Living as a digital nomad means that you’re able to grab your laptop and travel the world. This normally means that you are involved in some kind of online business model, which in turn means that you earn money as long as you have access to a computer and an internet connection. This allows you to work where you want and how you want and many people use this to fulfil their ambition of seeing the world and of living a lifestyle of freedom. This is one of the truest examples of being free and it’s something that many people who work online aspire to.
But let’s not pretend that this kind of existence is all rainbows and sunshine. Like with any lifestyle, there are downsides to this style of living too and it’s very important that you understand what those are and that you are able to cope with them. So what are they?
There’s No Place Like Home
One of the most obvious disadvantages of being a digital nomad is that it robs you of your ‘creature comforts’. Travelling around means that you’ll probably be living in hostels and eating cheap fast food when you can. If you’re someone who loves to kick back on the sofa with a cup of tea and a blanket, then you might find this a bit difficult.
You Will Miss Family And Friends
Assuming you’re a regular person, you’ll probably find you start missing friends and family after a short while and this can be hard as you’re constantly travelling. It’s especially hard when you see them start to get married, attend important events or generally continue with normal life that you’re no longer a part of.
It’s Hard to Return
When you’ve lived a life that is full of fun and adventure, it can be very hard to return to normality. You may find it difficult fitting into a more regular (read boring!) routine and many people find they must keep travelling as a result because they quickly develop “itchy feet.”
You Need To Work
Even with a very passive income model, you will still need to do some work to make ends meet. This can be difficult when you have 101 exciting things that you would rather be doing, but all you can do is to sit in a dingy coffee shop somewhere and plough through your tasks.
Working Can Be Difficult
The simple fact is that working on the move on a laptop is challenging and there are many ways in which you may be forced to compromise. Sometimes your internet connection will be down, sometimes you’ll struggle to find a power point. Sometimes there will be a lot of sun glaring on your screen and bees buzzing past your keyboard. This makes travelling and working that much more difficult and shouldn’t be underestimated!
Your Business May Suffer
There are some things you simply can’t do while travelling – meeting people in person is a great example. I was recently given the opportunity to star on a YouTube channel and the company invested in me by buying me filming equipment and lighting equipment. This was all very exciting – but it wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t have a home to store all those things in!
But please don’t let any of this put you off – living the laptop lifestyle is still a fantastic experience. You just need to realize that it isn’t perfect either!