The Truth Behind the Glamour of Remote Work #
Over the past two decades, the digital nomad community has left its mark, both in the workplace and in broader cultural spheres.
Ever since the advent of Tim Ferriss’s groundbreaking bestseller, The 4-Hour Workweek, coupled with Instagram’s rise to popularity, more and more people began desperately seeking ways to combine remote work with social media-worthy travel.
However, there might be trouble in this paradise. A growing number of digital nomads are beginning to admit that even as they continue to tag their experiences with ‘#blessed,’ they are, in reality, broke and burnt out.
The Evolution of Digital Nomads #
Daniel Schlagwein, a researcher at the University of Sydney, states that the phenomenon of digital nomadism “truly became seen as a mainstream phenomenon between 2014-2015.” It was then that online communities dedicated to this group became ubiquitous.
In 2018, Schlagwein authored an article titled ‘The History of Digital Nomadism.’ He defined digital nomadism as a lifestyle where Information Technology (IT) has transformed our world into a place where “place of residence and place of work are no longer tied by space.”
He noted that digital nomads “can and do move freely around the globe.” Schlagwein also listed several key innovations that made this lifestyle possible, such as the internet, corporate flexibility with work hours, the growth of the travel industry (which spawned numerous travel accommodation options), and the rise of online marketing and sales platforms.
Digital nomads’ work is typically performed online. Therefore, according to Indeed.com, this lifestyle is particularly well-suited for several professions: such as bloggers, business consultants, social media managers, graphic designers, and freelance editors and writers.
In recent years, however, digital nomads have greatly expanded the range of jobs they can do while traveling (or living in short-term rentals in different locations). As technology advances and the workplace continues to adapt, the types of jobs suitable for digital nomads are also changing. For instance, by 2025, some of the most popular digital nomad professions will include virtual assistants, YouTube content creators, online tutors, and app developers.
Pros and Cons of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle #
For many years, digital nomads have gone to great lengths to make “stationary” workers green with envy.
Many have launched social media accounts and travel blogs, sharing stunning photos and showcasing their locations. Others have penned newsletters and publications detailing their experiences in foreign lands, often elaborating on the low cost of living (and higher quality of life) in distant locales.
Most notably, a hallmark behavior among digital nomads has been the extensive use of the social media hashtag ‘#blessed’ whenever they share good news about work or travel.
Recently, however, some social media influencers and digital nomads have started to rely less on emojis — opting instead for “raw honesty” — to share their lives and work.
One of the biggest downsides of the digital nomad lifestyle is that it can be far more complicated than it appears. A former digital nomad notes that working while traveling presents numerous challenges, such as “adapting to different time zones, spotty or non-existent cell service, and unfamiliar work environments.”
Other digital nomads have written about the extreme difficulty of maintaining a work-life balance while constantly working and moving. They point to tangible issues like navigating foreign work and residency requirements, grappling with different tax laws, all while trying to maintain healthy relationships and access appropriate healthcare services.
Mental Health Risks of Digital Nomad Life #
A growing number of digital nomads are beginning to reveal that one of the biggest drawbacks of this lifestyle is the increased risk it poses to their stable mental health.
Digital nomad Sam Woolfe detailed on his personal blog the challenges that can lead to mental and emotional burnout for traveling workers. These challenges include loneliness (a common issue for almost all remote workers), a lack of a support network (if you’re far from family and friends), stress, homesickness, and an unhealthy lifestyle (manifesting as poor sleep habits and more frequent dining out).
Therapists and other mental health professionals serving digital nomads have also begun to note that this lifestyle can easily lead to travel burnout and the stress of constantly adapting to new cultures, and even new climates and geographies.
Or, as a recent digital nomad posted on Reddit: “I will always love traveling, but a year and a half of constant movement has burnt me out, made me feel like I am not reaching my potential, and made me crave more substance than surface.”
Is It Time for a New Digital Nomad Tag? #
Nowadays, digital nomads aren’t the only ones concerned about job prospects and finding stable housing in desirable communities.
In reality, everyone, even those who travel infrequently and work in traditional workplaces, often experience loneliness, burnout, and stress.
So, instead of posting another typical beautiful beach photo or famous landmark with the ‘#blessed’ hashtag, perhaps try sharing the challenges they’re facing, along with the hashtag ‘#honesty,’ and perhaps that could attract even more attention and readers.
