Are you intrigued by the prospect of earning money while exploring the globe? Many people are, and Ben West is no exception. As a seasoned wanderer, Ben shares his experiences of the nomadic lifestyle in an article for NZ Herald, revealing both its rewards and challenges.
After years of being tied down by mortgages and rent, he embraced a career that required constant international travel to destinations like the U.S., Dubai, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Iceland, and more. Ben has no regrets about becoming a digital nomad - it's often regarded as an idyllic way of life - but he emphasizes that there are important considerations and lessons to learn before starting this journey. Let’s explore what he has to say about how you can make the most of this lifestyle.
No need for lots of possessions around you
I used to have a big house full of stuff and always worried about burglars when I traveled. Now, I've gotten rid of most of my belongings.
As I travel all the time, I thought I’d miss my books, vinyl records, art, clothes, and everything else that made my home, but I’ve been surprised to find that I hardly miss any of it.
Travel light
When I started traveling constantly, I bought a huge suitcase, thinking I'd need lots of clothes and stuff since I wouldn't have a home base. On the first day, I realized this was a mistake as I struggled to drag my heavy luggage along the cobbled streets of Amsterdam.
Now, I only take the essentials, usually just a backpack that fits under an airplane seat. This saves me a lot on airfare and gives me more freedom to explore each destination.
Find perfect apartments for rent in Portugal
Expect people to judge you
When you choose an unconventional lifestyle, you'll get many opinions. Some people thought my new way of living was fantastic, while others detailed why they thought I was crazy for not having a permanent home. One person asked what I'd do if I got sick (we can get sick anywhere), and another thought constant travel was insane.
Considering her life revolved around daytime TV, she probably wasn't the best person to give advice on traveling the world.
Stay connected to your roots
Travel can make it easy to forget about friends and family. Make an effort to keep in touch regularly through text, phone, Zoom, or even visits back home. It’s easy to lose contact, especially when you’re far away and out of the loop.
Don’t consider it a vacation
You must have self-discipline. I've often had to skip exploring new areas, relaxing on beautiful beaches, or enjoying hotel amenities to focus on work. The planning and travel make work days even longer.
If you treat this lifestyle as an endless vacation, you'll run into financial trouble quickly unless you have a strong passive income or a trust fund.
Not as appealing as it seems
The image of a “digital nomad” often evokes working on a beach or in trendy, modern offices surrounded by friends. However, the truth frequently involves dealing with unreliable Wi-Fi in subpar accommodation for digital nomads and feeling socially isolated at times.
Taking your laptop to the beach is impractical, as sand can get into it and the bright sunlight makes screen visibility difficult.
Maintain your health
Staying healthy while traveling is crucial. It's easy to neglect regular exercise amid the excitement of new experiences, so make time to stay active. Allow extra time for travel to avoid constant stress.
Eating well can also be challenging, especially without kitchen access in remote areas where local options may be limited.
Making friends can be tough
When you're constantly on the move, you'll likely miss old friends, family, and stability. Maintaining relationships can be challenging unless you're traveling together. Despite these hurdles, remember what you're gaining: a fulfilling life exploring new cultures and places.
However, language barriers, cultural differences, frequent relocation, and unfamiliarity with new locations can hinder your social life.
To build connections, consider staying in homestays, joining local events, volunteering with charities, taking language classes, and frequenting non-touristy spots where locals gather.
Find perfect apartments for rent in Spain
Flatio: Flexible accommodations around the world
Flatio is a great solution for digital nomads looking for accommodation for rent in over 300 destinations worldwide. Here’s why Flatio stands out:
- Visa-friendly lease agreements
- Flexible, reasonably priced stays (from 5 days)
- Availability of remote work-friendly rooms, flats, houses, villas, etc.
- Utilities and Wi-Fi included
- No deposit required for stays of less than 180 days
- Balanced lease agreement (translated into multiple languages)
- A very attractive cancellation policy
- Online signing of lease agreement
- StayProtection for Tenants, a service package to help tenants deal with emergencies such as internet problems and blocked doors, as well as accidental damage to property
- Move-in Guarantee with a 24/7 emergency line
- 100% money protection
- Customer support available every day of the week
- No hidden fees
- A secure and simple payment system (including the possibility to pay with Bitcoin)
