What is a Digital Nomad and Why You Should Become One

The idea of becoming a digital nomad is becoming more popular. While most people use terms like “remote worker” and “digital nomad” interchangeably, there are some differences you should know. Not everyone who works remotely is a digital nomad in the true sense of the word.

What Is a Digital Nomad?

A digital nomad is someone who works while travelling the world. The idea goes back to 1997 when Dave Manners and Tsugio Makimoto wrote a book called that, but it’s only become mainstream recently.

Digital nomads aren’t that much different from the nomads of old. They move with the seasons and go where life takes them. Some digital nomads change locations every month, while others move once every year or so. There are no hard and fast rules on what makes a digital nomad.

Why Should You Become a Digital Nomad?

Here are six great reasons you should consider becoming a digital nomad:

1. Choose Your Own Office

Digital nomads choose where they work. They can work at a coffee shop, a shared co-working space, or even while sunning on the beach. Several surveys show that people feel happier when they have variety in their working environment. People don’t want to spend every day Saturday in a stuffy office doing the exact same thing.

2. Work Your Own Hours

It takes a bit of discipline to set and stick to a productive working schedule, but you have total freedom to choose your working hours. There’s nothing stopping you from having a morning island tour and working from midday. There’s also nothing stopping you from sleeping in and working at night if you want.

3. Plenty of Variety

Having to do the same thing day in, day out is a real creativity killer. Digital nomads are likely to be working on something new with each contract. They work on new things for new people all the time. No one knows that variety is truly the spice of life like a digital nomad.

4. Kiss Goodbye to the Commute

Several studies show that almost everyone hates their daily commute. Over half of workers say they do, and the number climbs higher in busy cities. Most people dropped the commute and created a home office during the pandemic, and not everyone wants that freedom taken away from them.

5. More Leisure Time

Many digital nomads say having more leisure time is one of the main perks of their new life. Working from somewhere interesting like a new country gives you plenty of chances to see and do new things you’ve never done before. Achieve a great work-life balance and you’ll find yourself living an incredible life.

6. Less Stress

Working hours is the number one stressful thing for roughly a fifth of workers. Office politics are another major stressor. As a digital nomad, you’ll be your own boss, set your own hours, and spend time with people you like – even if the only person you like is yourself. That’s a lot less stress to deal with.