25 years, but on steroids.
And you have a home base because of your parents. You're luckier than most.
On that note, don’t be digital nomad if you want/have kids.
Most of my clients are digital nomads so I'm quite lucky to get an insight into to the financial aspects of this - what I've observed is that the people who struggle financially chose being a nomad first (& then figure out money later). Whereas the ones who do well financially were the ones who spent years learning their craft, amassed skills, built a business etc - so they had a base to fall back on. And they just chose to become nomads after they'd built their base. Many of those ones now travel the world pretty comfortably with their business/skills continuing to generate cash as they go.
Not saying either option is better (first one could definitely be an exciting challenge & you can likely experience the new cultures & fun of it all younger) but it's good to be aware of the realities. If your dream is to be a nomad and hope you'l figure out the financials as you go, you'll probably be constantly swimming upstream
I wouldn't be able to put it better! I've been living nomadically with my boyfriend for 15 months now and the happiest we've been this last week was when we bought our tickets to Brazil (home). I would add some things such as - having bad knives and pans and pots; unpredicted internet issues; understanding how safe the places we are really are; having a hard time connecting with locals depending on their culture (e.g. Bulgaria, Serbia); and now, on top of it all - not being able to keep a good posture, given that it is hard (if not impossible) to find places with a decent office structure.
Ah, that last point hits home here, hah! Thanks for sharing your experience :)
I am sorry that you had issues with cultural differences in Bulgaria or Serbia. As a Serbian myself, could you please tell me what kind of differences you experienced? I work with a lot of foreigners so I would like to know other side of the coin. 😊
@@jovananikic822 Hi dear, thanks for the kind message! It is because the language is so different for us, that at first we are completely lost. Then, we felt that people were not open to engage in conversations. For example, in Bulgaria I went to a Yoga class; nobody talked to me before or after class, what would happen in other countries (in Turkyie, for example). But again, I was the foreigner that did not speak a word. In Belgrade we went to the same food fair almost every day, and still it seemed that nothing changed in the way people engaged with us. It is not an issue at all, and I get that speaking english is not as common (if you go to Brazil, where I'm from, you'll hardly find English speaking people). But the will to try and engage is a different thing, and this is what we felt was missing :)
@@isabelbritez9781 Thank you for your answer! It means a lot because I had completely different perspective.
@@isabelbritez9781 Wait, people talk before and after yoga classes? I'm super inexperienced with travelling, only had a few vacations in European countries so far (I'm from Germany) and I really long for a cultural experience in a place where people are really open to meeting me. I've had Turkey on my list for quite a while now and this small little detail makes me want to go even more.
I settled down in Thailand because I was tired of just moving all the time. I had been on the road for 6 years and I totally agree with the experience numb statement. After a while it just doesn't excite us anymore.
Not the same but I understand where you are coming from. My husband and I have been traveling for almost 5 months before he begins his new job in June. I never thought I’d want to come at the end but I’m actually looking forward to having more control over my environment, being able to make healthier food choices and seeing people I care about!
what prevents you to have healthy life while traveling ? you can always go for short runs, do squats or pushups and buy food from places that make healthy food not mc donalds...
Circadian rhythm, periodicity, predictability / these are all very healthy for the body, but it’s quite impossible to do while traveling full time.
@@pete531 McDonald's can be healthy. Keep up and not just bleat a mindlessly repeated meme. But I get your point and your tips are good.
Huh? It doesn’t get healthier for food choices than here in Vietnam. My God, talk about everyday fresh everything. You talking about the West and the processed foods home? GTFOH.
I'm 50. I love traveling and plan a long trip a year, about a month in a foreign country during my vacation time. I'm a professor, married, but I like traveling alone and that's ok, because I need that time to "put myself in order". I used to post my trips on instagram and facebook, photos, experience, food, tours etc. However, I've come to the point I started asking if I was doing that to show off or helping others. I realized most followers were there to check my life and even said I was lucky etc. I simply got tired and started thinking that was not that funny anymore for me. Numb is the word, like someone wrote here! Last year I traveled to the North of France. It was an incredible trip to Normandy and Brittany, although it was in a difficult period because of pandemy and the rest everyone knows about, forms, fears etc. I felt relieved when I got home. I even thought once about the possibility of becoming nomad, but I realized that was not for me. I like to visit new places, try different cultures, but I miss my base, that's the truth. I admire people who retire or sell everything to live like a nomad in a foreign country, however that's not what I want for my life. The point is that we always look for reason for living and sometimes we get confused about goals and dreams. I like to say I'm always "putting the happiness ruler down" What does that mean? When I feel bored about my life, I try to go back at a time when my dream was to reach the point I got now. I bring memories of my teenage time, when I wanted to achieve a kind of comfortable professional and personal life, job, house and some free time to do what I like. That always works for me. I don't have social media anymore, I only use whatsapp and youtube. Well, each person knows what is better for them. There's no right or wrong. It's a matter of choice. By the way I've visited Copenhagen once and really loved the place, even though it was really freezing. I left my country Brazil to travel to spend Christmas in a snowy place. My best wishes for you!
I lived in Recife Brazil for 2 months. Honored to know your people. God bless Brazil. Obrigado!
Interesting story, thanks for sharing it. I think the obvious biggest hurdle to traveling extensively or becoming a DN is having a family (wife, kid) that do not go along with it. And generally, they don’t. Once you have kids, that kind of freedom is over in the sense that the priorities change. But like everything in life, some things compensate for the lack of other things. You travel way less but you gain stability and someone to care for in exchange.
I did a year of group travel. By month 8 I was completely ready to come home not that I didn’t still have great experiences in those last 4 months but yes, I was numb and exhausted from the constant planning. I learned to appreciate a lot that I took for granted back home. More recently I did 3 months by myself and by the end of month 2 I was ready to come home. There’s definitely something to be said for a month or two here or there. Depending on how much of an extrovert you are, spending longer may be easier for you. If you’re an introvert then going by yourself will be good for you but will become exhausting so I would recommend shorter periods by yourself. If you go with a group or partner then I’d say 4-8 months is doable but perhaps start with two. As I said, one of the unexpected benefits is being excited about back home, you get more clarity on the things you want to do when you get back.
Adam, why do the Danes allow Marxist degenerates and leftist "socialist" pool hall grifters to over tax the wonderful Danish people. Sounds as if you have just returned to an open air prison with a fancy name of "Denmark, Prison Block Copenhagen." Your beautiful country is now just a penal colony tyrannized by the most deranged Marxist leftists in the EU and the Copenhagen The Danes look like tax donkies/ prisoners now for these Marxist left wing tyrants. Now that you have returned, maybe inquire with fellow Danes how to free beautiful Denmark from its open air Marxist prison status.
Asking as a citizen from the former prisoner colony of Australia that just visited Denmark for business, and discovered I had entered an Orwellian state overseen by the worst Marxist prison guard tyrants in EU and the taxes make you Danes nothing more than Roman gladiator work prisoners for ghouls. Why oh why, liberate your country please. How do you tolerate these Marxist prison wardens
Wow! I was a digital nomad for about six years. I lived in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Panama and Barbados. I've never heard anyone put the "experience numb" phenomenon into words. You definitely do get a little experience NUM after a while of seeing beautiful waterfalls and landscapes and beaches all the time. It just becomes normal and you start to crave routine again 😂 at this point I think I would rather just get a high-paying job in my home country and be able to travel all the time, then you don't miss important dates with friends and family and you still get to see the whole world without going numb to how cool it is.
Agreed. Setup home base and then go where I please 😁
It's just because traveling is too easy and everything is too accessible. And as a result you don't appreciate too much the places you see and the experiences you have because you didn't actually put a lot of effort to obtain them. If you were traveling in the 80s, no internet no English no cheap flights, you'd have to struggle and "earn" the travel experiences and you d retain them a lot more...
Travelling full time is great but you’re right so exhausting 😅 especially while working. We’re constantly told that we have a dream life and how others would love to do it but I honestly think if people saw the hours we do and the constant changing and figuring everything out that they would run a mile. We have been going for about 3 years now, we love it but it’s way more exhausting than our old life.
Thanks for sharing guys! There's definitely a lot going on in the background most people don't see! It can really be exhausting - but the upsides are also amazing! Thank you guys for watching 😊
I have been a teacher in a private school in London for 17 years (The private schools get much longer holidays here) with 4-5 months of holidays a year. I have seen the world during that time. It has felt like having the best of both worlds. Stability for a while and I can see my friends and family often while also having the freedom to roam the world. When you are on holiday you can just focus on the travel. Never numb to the travel experience because I have worked hard all term and the routine before i set out has become mundane again so i am again eager to see the world again. I always rent out my apartment while I am away from between one and two months at a time
Adam, why do the Danes allow Marxist degenerates and leftist "socialist" pool hall grifters to over tax the wonderful Danish people. Sounds as if you have just returned to an open air prison with a fancy name of "Denmark, Prison Block Copenhagen." Your beautiful country is now just a penal colony tyrannized by the most deranged Marxist leftists in the EU and the Copenhagen The Danes look like tax donkies/ prisoners now for these Marxist left wing tyrants. Now that you have returned, maybe inquire with fellow Danes how to free beautiful Denmark from its open air Marxist prison status.
Asking as a citizen from the former prisoner colony of Australia that just visited Denmark for business, and discovered I had entered an Orwellian state overseen by the worst Marxist prison guard tyrants in EU and the taxes make you Danes nothing more than Roman gladiator work prisoners for ghouls. Why oh why, liberate your country please. How do you tolerate these Marxist prison wardens
Totally resonate with what you’re saying.. To me, long term travel definitely took the “fun” out of traveling lol constantly planning and catching flights is tiring and you’re always just comparing your last destination to the new one instead of just enjoying them all.
Living in a home and traveling frequently is just the best option for me
Interesting take and definitely some things I’ve heard before from other travelers. I’ve been a digital nomad for almost 5 years now. Even though some things are worth noting. Others I have a different point of view on. I still love traveling. I love the flying and getting to know a new place. I still feel the awe of the everyday. The smiles on locals faces when they greet you. Messing up when trying to speak a different language. For me, I have no desire to return to my former life in Los Angeles. I’m truly grateful for my life now. I agree it’s not for everyone, but a lot mentioned is simply perspective. A good example is having a routine. I’ve maintained my routines, such a working out 4 times a week. Mostly in my Airbnb. Getting up early to meditate. They are interrupted by the traveling, but I simply go back into them once I’ve settled into the new place. I love my life now. You couldn’t pay me enough to ever go back to what life was like before I left.
I'm so happy for you
That’s great man! I wanna leave Flordia and do the same 😢
Why you guys from states wanting to leave your home country so bad ?
It depends on how you do it. What I realized early was that I didn’t have to be in a hurry. As long as basics are met, you’ll still find awe inspiring places. I’m in Colombia and live in simple places and go to the locations. It makes it special that way.
Instead of constantly traveling, pick 2-4 for the year. By doing that you can use one place as a home base to work and still explore the pretty places in the country. Doing it this way keeps you a bit more grounded. If you don’t like the place, don’t go back. If you do, make it part of your jet setting.
Staying with a family or in a family compound can be great too. Families often want to share their space with foreign people. They will keep you safe, fed and offer good advice on places to go.
It does get lonely but the trade off is the memories you create. New food. Interesting people. Inspiring adventures. Unique wildlife and geography.
It’s not easy. Language barriers can be frustrating and scary. The pros outweigh the cons to me. I love Colombia. It’s beautiful. Cheap. Perfect weather. Looking at Brazil or Vietnam next.
Great video.
Ah, I love Colombia! Lived there for a year back in 2011, and just kept going back ever since. Never went while working though, but I imagine its perfect country to do something like this.
But you're right on with everything here. We thought we were going slow, staying each place about a month. But we realised now, we probably should have done it a bit more like you mention.
Thanks a lot for watching and sharing your thoughts!
I've been living in Vietnam for almost 4 months now and would totally recommend it for your next stage. People are super great, it's completely safe in terms of crime (like pretty much all of SE Asia), it's extremely cheap, perhaps more so than Colombia, yet people work hard and infrastructure is pretty decent and there's new cool buildings going up every day. If you avoid the rainy season and come from February next year, you'll have a wonderful time. Also, once in SE Asia, other countries become cheaply accessible via cheap flights. Good luck and have a great time!
@@marsfuture thanks for the info.
One good trick that I have found for maintaining a routine is to pay for things upfront on a month to month basis. Particularly when travelling through Europe, I look up the nearest public indoor pool and pay for 12 entries per month membership upfront so that I always go for a swim 3 times a week. I then plan my work and other activities around the opening times of the pool and I find it really helps to provide me with structure 😊
Awesome tip - thanks for sharing!
been doing it since before the internet was invented thats 30+ years and feel very lucky, the important thing to remember is everyone is different, I cant imagine living in england again, travel is the best education there is
Traveling since 12 months now. While it has been absolutely amazing - after a year I started to miss my home and routine. Also the constant planning, booking and researching gets very tiring at some point. Everyone needs a „home“.
15 seconds in, and I'm thinking about that "work a few hours here or there" part.
Loving the imagery, but I also remember being in rural Thailand during the rainy season, with an impending deadline and limited internet.
Traveling constantly is hard for various reasons. I traveled for years working digitally and after a while the burnout was real. Not from my work but the constant travel and never having a base or real home. It just got old to be on the road per say all of the time. Now I do moderate traveling and it has worked out better at least for me. I like having a base and then traveling when I feel like it.
Very similar to our experience! The home base thing especially. There are other things we miss for sure, but now, being able to have a home base and travel when we want is great.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!
I grew up a military kid so I actually prefer to travel.
@@thenordicadam I'm feeling the same. It's nice to be surrounded by things you actually *own* and chose, like your furniture. Rather than rented, with just a couple of suitcases max. Everything you own and carry with you is always kept at a minimum. I hate packing suitcases. It takes forever and you're scared at airports having to unpack stuff or suitcase too heavy. Also, sometimes you want European-style seasons and different clothes, lol.
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts and opinions on this... Life is about spending time with people you love & care about and doing things that you actually want to do - which can be done at a nice home base with traveling here and there at your heart's content.
Aww thanks! I've been a freelancer and an expat for a decade and one thing that's never mentioned in social media is that being an expat or nomad seems very cool on the outside, but means dealing with isolation and loneliness on a daily basis. I love to travel and I love the fact that I can choose to do so whenever I want but I'm also happy to get back to my daily 'normal' life until the next adventure, and spend my Saturdays having coffee with my Dad or my bestie. It makes you more enthusiastic this way than traveling non stop and being 'spoilt' as you rightfully mentioned. How many times did I hear kids on a trip that are not impressed by anything because they just saw something more spectacular last week in another country lol
There's definitely a lot of points about it that are not shared so often, and that I also hadn't seen talked about before I left - which was the whole motivation for making this video. Thanks for sharing your experience :)
Loved this completely honest perspective. For us, the "nomading" that works is staying at least 3-4 months in one place if we're moving around. We also found that having a hub of renting out an apartment for the whole year, and then traveling for 2-3 months also works, but not being constantly on the move. I think it's the only reason why this lifestyle has been sustainable for us for over 3 years, because we spend enough time somewhere to actually make a home and connections, and still rent an apartment back home when we want to go back to friends and family :)
I can confirm what you said here. My wife and I have tried the digital nomad thing, and may well try it again, BUT the work, the prep that has to go into the planning and adjusting to each place is not really a pleasure, and the new place may not be a pleasure either, it's always a shot in the dark. Reliable/unreliable wifi is something that is only revealed on arrival too.
Agree with your experience. I've been on the road for almost 5y now and crave a base.
There are lots of challenges that most people don't see on Instagram or youtube. Yet, I think everyone should give it a try as it has never been easier to "try out" out this lifestyle. Also the personal growth aspect is invaluable.
Some people need this wake up call and to go through it to appreciate what's at home and the foundation they've left behind, which makes you cherish it more afterwards. They say you don't know what you have until it's gone. By suspending your current foundational lifestyle and relationships, you can learn to appreciate it more in the long run through digital nomading, which is a net positive. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!
Hello, I can understand what you said about planning the trip and accommodation and continuously moving from one place to another. It can be very stressful and exhausting.
The same is true when you feel almost indifferent or emotionally numb when you see a beautiful place, because you have seen so many places that are equally beautiful or equally extraordinary.
As for me, I'm finishing a tour of Italy that I started almost a year ago (I've been taking photos and posting them (slowly) on Instagram since April), I visited Venice and Burano, and I I loved it. Even though two whole days there left me totally exhausted physically and emotionally. There are so many subjects to photograph, it's overwhelming.
I am happy to note that I have not totally lost my ability to marvel at beauty and strangeness like those I encountered in Cefalú, Syracuse, Noto, Catania, Agropoli, Naples, Lecce, Rome or Matera, which I saw briefly in your video. I can't wait to return to Venice in the next few days.
Regardless, your explanation of why you stopped being a digital nomad is sincere and truthful. Take care of yourself
Hi William, thanks for sharing your thoughts! Sounds like a great trip you're on. We visited several of those places, indeed - loved them all!
Enjoy the rest of your trip :)
Digital nomad in Latin America for 1.5 years now. Colombia, Mexico, Dominican Republic. Loving it. I spend 3-6 months per country, taking it nice and slow. Having good quality relationships, and living like a wealthy local.
Cool. It’s ok, when people from rich countries go to poor countries and live there wealthy. But that people don’t like when people from poor countries come to their countries to gain some money 😂
@@chackchack713 I'm assuming you are from a rather poor country? If so, do you think there is a way to ethically do digital nomadism with the least amount of negative impact? I've heard that gentrification is a huge deal in some tropical places because of digital nomadism and I'd like to avoid making that situation worse.
Totally agree with you, I'm doing this since 2.5 years and I'm starting to get tired, I'm craving a base somewhere (didn't find one yet) to stay at least 6-8 months and maybe the rest of the time traveling somewhere, so when I come back I can settle again and I don't have to constantly be in new places with new people. Thanks for your honest review, we need more like this. I also started feeling numb to new experiences and thought it was just my problem, but thanks to your experience, I feel less weird!
You're certainly not weird! I felt the same way when I started feeling a bit numb.. And I had never heard about this in any of the 100 digital nomad videos I watched before leaving myself. Thanks for sharing your experience :)
I've been a digital nomad for 10 years and the biggest problem is routine. You can never manage consistency like maintaining good habits because places, environment change regularly and there are so many different variables and factors that keep you from maintaining consistent habits. Also you can't have too many goods. Everything need to hold in a luggage. That's a huge limit in life.
Being a digital nomad looks like alot more work than fun. I love travelling but I want to enjoy travelling, I don't want it to feel like work. I think it's better to just have the means to travel whenever you feel like but I think if you base your lifestyle on just travelling then that's as empty a life as being unable to travel at all.
I second the luggage thing. I know it's superficial to talk about stuff like clothes but sometimes you'd like to have nice things, things to match, etc. I've got so many nice clothes back in Europe yet am forced to buy from major shopping hubs in SE Asia when I visit them (like Bangkok, KL, Tokyo etc) because some countries don't even have large global high street chains lol. Many such items also aren't cheaper in Asia, there aren't sales on electronics or fashion in many SE Asian countries like in the West.
It's not great not to have a REAL home. Tenant's protection is poor or inexistent (very different to Europe) and you're not gonna start buying large sofas and kitchens. Everything is a compromise. Most stuff around you doesn't belong to you, you don't own it, including foreign cultures.
Nevertheless, what I really value and treasure is going out and seeing new things I haven't seen before. New stuff for my eyes every day. I know my large capital city hometown inside and out. No mystery left. If I was to return, I'd probably now move somewhere new in my country, to retain the spirit of new things. Have a safe continued nomad time!
What career do you have? I'm interested in being a digital nomad tbh
I’m living abroad in a third world country, have a six-figure net salary, and work from home most of the time. And still, I believe that as a student in high-school, I was much more productive and for some reason also had more fun and more free time. I spent about 8 hours per day in school, was happy to see my mates every day, would systematically learn new things, had extracurricular activities and partied hard every weekend.
Now, I can do whatever I want each day. Since I’m not forced to go to the office, it’s difficult to motivate myself to go there. I do the couple of things that must be done for the job, the rest of the day, I watch Videos or read online articles. I hardly ever go to the Gym, as I only realize 1-2 hours before they close that I should go again. So, all in all, I’m not really living nor achieving anything. I’m not unhappy, but I’m missing the days, where I was truly productive and working towards something in lieu of just having this weird routine of unproductiveness. Sometimes, I wish I would just have the 9-5 job my dad had, without all these options to move.
The more structure I had in life in the past, the better it was, because on a weekend, I could fully enjoy it and while working, I was fully focussed on getting the stuff done. Now, it takes me ages to get even the simplest things done. So it feels as if I had less time than I actually have.
I’m definitely not dreaming of an even “freer” life in Colombia, the Philippines or wherever. Especially not as a freelancer. Moving places all the time also means never to arrive anywhere, living with FOMO, and so on. I think that people that have a stable job, live in a boring suburb and raise a family are getting more out of their lives than these digital nomads that are trying desperately to have an exciting life.
speak for yourself. Everyone is different. Living in a boring suburb-like you said, having a stable job and rasing a family will kill my mojo and my zest for life- that is very depressing and limiting for me. The more variety i have in my life, the happier I am. Nomad life is NOT for everybody, if you like routine, then get a stable job in a boring suburb.
In part, I recognize myself in your post, except that I have a wife and two daughters. I moved from France to Spain when I was young, 33 years later, from Spain to Belize. Now I pay some income tax to the IRS, but a big part of what I earn is for me. My wife, who is Cuban, is suffering from the Central America hot weaver. I need more concentration and procrastination. Weaver in Spain is way better, but I paid around 49% in taxes. Here I spend 10% of just 50% of my income. That is 5% of my total income. Property tax is low, VAT is low, and freedom is very high.
@@Monas99exactly!!💯
very well written - "we never felt so free as we were under the German occupation" wrote a French resistant writer. We need to have some constraint to feel and enjoy the freedom. Too much freedom and options kills the FREEdom
When I was high school/college age, my mental bandwidth was unstoppable. It might just be that things changed with age.
It's nice to see that there is actually a person out there living the life he wants. I want to become a digital nomad but don't know where to start
Interesting video! Your right being a digital nomad can be lonely at times, and it's nice to have a base somewhere. I personally love having the freedom to travel, but it's great to have a few bases throughout the world.
The most difficult thing for me a a DN was that everything was temporary in my life - i didn't have a place a could really call "mine", so I couldn't shape my home the way i like because i didn't even have a real home. Friends were also temporal, and they've become more like an experience than people to me - here I spent time with this guy, in another place with other one and so on. To sum up - it was nice to live this kind of life and what I did and saw is mine forever, but I'm happier now, with my fam and friends thinking to buy a new sofa and planning vacation
I totally agree with you. I’m travel addict. When I had to work during my trips, I didn’t enjoyed as I expected. We are actually happy living at least one year in each country. We can have good habits, that are essential to be healthy and enjoy holidays when we can discover even remote areas with short flights or driving.
The problem is, is that all these glamorous locations are always looked at from a leisure point of view. How beautiful it is, how amazing the food an all that. You almost never see video's about how it is to work somewhere. Like, how the roads are, hospitals, public transport, supermarkets... You know, the stuff you need on a daily basis. And when you live in a place for longer, all that stuff starts to matter a lot more than that beautiful beach.
I appreciate the insight. It made me realize how I’m struggling with ‘awe-numbness’ after coming off an amazing year and how life ultimately tends to balance things out. Good luck and I hope you rediscover your awe if you haven’t already. Cheers!
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience! Really appreciate it.
the #1 reason people get "awe numbness" is when they travel to many different locations/countries over a short period of time. the best way to enjoy every destination is to stay a few months at least, where you can get a more normal rhythm in your daily life to avoid getting tired from traveling.
wow I loved how this video was so to the point, not too long and boring, not too short that missed info. Just the right amount. Whenever I try to film a 10 min video I end up with 90min of footage 😅
This is a very realistic and balanced testimony. Respect to you, sir.
Adam, why do the Danes allow Marxist degenerates and leftist "socialist" pool hall grifters to over tax the wonderful Danish people. Sounds as if you have just returned to an open air prison with a fancy name of "Denmark, Prison Block Copenhagen." Your beautiful country is now just a penal colony tyrannized by the most deranged Marxist leftists in the EU and the Copenhagen The Danes look like tax donkies/ prisoners now for these Marxist left wing tyrants. Now that you have returned, maybe inquire with fellow Danes how to free beautiful Denmark from its open air Marxist prison status.
Asking as a citizen from the former prisoner colony of Australia that just visited Denmark for business, and discovered I had entered an Orwellian state overseen by the worst Marxist prison guard tyrants in EU and the taxes make you Danes nothing more than Roman gladiator work prisoners for ghouls. Why oh why, liberate your country please. How do you tolerate these Marxist prison wardens
I’m a digital “Slow-mad” I’m currently in Costa Rica and have been here for the last 7 months in 2 different towns. Before this I was in Mexico for 8 months and lived in only 2 towns as well. I like getting to know a place and moving around a little less. Next stop will be Italy or Portugal. I love traveling with more of a local experience so I rent apartments medium to long term for a better price. I also love coworking places to make new friends.
What do you do for work??
Everytime I watch digital nomad's videos, my thought will be like "yeah it's fun, but not for me"
Travelling isn't my hobby, and I always prefer to work at the same place and use my free time at home doing my hobbies
So.. do what you love, not do what you think it's cool
I definitely relate to your points. After 13 months of being a digital nomad across 3 continents I'm incredibly excited to be able to have a true home base with a sense of community and being able to create an environment for healthy habits (even though Kansas City isn't quite as glamorous as some of the places I've been)
What career do you have? I'm interested in being a digital nomad tbh
@@m.g.6394me too. What are the options for those who has never done it?
@@jackhammer5683 look into drop shipping. Stay away from web design AI is going to kill that soon
No bs your content is wonderful especially the drone shots of that thai boat leaving the beach and the spectral high lights of the ripples of the sea. Very nice spectacle.
Digital nomad was a fad that is now ending.
Everyone took off in 2013 and all went to the same places.
Then reality hits, they go back to their homes, and a new group of nomads went to the same places to create the same content.
Then covid.
And now the new nomads are not having the success rate of the previous 2 groups because of content over saturation.
A fad for some a lifestyle for alot of people. And yeah the vlogging I can agree these people are weird they live behind a camera without an action plan to scale or exit plan to move on to a new destination.
not everyone is doing social media only dude. I know a lawyer who is writing legal stuff as a job and he is a digital nomad
@@heikorudi6105
Most
this does very much seem like a personal preference issue than anything else... amount of resources seems to also play a role... I am amazed every day with every new experience, I am wowed all the time and I appreciate each moment. being jaded is not an issue of how many places you see, maybe discuss this with your therapist. I have been a nomad (NOT a digital nomad to be clear) since 1995, one may have butlers, chefs, housekeepers, a whole team to plan trips and travel... it really all depends on your own personal situation
Great video! In college I did a term in the Swiss Alps and being from New Jersey I was SO amazed for the first month of the beauty but then like you said became “experienced numb.” On a side note, I really wish the American public educational system would invest in a second language for all students so we can speak as eloquently as you do in English (which is better than most Americans! 😂)
You have a second language, its called "Spanish". At least its more useful than our dumb second language in Canada called "French" and that's even if you can call it real French. You Americans have French as well if you are in Louisiana.
@@phoenixrising4995Spanish is taught like math, you know it while you're in the course and are incapable of applying it once you're out of school. The American public school system (not charter) does not have an effective method of teaching Spanish (or any other language) for students to build a foundation for life.
I am a digital nomad … at home! Lollll I move from my living room to the patio, to the potager garden, to the wood, in a café … in my bed! :) I LOVE it!
I’m starting to see more videos like this. Reality vs Instagram.
I must admit that I like being able to afford domestic help and to eat out frequently and go to language and art classes and music events in other countries, things I can’t afford at home.
I am actually going to try to make cruisin a money maker. I want to cruise around the world and go on vacation-holidays and just show people what they can do as a family or as a disabled person. I will be a digital nomad sort of, but in reality I'll only need wi-fi when I want to upload content. Currently, I am just learning all that I can learn and taking notes. Thanks for your honesty! In my case, I won't really miss what I don't have, so living on my own and going away from what I know, won't be the problem. The problem will be my food allergies, so I hope that SAAT therapy might help me. If it does, great, if it doesn't oh well, I'll make do!
Great video! I am a digital nomad, but a structured one. For starters I think it's about different strokes for different folks. If you leave "home" and always look at it as home, you'll probably want to go back at some point. And I think some nomads go too extreme, moving around "too much." Then get burn out. I have several bases in Europe which I rotate between, this way I know the places and I have friends there. I want to explore more and will go farther afield, but these 5 or 6 locations allow me to have multiple homes as such. I think this is a good compromise. This way you become more or a global citizen rather than just an endless traveller. Perhaps a little more comfortable.
Yes, I think it's all in the way u do it. Just like anything in life, u have to know what u want and make things special to your personal tastes and desires. Or else, it will not feel so fun just following what others said was fine. Happiness at anything require a deep understanding of self.
That sounds like the ‘nomad capitalist.’
Great if you can afford to have homes all around the world.
@@GaryAJMartin not that I can speak for this person, but I interpreted what he said as meaning he likes to visit the same places over and over. but that doesn't mean he "buys" the place and leaves it vacant until he comes back. that would def be expensive. For example, he has narrowed down 5 locations, but because he has spent so much time in one location, he has made friends in those locations. but when he goes back, he may stay in a temporary (inexpensive) living situation like a hostel or air bnb, but calls up his friends. this creates the feeling of familiarity or " home". Not that he literally leaves a PHYSICAL home in every location. ...other nomads probably hit up 50-60 countries and that makes it harder to establish a feeling of "home."
in short, "home" is in your heart, so it can be free if you want it to be.
@@GaryAJMartin Oh sorry, I am definitely not like him! I only rent, but I often rent from the same people, they have also become friends. It makes it cheaper and easier.
@@TEWMUCH Wow that's exactly what I meant. 🙂. Although I think that mass travelling is great too, I guess it depends what you are into. Plus if you do go to 50-60 places then you could always make a smaller list of the places that you really enjoyed and would like to spend more time in. Of course the more familiar you are with a place, the easier and cheaper it becomes. Plus as you mentioned, you make friends in those places.
Thank you for your insightful video. The problem is that as you said.."Just another work day".
I agree. I have lived for around 6 months in my campervan and traveled around europe. At first it felt amazing but after 2-3 weeks you get exhausted from continious searching for parking spots, camping grounds. No routines could be sustained hence you gain weight and generally its harder to keep your standards and it all felt so fake just to impress some strangers on the internet. Like so many in the comments are saying: Its much more interesting to have your main point around family and friends and spend maybe a longer weekend or a week or two somewhere nice.
Thanks for the realness of this video. My current goal is to be able to work from home / work from anywhere. The problem is knowing how to do it. I’m currently a Personal Trainer so I’m trying to transfer onto online. But I think I defiantly resonate I think I’d like a balance of working from home mostly / and then travel go on trips when I want.
I think the fact that you're a personal trainer is great and this can transfer over online quite easily. X/Twitter is a great place in my experience to find clients. You would just need to set up a landing page and give them some free value, then get on a call with them and offer services. I do the home base option for 4 months a year and then travel from there for the rest. It's a great setup!
Thank you for sharing this perspective! Looking forward to more life adventures!
Thanks Adam, great video. Next year I'm off for an 18-month motorcycle ride from NZ to the UK. I'm aware that making a TH-cam series is going to be a lot of work and your video confirmed that. I guess it's a matter of getting the work-travel-fun balance right. Thanks again! Ray.
Hi Ray, that actually sounds fantastic! I'm currently binge watching too many people on TH-cam doing motorcycle trips like this, would love to see what you get up to! Will most certainly be a lot of work, but I'm sure you'll figure out the right balance. Thanks a lot for watching!
I think once kids are grown 3 to 6 months of travel a year is best for me. With permanent home in Canada or USA.
Europe is beter
I think the problem often is trying to see as much as possible and traveling too fast. It’s very important to move on a very slow pace if continuing nomad life. 1-2 years globetrotting is okay, but after that it becomes overwhelming to work and travel continuously. We have slowed down a lot in recent years and ended up having a base in Belgrade. And after 7 years of nomad life we are actually doing the same thing that you are now, having a home base in our native Finland at least for a while. In the future I think a smooth pace would be two live 6-12 months in one country.
As a mature DN I chose to have the best of both worlds. Meaning, I stay in Europe. There's a lot of cultural and natural diversity and I'm always only a train or bus ride away from my family.
Hey Adam, such an explanation to me and my partner's life at the moment. It's been 6 months so far and I feel you. It is hard to not have a base for your routines even your workstation, desk, monitor etc. is hard. On the other hand, FOMO is very stressful. As you said organising plane tickets, accommodation, places to eat, see, have fun... It's overwhelming. At the end of the day, you miss your community and family. I will push another 6 months with long-term stays in places. Not just 1 month here and there. Thanks for sharing mate.
🙏
Thanks for sharing your thoughts - would love to know how you're getting on now!
@@thenordicadam It's been 4 months in Thailand, and I actually loved the Christmas and New Year's break as I discovered amazing Jazz clubs and live music, and here I am heading to Bali this weekend. As you said, start from the beginning, learn, and adapt. Overall, I still want a base, so I might have a bit of a routine.
It’s hard to be a digital nomad. You surround yourself with people that are temporary and you do miss having friends and family.
Thank you for this, absolutely love the point about becoming numb to amazing experiences. Being away for two months already gave me that feeling
I go someplace for 6 weeks at a time twice a year. Coworking space with a monitor, suitable desk, chair, and air conditioning is mandatory. The big lie is to believe that you can go everywhere - but nope! You cannot just go to South East Asia if the time zone is an issue. You cannot change places every 2 weeks. You cannot go to very rural areas. Don't stay for months if you miss your family. You are not on vacation, you have to treat your travel like a business trip because you are a business person, not a tourist. Work in the week, enjoy stuff in the evenings and weekends. no alcohol from Monday till Friday evening. Stay a couple miles away from tourist hot spots. Be a smart digital nomad, not a complaining dumb one.
Dude it's crazy how similar our journey has been. Felt exactly the same way after a year of "Digital Nomading" full-time. Thanks for sharing your thoughts man, you inspired me to make a similar video sharing my own story.. Cheers mate!
Hey Stefan, thanks for watching! I've been following your journey for a year or two, and some of your videos was definitely a motivation for why I finally started this channel! Glad you enjoyed the video - can't wait to see your video!
Adam, why do the Danes allow Marxist degenerates and leftist "socialist" pool hall grifters to over tax the wonderful Danish people. Sounds as if you have just returned to an open air prison with a fancy name of "Denmark, Prison Block Copenhagen." Your beautiful country is now just a penal colony tyrannized by the most deranged Marxist leftists in the EU and the Copenhagen The Danes look like tax donkies/ prisoners now for these Marxist left wing tyrants. Now that you have returned, maybe inquire with fellow Danes how to free beautiful Denmark from its open air Marxist prison status.
Asking as a citizen from the former prisoner colony of Australia that just visited Denmark for business, and discovered I had entered an Orwellian state overseen by the worst Marxist prison guard tyrants in EU and the taxes make you Danes nothing more than Roman gladiator work prisoners for ghouls. Why oh why, liberate your country please. How do you tolerate these Marxist prison wardens
Also take into account that working from a different country also means you might be obligated to pay taxes in said countries. I'm sure most digital nomads don't do this and the chances for getting caught are low, but it could happen that you get thrown in jail if you don't formally file taxes in the countries that you were living and working in.
And that's if you're working legally. Some DNs are on tourist visas which could be problematic if you are caught
Honesty is the best policy. Thanks, Adam.
So basically, your woman wants to get married , have a house a dog and a baby.
We must be cynics, I thought the exact same thing.
I sensed it the first 4 minutes. Glad I wasn't going off the "read the room" script
Thanks for sharing. I too spent about 4 years being a digital nomad cruising around the canals of England by boat. But early on I made the decision that I wasn't going to sit at a computer for hours on end editing videos. I have sat in front of computer screens my entire corporate life and to me it seemed to be counter productive...and there was no way I was going to continue staring at a screen again. So instead, I recorded real time vlogs. I ended up recording over 750 vlogs about everything I was doing on my journey, sometimes posting twice a day, while other times I would post once a week.
I even started using Patreon as a way of earning an income but it's constant and you always have to share your stuff regularly, post photos etc. it's certainly demanding.
These days, I publish vlogs for my close friends but mostly for myself as a digital diary of my travels.
With all due respect, the problem is not the digital nomad life style, but rather the truth is not everyone has the right personality to be constantly on the road. It takes a special person to genuinely enjoy the super busy on-the-move life style, and never feel home sick is another big personality trait required to make this work. My advise is to slow down your pace, stay longer in each new city, so you don’t feel exhausted from constantly having to hit the road. The longer you do it and the more you travel, the less and less homesick you will be, because you no longer have connection to any particular place that reminds you of home, but you get used to the concept home is anywhere in the world you want it to be.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! And hey, my thinking was sort of: There's only one way to figure out if it's a good fit me - try it!
I’ve never felt home sick since I left my country Romania in 2012. I think the drive to discover new places, learn new languages and become travel-savvy was stronger than staying at home. The majority of people however are not built for this and it’s perfectly fine. The natural way of living is to settle, have a family and build stuff somewhere for posterity. To me though, having a home is a burden and an excuse to settle even if I don’t want to. So the lighter and more minimalist I am, the easier it is to change places.
Easy for you to say when home for you is Copenhagen, one of the nicest cities and countries in the world!
I'm from northern Virginia in the U.S. For me it's mind-numbingly boring, and there's nowhere in the U.S I want to live (used to live in NYC which was fun for a bit, got tired of it).
I've been nomading for the last 5 years. I totally agree with you. and would like to have a home base. Just haven't found a place that feels like home enough for me to want to really invest in living there.
I think Europe is awesome, especially because it's so easy to travel between countries. But again, haven't found one city/country that I like enough to want to invest in getting a long-term visa and go through the whole immigration process. Also Europe has definitely gotten a lot more expensive, and that's part of the reason I'm in Asia now.
See that's the issue. With all the options in the world, how do you commit to something?
I have worked almost a decade as a deck officer on merchant marine (LNG vessels), then 5 years on yachts during cruises at summer season. After gathering some earnings I got into real estate and tourism services. I went to the sea because I was in the need of the money and got away as soon as the opportunity appeared, can't imagine myself doing a nomad lifestyle ever.
Agree. I have done the DN thing off and on since 2013. I think travel is much better in 3-4 week stints And earn passive income so you don’t have to ruin it with some dumb ball and chain job.
In some ways not much has changed. 25 years ago, I spent 2 years teaching English in Korea. A very popular way to live abroad at the time.
The desire to travel and live in new places definitely has become easier and the opportunities have expanded, but as he points out most of the time you're still just working. No glamor, just a different location, different language, different culture, different food.
All fun to consider as I plan my next living abroad adventure. Will do the, find a home base and do day or weekend trips while I'm there. I did the 8 countries on 3 continents in 5 weeks a few years ago and, fun though it was, I prefer taking it slow and connecting with the locals.
You guys chose a perfect amount of time to be a digital nomad. Doing it forever would be taxing. I am happy being settled at home, saving for vacations.
We have been digital nomads for a few years, and I wouldn't change it with anything else. But I agree, is definitely not as glamorous as people think. When you explore all day, it means you might have to work late at night to finish a project. It means working on a chair with the computer on your lap because the hotel you booked doesn't have a desk. I've found myself exporting a video (we are video editors) while sitting on a bus from Thailand to Cambodia. People think digital nomads are always on holiday, but there is nothing further away from the truth. Is an awesome lifestyle, but definitely not for everyone.
jonna jinton has a great channel on youtube, many say some of the best content out there on youtube and she shows a life that is opposite to being a digital nomad. she lives in her country in the north of sweden and stays there summer or winter and very rarely makes any longer trip at all. while someone like gabriel traveler seems to be moving around the world so much. two contrasting lifestyles. but honestly jonna there is surrounded by the things that matter to her, the important things. she lives there with her dog, husband, family and circle of friends in a place that she likes a lot. this inspires her. if she would start traveling then she would lose many of these important things to her. this in turn makes her kind of life a lot more attractive to many people instead of the kind of life that gabriel traveler leads which may seem depressing to many
you know, there are smart and dumb digital nomads. access to coworking space is a must when deciding where to go. why do you explore on workdays? you are not on a vacation dude.
@@heikorudi6105 but why does someone need to go in the first place?
@@heikorudi6105 because if I wanted to work a 9 to 5 , Monday to Friday, I would have worked in an office, dude.
@@dreamthedream8929 to see the world? 🤔 I have seen Jonna (I hope I’m spelling it right) channel before, she lives a wonderful life for sure. But that lifestyle would be depressing for me. For her the import things might be a husband, a dog, her family and her circle of friends, but not everyone has the same priority in life. The fact that for you these are “the things that matter most”, it doesn’t mean that is the same for everyone.
The most important thing is to be aware of what works for YOU! Me and my wife have been living this life for 14 years now and the last 2 years we are traveling with our daughter. Now it looks like the time has come to settle somewhere lol
Thanks for speaking the truth! In my opinion, I'd prefer experiencing new places stress- and workfree so I can fully enjoy that place. I've taken work with me on trips in the past, and it was less glamorous indeed. 1. I didn't fully experience the trip 2. I was tensed instead of relaxed because I was thinking of work all the time 3. I worked less efficiently and thus didn't provide good work
100% agree on experience fatigue. Everyone is different but i've settled into the routine of working really hard for 3 months/Quarter on my business and rewarding myself by taking an extended/flexible break at the end. It allows me to be present for friends and family, feel grounded (increasingly important as we get older), while maximising on the joy of travel and all that new experiences have to offer.
Why don't you live in a cheaper and warmer European country ? Denmark & Norway are the most expensive European countries. Even more expensive than Switzerland at times.
Great question - I guess it all comes down to that this is our home, our family and friends are here. I made another video where I actually talk a bit about this - how I wish we perhaps had stayed a bit more in warmer European countries, and not mainly in the 'popular' nomad countries in SEA.
@@thenordicadam or you could stay just over a bridge in Sweden where everything is 2 times cheaper because of the weak Krona😂
@@ThinLineMedia That might just be the way to go! 🤣
But yeah, across the bridge, I felt such a huge cultural shift from Denmark vs Sweden. The Swedes seemed stressed out, full of schemes and angered fear - the bathrooms were a mess, and the vibe was so different between the two countries.
@@joannabusinessaccount7293 Yeah, the vibe is very different. Once you leave Denmark, you leave Europe. Sweden is very different from the rest of Europe.
Hmm, good Discussion. I agree with all of those points because I heard about these before while chit chatting with my Digital Nomad clients. It's unique thing to be a digital nomad. Life is full of experience, thanks Adam for discussing it briefly. Just subscribed.
Thanks a lot for watching and sharing your thoughts! :)
You don't need to travel the world to be amazed. That's a mindset. The world around you is infinitely amazing if you just allow yourself to have time to experience it.
Yes, and no. Try seeing a Norwegian fjord, or an iceberg in Antarctica. These things are not just a mindset that can be imagined. They will change how you see the planet and the world.
@joannabusinessaccount7293 try simultaneously seeing each leaf of the tree moving, hearing the intricate birdsongs, smelling the soil, experiencing being just a speck in the universe watching the sun rise in the sea. Never left my country to do that, and I am amazed by nature and people whenever I allow myself to be.
I am sure there is infinite awesomeness in the world like you describe. One can travel the world to find or look beneath his feet and above his head to feel the awe.
@@chris-2496 Are you a Taoist?
Very realistic views-thanks. Not just pushing the glamorous side of being a DN but talking about the challenges makes one to think, re-think before trying.
Comrade, it is not a hard decision if you have danish passport and you live in Copenhaven. For people from Bangladesh or Sudan or Vietnam, being a digital nomad is a very good job, actually fantastic job and oportunity to live better then 97% of people from your domestic country.
I couldn't agree more. Alot of these folks seem not 100% at peace with basic self reflection - meditation or serious thought about one's character, actions, and motives. Also, aren't thinking about the cost benefits if planned pre-trip into the wild wild world.
Thank you, a very honest evaluation. I guess the best approach is, a long working holiday, occasionaly!!!
That's the way we're approaching it now at least! We just started a 4 months working holiday trip in South East Asia - mainly to escape the cold in Denmark :)
Thanks for watching!
As someone who wishes to travel more, hearing of the experiences of digital nomads is eye-opening and somewhat depressing. Still, because of the freedom, I think it's a great lifestyle to truly find yourself.
Thank you for the video, my wife and I had a similar experience to what you just mentioned. I have been working remotely for over 13 years, but only 2 spent as a full-scale nomad. I agree especially with the fact of not being able to feel any excitement. ... but after a bit of a break, we wish to do it again :)
I've been living the solo digital nomad life for a cool 2 years now, and it's taken me to some incredible places - Africa, the Canary Islands, Bali, Australia, Europe, America, you name it! I absolutely love striking up conversations and making friends along the way, but I've come to realize that it's not as cool as it may seem. Especially when you're a solo traveler, you often feel lonely, even when you're in a room with 10 people talking to you. Every relationship is volatile, and to be honest, while traveling, I don't perform at work as well as I do when I'm with all my familiar surroundings back home.
On top of that, I'd like to mention that I'm not a TH-camr or someone selling "dust" - I'm a data scientist with a substantial academic background. Digital nomad is a lifestyle, but people think is a dream to achieve.
No offence, I think you need to look at the dissolving affect of another's culture by your presence; everywhere is becoming Canada and not in a good way, just sameness. You asked if it was good or bad, being a digital nomad, Its bad! You need to build community and put down routes, rather than extracting value from a place and its people. The idea of a bucket list of places to visit is getting larger and so is everyone's' CO2 emissions.
So your argument for people to not live the life they choose is because of emissions? So you are carbon neutral? Dissolving a culture by traveling and staying there for a bit and then leaving? That is one of the more ridiculous things that I have heard lately. Maybe you should have a bucket list with that negative attitude. You might need it sooner rather then later.
@@DamienYuen7718 I struck a nerve, my work is done.
I traveled and lived in different world for on and off for 10 whole years. It was amazing to be able to travel around whole world. Those memories I will never lose and live with me forever but traveling world is hard work. It’s difficulty you exchange with new experiences. So I’m finally retired from world traveler and now on my way to be come pilot