The life of a digital nomad

At first, I thought about how I wanted to live. I craved endless blue skies, sunshine, fresh fruit, the beautiful Spanish language, and above all else, a flexible work schedule. That’s when the digital nomad lifestyle came into fruition, as it would allow me to both travel and work.

Thankfully, I was able to fund my initial travels through work, as I worked for a radio station and managed to convince sponsors to pay for the nine countries (3 continents!) that I intended to visit and talk about on my podcast.

What made me want to pursue this lifestyle, in the long run, was a happenstance meeting with a fellow traveller in Nicaragua. The man, originally from Holland, told me that he was travelling indefinitely. This was an unfamiliar concept to me at the time, and so I asked him how he supported himself. He kindly explained that he was a digital nomad; someone who works online with a technical device and wi-fi to earn a living. It was at this time that I realized that I, too, was a digital nomad.

To this day, I continue to be inspired by digital nomads. From new ideas, different ways of living, and unique perspectives, to genuine energies and the sharing of knowledge. They focus on what makes them feel good, in heart, mind, body, and soul.

These days, being uncomfortable is being comfortable. What was once weird is now interesting. The fear of reinventing myself has now become a unique opportunity to express me. I believe that nothing is definite and that those who are brave are to be rewarded. 

Today, I want to stress that being a digital nomad is just an updated version of being a freelancer. What has changed, and it is a massive change, is that you now can have the world as your office. Clients come and go, that hasn’t changed, and with that comes uncertainty at times. But if you can’t handle the ups and downs, you may struggle as a digital nomad.

If you are considering the nomadic lifestyle, my advice is simple – just try it. We won’t know unless we try, and we’re unlikely to get help unless we ask for assistance. Talk to like-minded people, share your thoughts, learn about your options, and figure out how to turn your dreams into reality, even if it’s one baby step at a time. You can certainly turn your dream into reality, but it’s going to require a bit of planning, and lots of hard work.

The good news? It’s worth it.

Sandra (a fellow nomad)