The Unfiltered Truth of Life as a Digital Nomad

Sometimes it’s having an emotional breakdown in the middle of the Istanbul airport or not having a hot shower for 9 weeks.

You probably see all the pros on social media and blogs touting all the digital nomad benefits. But to be transparent I’m going to lay out all the cons so you can decide if this lifestyle is right for you.

Digital Nomad Lifestyle: What is life REALLY like?

Your friends wont get it.

Some things I heard when I put all my belongings in storage to become a digital nomad and travel the world.

“You’re crazy”

“I could never do that”

“When are you coming back”

“Why?”

I don’t fault my friends for not wanting to join me, or not understanding why I’m choosing to live this way. But it’s important to set expectations that they just wont get it and that’s ok.

It is hard to wrap your head around the fact that you are now walking two separate paths and they will probably stop being able to relate to your new digital nomad lifestyle.

When we first started traveling, Jack struggled with this one. We just kept reminding ourselves that we will make new nomad friends who are doing the same thing that we are. And luckily we did.

Life on the road gets lonely.

In some ways being a digital nomad reminds me of the early days of the pandemic. I’m working remotely from home, communicating with my friends via text or facetime, and haven’t seen my parents in a year.

I’m not necessarily cooped up in the house all the time, but traveling gets lonely. You don’t have your group of friends you can count on for after work drinks and you spend a lot of time by yourself.

Of course I’ve made tons of friends traveling as well. But eventually you move on to a new place and have to start over again. Some places are easy to make friends, and some are a struggle. And although meeting new friends is exciting and fun, they don’t really know you. You are still basically strangers.

Even traveling as a couple gets lonely. Sometimes you just get sick of each other and miss having your friends and family back home to retreat to.

You’ll always have too much stuff.

I think the digital nomad lifestyle is code for minimalism.

When you’re always on the move, even as a slow traveler, you can only take with you what you can carry. And what fits in your luggage. And it seems like no matter how much I downsize or give away or lose in random Airbnb’s, my luggage is always bursting at the seams.

How do I still have so much stuff?

My thoughts when first packing my luggage were that I needed to pack everything for every occasion. But the more you travel the more you realize you can buy whatever you might need later, if you end up needing it at all.

Except tampons, always bring extra tampons.

Reverse culture shock is real.

People who don’t travel long-term think I’m making this up, but reverse culture shock is very real. The first time I experienced it was after a semester studying abroad in Italy. When I came back home, it was truly shocking and I had a hard time readjusting.

I experienced it again after traveling through South America and the Caribbean in my first year as a digital nomad.

Here are some shocking things I experienced coming back home after an extended time abroad:

1. Hearing people speak your language.
2. Knowing strangers can understand what you’re saying.
3. Seeing so many white people.
4. Other people knowing and understanding little phrases and customs you grew up with.
5. Not sticking out in a crowd.
6. Speaking English all the time.
7. Not making new friends all the time.
8. A lack of ‘culture’.
9. Walking into Whole Foods.
10. Everything is the same as when you left.
11. No one understands what you’re going through.

It took me several weeks to adjust, but it’s crazy how quickly you fall back into the groove again.

Relationships get hard.

Unfortunately as a digital nomad, relationships get harder the more you travel. All kinds of relationships. You don’t see your parents or grandparents more than once a year. Long distance friendships start falling by the wayside.

You miss out on birthdays, holidays, girls trips, baby showers, weddings, music festivals, and taco Tuesdays. Sure you can call and text, but nothing beats being together IRL.

I hate to say it but there’s nothing you can really do about it unless you quit traveling. You have to make sacrifices. And don’t forget the phone works both ways. On the bright side, only the real ones stay and it’s a great way to weed out the riff raff relationships that no longer serve you.

Traveling with your significant other puts a strain on your relationship as well since you’re always together, 24/7. No escape. And no matter how seasoned of a traveler you are, on those long travel days you aren’t exactly showing up as your best self.

Staying healthy is challenging.

My biggest health hack back when I lived and worked in LA was consistency and routine. Guess what I don’t have either of anymore.

I’m skipping dentist appointments, eye doctor visits, general physicals, and women’s health appointments. Not to mention my eating habits are all over the place. I am constantly seeking out gyms and walking as much as possible just to balance it out.

Luckily I’m not completely screwed if something bad were to happen to me with SafetyWing.

If you don’t already know, SafetyWing is travel medical insurance created for nomads with flexibility in mind. You’re covered in 185 countries plus you don’t need to tell them your itinerary in advance. Perfect for people like me who don’t know where they’ll be next month (or next week tbh).

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Travel is a drug.

It’s funny, the more I travel, the more you realize I’ve barely scratched the surface. The world is a massive place. And no matter how many places I visit, or how many incredible experiences I have, there are even more places I still want to go.

My bucket list is never ending!

Not only that, but the same old capitals of Europe just don’t do it for me anymore. Next thing you know you’re googling ‘dark tourism’ and what it takes to get into Syria… (US citizens can’t go there btw).

You still have to work.

The biggest downside of being a digital nomad? The digital part… jk.

I actually don’t mind working. In fact, it can sometimes be the only downtime you get between adventures and travel days. But other times, you look out your window in the Dominican Republic to see the wind popping off and all you want to do is grab your kite gear and get out on the water, but you have a team meeting in 30 minutes.

This is the biggest differentiator between backpackers and digital nomads. And even though I seem to be living the dream, I still get jealous of the loosey goosey backpackers who can do whatever they want whenever they want.

Digital Nomad Advantages and Disadvantages

Despite those #digitalnomadlifestyle TikTok’s and highlight reels, there are some disadvantages to working from anywhere. I’m not trying to get pity or say my life is hard, but I think it’s important to tell the truth that no lifestyle is perfect.

Yes I’m having the time of my life, but there are also things I struggle with as a digital nomad. Here are some disadvantages to the digital nomad lifestyle:

Your friends wont get it.

Life on the road gets lonely.

You’ll always have too much stuff.

Reverse culture shock is real.

Relationships get hard.

Staying healthy is challenging.

Travel is a drug.

You still have to work.

Life lacks consistency and stability.

I will end this post on a happy note! There are cons to being a digital nomad, I’ve already established that. But the pros list is so big I wouldn’t even be able to fit it into a blog post. For every downside there are at least 10 upsides and I wouldn’t trade this life for anything.

Some days might be hard. But a successful digital nomad knows that there will be ups and downs learns to ride the waves. You cant have highs without the lows, otherwise you would flatline.

Whether the digital nomad lifestyle is right for you depends on your personal goals, values, and priorities. It is essential to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages and make an informed decision that aligns with your unique circumstances.

Comment below if you have any more questions about the advantages and disadvantages of the digital nomad lifestyle!