About 12,000 years ago humans abandoned hunter-gatherer lifestyle and started to build first permanent settlements, this big change in people’s lifestyle led to the world we live in today, where large population lives on a small area, rarely changing their location. Nomadic lifestyle became a niche and persisted only in couple of tribes in the most remote places of the world. But as quality of life increases and globalization leads to loss of cultural attachment, more and more people are trying different lifestyles.
In the last 30 years, the new trend emerged between technology workers who had the privilege of working remotely and grew when more and more of tech companies allowed working from home. The trend can be simplified as: traveling the world, working remotely and changing your location whenever you want. People living this kind of lifestyle are called digital nomads.
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Digital nomad lifestyle is centered around traveling, having fun, living in preferred climates, working online and most of all being independent. Most popular destinations due to warm climate and low cost of life are South East Asia and South America. This may sound a lot like holidays and seem like an easy thing to do, but in most cases it is not. Digital nomads lifestyle requires organization and motivation to balance your online work with much more things you’d need to manage if you’ve lived in one place. Constantly changing locations requires you to efficiently control cost of life in current place with your income, find new places to stay and to work in, and optimize transportation in the way that does not collide with your work schedule.
Right now, starting this kind of lifestyle is limited due to the current covid-19 pandemic that resulted in travel restrictions around the world and made traveling uncomfortable physically and mentally. But the same pandemic made large group of people around the world aware that working and studying does not need to be done from the office or university, no matter the specialization or industry. Most people also found out that staying in one place for prolonged period of time isn’t entertaining and can be unhealthy. Things that could only convince some to become digital nomads.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_nomad
https://www.insider.com/how-to-become-digital-nomad-work-remotely-after-pandemic-2020-12
Questions:
1. Do you think that nomadic lifestyle would suit you? Would you like to try becoming digital nomad for some time?
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
Comments
I knew that such lifestyle exists, however I had no idea that it is called a digital nomad lifestyle. The first time I heard about it was in 2017 when I was in Switzerland. I was traveling by train with my parents to the top of Jungfraujoch. Next to us there was woman with a dog which I of course had to pet for the whole way. As the Jungfraujoch railway station is the highest one in Europe, we had a lot of time to pet the dog but also to talk with its owner. It was a young woman (something about 30) and it turned out she was polish. My parents told her that in September I was going to study graphic design and she said that this is what her husband did. She said that they live here, because he works from home so they travel the world as he can take his work wherever he wants. It was the time when I became absolutely sure that graphic design is what I really want to do. I absolutely love traveling and if I only had an endless source of money, travelling would be the only activity in my life. However, I am not sure yet if I would try such lifestyle. Deep in my heart I would really love to, but I am something between “You only live once, let’s do it” and “It is too spontaneous for me”. Nevertheless, even if I am not sure I was looking for a boyfriend who just in case, would agree to live such lifestyle with me. Luckily, I found the one with sister who lives in Switzerland and travels a lot, so even if he doesn’t want to live such lifestyle, I always have her to travel with me from time to time. (I mean I don’t date him because of his sister haha, but she’s a huge advantage haha).
When it comes to the second question, I think that no one can tell what is better. Everyone is different and for every person different things will work out. I can’t even answer this question when it comes to me. I think that I want something, but when I actually do it, I regret it. In my opinion everyone should try everything they want and after all decide what is good for them.
The third question is a kind of question I can answer with a whole essay. I think I have more plans for travelling than for my future. I have no idea what I want to do, where I want to work, how long I want to live with my parents BUT I know exactly where I want to go and what I want to visit! In 2020 I was supposed to travel so many places… The one I am crying the most about is the USA. I traveled a lot to the USA to visit all the National Parks. As I have already seen all the main spots like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone etc. me and my parents were planning a huge trip in September to visit less famous places, do some hiking and just get lost in american deserts… Of course we couldn't do it, but we really hope to do it this year. If we get the vaccine, my parents are ready to buy the plane tickets even a week before the flight. The worst is that they might get the vaccine before September, but when it comes to me, it is not that sure because I’m 22 so I am the last one in the queue :( But keep your fingers crossed for me, because I have so many places to visit! Also, in 2019 me and my friend took part in the Sziget Festival which takes place in Budapest and we are planning to go there again as soon as possible. We also plan to visit some places in France, Italy or Spain, but we haven’t decided yet. I also plan to travel to Iceland with my friends. And my biggest dream is to travel to Thailand and New Zealand! Oh my God, I have so many plans, Covid go away please!
This topic caught my eye while browsing the articles because its something that I have been thinking about for a long time. My dream was always to visit new countries and discover new cultures while maintaining a successful career. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to work as a programmer, as it allows me to work remotely from every place with a good internet connection. This is especially important in the time of the pandemic. I would definitely enjoy this nomadic lifestyle, but I feel that the constant need to relocate and repetitively changing your surrounding might be quite draining. After all, it's nice to settle down in a place that you can call your home and miss it every time you go somewhere else.
Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
As I mentioned in the answer above, I think it's easier to settle down somewhere in the long perspective and many factors contribute to this opinion. One of them would be paperwork. When you travel to a country outside the EU, you have to make sure that you have valid insurance and all necessary documents for the time of your stay. Caring about this kind of responsibilities might be troubling, especially if you are trying to start a family, which is enough stressful on its own.
Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
During the lockdown, I have gone through all of my travelling memories, and I felt very nostalgic about travel. I love visiting new places, and I have already made plans with friends about what places could we visit when it will be possible. I would definitely like to go to some place warm, such as Tel Aviv or Barcelona. Although there is also winter there now, in just a few months those places will have the most comfortable temperatures to stroll around the streets.
Although it's a lot of fun to meet strangers on the road, sometimes you just want to see an entity who knows you well and has been in your life for a long time. Luckily, by leading a nomadic life only half of the time, or making daily trips back home, you can get around this.
Whenever you go somewhere, I think traveling is always reasonable and you can experience something. Nothing on earth is a waste. It all makes sense that you just have to catch it and embrace it. For starters, I came from India in Poland, and here I learn not only Polish, but some Russian words, some Gulf words, I get to know so many cultures, people, and so on, which I didn't expect, and it makes sense for me. I have so many travel plans but they are just plans I don't know when will I accomplish it. I think this kind of lifestyle help us to develop decision making skill, Individuality , increase General Knowledge, and make sharp mindset. All that is fair.
As a person who isn’t keen on this idea of constant changes, I’d rather opt for settling down at some point. Maybe not in your 20s or even 30s, but as time goes by people tend to change their lifestyle to a more stable one. If you want to have kids for example, I don’t think it’s possible to live like this without hurting the child in one way or another. They wouldn’t be happy without stable friendships, and I think most kids just want to have one place to call home and feel safe in it.
I really do. I’d love to go on a road trip by my car with my family or with my boyfriend (or both), and I’d also really love to go back to Catalonia, as I fell in love with one particular town – Blanes – when I went there 6 years ago with my friends. It such a calm and beautiful town on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with lots of nice people, great food and beautiful landscapes. I’d also really want to go to Prague again, for pretty much the same reason – went there once on a school trip for 3 days, and I want more!
2. I believe this lifestyle makes sense for a certain amount of time. If we would visit many countries and get to know many cultures, we would probably want to belong to one of them. Thanks to the money saved, we could well start a new stage in life.
3. I do not have travel plans because I know that I will not be able to implement them. It would be easier to start such a life if you didn't have loved ones or a girlfriend. It would be very irresponsible to leave everything behind and go on such an uncertain journey.
Not really. I am that kind of person that enjoys staying in a one place. I also very like being in Poland and it would be very hard for me to abandon this country.
2.Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
I haven't tried it so I don't know. But it seems to me that these kind of living is very hard to maintain. I mean what if you want to get married? You'll have to find a person that wants to travel and constantly switch places with you. I'm not saying it's impossible but I guess that it will be very hard
3.Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
Yessss, nowadays I have a huge need to travel. I want to re-visit some cities that I've already been to which are Lviv, Berlin and Rome. I also would like to see more places in Europe and I was thinking about e.g. Barcelona. But my biggest dream is visiting New York and I hope that maybe I will have enough money to go there next year 🤞
2. Certainly for some people, travelers, this is a very good option. However, for me, the best option is to settle in my own home permanently. I prefer to live in a house suited to me, rather than constantly changing my place of residence.
3. After the pandemic, I would certainly like to go to a warm place during my holidays. I don't know where yet, but probably somewhere in Europe, maybe the south of France, for example Nice, or Italy, Naples.
I would love to! I think it could perfectly suits me! The possibility to work online is the best part of being an engineer. You could lay on the beach with drink under the palms and simultaneously work, isn't that sounds great? After the work you have a chance to visit some ancients ruins or reach some peak and after weekend with all of the adventures, you may again come back to the beach and work under the palm!
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense from the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
Finally, after the long trip the greatest feeling is to come back to your safe and cozy home. So, yes, it is better to settle at some point in life but with short breaks to voyage!
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
I have got many plans. I and my best friend reschedule our trip to Paris since forever. After Paris, I would like to go to some warm country.
In my case, the key to efficiency is focus, so I need to stay in one spot, to be effective.
Certainly, the surrounding is also important. I seem to always work better, when I am staying in my countryside home, rather than in city.
However, if I had an opportunity to try nomadic lifestyle for some time, I would give it a shot.
As I mentioned, I work best when I am focused and settled.
In any case, there are people who perform well, living a nomadic lifestyle.
I believe it all comes down to what calling we have in ourselves :)
I tell myself that I will start travelling, when I will finish my graduate studies.
Top spots on my list are occupied by Georgia, USA and New Zealand.
I can relate in some extent to your travel plans, if I’d only liked writing essays, I could write very long one too. I planned with a friend, a road trip through US National Parks for 2021. Seeing that with current rate of vaccinating, my turn would be in 2024, I am pessimistic that we could go this year.
Thailand is nice travel idea; it is one of the best places I’ve ever been and definitely would like to go again.
Israel is pretty warm in winters, compared to the weather in Poland. Not to ruin your plans, but I’ve read that they have pretty strict quarantine procedures and want to implement some kind of covid passport.
I think that seeing and maintaining contact with friends and family is not a problem, thanks to the Internet, being digital nomad does not mean leaving all things behind. You can always contact people you care about.
2. I know there are people who would like to travel around the world for their whole life, but I am not one of these. I know that eventually, I would settle at someplace - maybe the one I visited. I like to do some manual jobs which actually require me to have my own equipment which I of course would not take with me. I also like people who I know and who are around me for a longer time, so I don't think that I could simply disappear.
3. Me and my friends are planning to make a trip with a camper to some country that we can chill & rest for a week or two. The destination is yet unknown, although we will for sure direct to southern European countries.
I think it could be an interesting experience. If I had to choose which lifestyle I prefer I would definitely choose the current one. However, I think the way of life described in the article above is interesting and I might try to live like that for a while. Longer-term, however, I don't think I would enjoy it.
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
In my opinion, it is good to have a permanent residence. However, I know people who think otherwise and are happy. I think everyone should live the way they want.
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
Yes, my dream is to fly to Tokyo.
I hope to realize my dream as soon as possible when it is possible
2. In my opinion, leading this lifestyle is a temporary stage. Each of us finds our asylum after some time. Then this place should become our home. After all, every journey has its end.
3. I currently have no travel plans due to the pandemic. However, when the borders are opened, I want to go to Croatia, lie on the beach, eat seafood and drink it with good wine.
I actually would like to try it for a couple of months. Because of covid-19 I was given an opportunity to study and work whatever I wanted. Moreover, I was spending a few weeks in Gdansk and later a few weeks in Warsaw and even once I was working a couple of days in Lisbon. I think that I would not like to travel all my life, but the idea of travelling every month to a different place just seems amazing. Because of that you are really able to experience the daily life in the city or place that you chose. In my opinion you are not a typical tourist and the more time you spend in the current place, you become a small part of the community. Like I said, I would love to try it after the world comes back to “normal”.
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
It really depends on how people would like to live. In my opinion it might be difficult to live this type of lifestyle if you want to have kids in a couple of years or you would like to buy an apartment. However, when you are young and want to experience something different and visit different places it definitely is possible to live like that for a couple of years. I actually have a friend that has already lived in Lisbon, Paris, Bali and Zanzibar and he actually really loves it.
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
Of course, I have plenty of plans. Firstly, I would love to go skiing and later maybe in March or April to Zanzibar. After these two destinations I have a couple of more places that I would like to visit before the summer starts in Poland
Yes I think it would suits me. I am planning to do it for summer because actually there is nothing to do in Warsaw, it would be great to travel around Poland and Europe during the summer. If everything goes by plan I would definitely try it.
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
I don't know about others but as for me it is better to settle at some point of my life. I would love to travel all my life but not living nomadic lifestyle.
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
Yes of course, as I said earlier I wanted to travel around Poland and Europe because due to corona time I didn't have a chance. I have visited some cities in Poland and a few countries and this summer I really want to visit main cities in Poland and some castles.
Honestly I really love churches and museums here.
2. It's not my thing. I like to make DIY stuff and without having a special place for all the tools it's simply not possible. Also, I don't like to travel a lot.
3. Yes, I want to go to Finland by car for something for around two weeks with my friends. I always wanted to see auroras and clear starry night at the north.
This lifestyle is my dream. I have been working remotely for years, and when the Internet classes were introduced at the university, I started to plan to move to another country. Unfortunately, before I was able to find the right place, the borders were closed and so far, I stopped my plans.
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
Much depends on the person. Personally, there is nothing that keeps me in one place so I plan to rip this time out as much as I can.
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
Yes. I have a lot of ideas and just wait for the borders to open.
Yes, that's actually a dream of mine. I have some doubts since it's very radical move but I'd love to try it.
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
It's probably hard to live a life like that when you're very old and fragile so maybe it's not a desirable lifestyle for a lifetime.
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
Travelling is always fun, I didn't see much of the world myself so I'm always happy to travel to new places. I don't have any travel plans yet though.
1. Do you think that nomadic lifestyle would suit you? Would you like to try becoming digital nomad for some time?
Being a digital nomad seems like a wonderful idea. I am not sure if I am a right person to live such way but I know that I would have to give it a try to really make up my mind. I am not a very organized person. When it comes to my room I always had a "artistic chaos" kind of environment around me. However, when it comes to my place of work I like to have it as much ergonomic as it can be. I like to have me place of work suited just for me and I would really find it difficult to work anywhere. It seems so easy when someone says that "you can work from anywhere" but it is harder than it seems to find a proper place work anywhere you are.
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
I think to it would be beneficial for everyone to give it a try at least for some time in their lives. In my opinion people should have a place to always come back to but when you live everywhere you might find yourself in a situation where you have nowhere to come back to. Travel a lot but have your one place in the world.
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
I would love to finally visit Asia. Japan is my first choice at the moment and I would give a lot to be finally able to see that country. I am aware of how expensive it is to spend two weeks there and my financial situation at the moment doesn't make it easier for me but I think that after the world opens once again I will save some money and finally visit Tokio.
Definitely yes! I think I would like to lead a nomadic lifestyle. I understand the concept of a nomadic lifestyle in many ways. However, it can be clearly stated that such a lifestyle is more interesting because living in one place will quickly get bored. Of course, you can change houses often and move from city to city, but it is a very large expense and psychological burden. It requires so much work that it is not profitable to do it.
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
It is strongly dependent on whether we are single or have a family with children. In the case of a family with children, we are probably forced to settle in one place because children will not be able to handle the dynamically changing environment. They need to educate and make friends, enter into stable relationships that the nomadic lifestyle will not provide.
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
I dream of traveling by motorhome. In a sense, I live in my same house all the time and can live somewhere else every day. Now, in the era of remote management, it is achievable. Maybe a trip around Asia? I'll just save some money and off you go!
I can’t judge other people's opinions and decisions. As i said, I can imagine that for some people staying the whole time at home can be a stressful environment and nothing to be happy about. In my life, I aspire to have a place that I would love to come back after work, a safe place to miss. And for me settling is a thing that would make me feel comfortable and happy.
Yes, I do. I have a few destinations in my plans however I cannot be sure when it will make come true. Nonetheless, I am happy that I travelled around my country this year. I was forced to do this and I don’t think I would plan that if not for the pandemic but I am proud I did this. I miss the blue sea, hot weather and foreign cuisine and hopefully the situation will change and we can make our all travelling dreams come true.
I do not think it would suit me to be honest. I like the comfort of my house and I cannot imagine living as a digital nomad for longer than one month. But I think I could try it for two weeks. For me it would be very stressful not having a place I could call home for a longer period of time.
2. Do you think that this kind of lifestyle would make sense in the long perspective or is it better to settle at some point in life?
I think being a nomad might be an interesting experience. But in the long perspective it is going to be depressing. Humans generally wanted to settle down sooner or later.
3. Do you have any travel plans, that you want to realize when it will be reasonable to travel?
Yes, I have a lot of plans for travelling I wanted to visit some African countries such as Liberia, South Sudan, and Kenia. Unfortunately for now it is almost impossible to go there but when this pandemic ends I’m going to realize all of this plans.
I think this kind of lifestyle make sens when you are young or old. In middle ages, when you have growing kids you need some kind of stabilization. In long perspective the best way is to spend your young age like nomad and when you do what you want to do you can settle in one point and spend there rest of your life. In this option you can choose perfect place to live.
Yes I have some planes for traveling, not realized from 2020 and new one for 2021. I have hope that maybe in second part of this year it will be happen.
2. I think it all depends on the character and preferences of the person himself, and in my case this is an excellent option for the future and work in the future.
3. Of course there are plans for future travels and I intend to implement them in the future.