Myths About Digital Nomads That is so Not True (1)

One of the post-pandemic world's fastest-growing opportunities is remote jobs. More and more people are choosing a career that helps them see the world while earning money. Such a location-independent way of living has many perks.

Are you considering a digital nomad career and wondering what that would be like? Although many people think of digital nomads as living a life of perpetual vacations, that’s only part of the story. There are a lot of misconceptions regarding digital nomads and their lifestyles. When faced with this lifestyle, people are quick to criticise and make numerous assumptions that are plainly false. Here are some common misconceptions about digital nomadism to help clear things up.

1. It's Vacay - 24/7

The most common misconception about digital nomads is that they spend their time chilling, enjoying the beach, and drinking fancy tropical drinks while on a long vacation. Digital nomads often go to well-known vacation spots. But they put in just as much, if not more, effort than everyone else. Given that working remotely requires just as much effort as travelling to an office every day, hearing this is undoubtedly unsettling for the majority of digital nomads. Digital nomadism is merely another full-time job as the majority of them put in about 40 hours on a weekly basis. It is often difficult to manage time when you do not have a fixed period of work time. One could tend to procrastinate and end up doing overwork. Work always comes before leisure wherever a digital nomad is, regardless of their proximity to a beach or mountain. They don’t often take sick leaves or weekends offs. If you are someone who appreciates what you do, you can create a productive routine and spare time for leisure as well.

2. You got to be YOUNG.

Today, social media gives so many wrong notions about how things should be. If you scroll through Instagram, you would only see photos of youngsters who live a glamorous digital nomadic lifestyle and stay in the most luxurious resorts. They seem to be making money while indulging in a fancy life. For a lot of people, this is the notion of digital nomads that they have in their heads. This is not really true. There is absolutely no justification for a digital nomadic lifestyle to be limited to young people. You may be a digital nomad as long as you can make money online and feel confident exploring new areas. Age can occasionally even be advantageous. Your professional background and network may be useful in helping you locate customers. Your funds come in handy when you first start travelling. Age is never a reason to stop yourself from exploring a digital nomad life.

3. It’s just a PHASE.

Many individuals think that living as a digital nomad is like going on a journey of self-discovery. Or sort of like something students engage in before beginning their university studies. When they've had enough, seen enough, struggled enough, they get back to their regular lives. For many people think, it’s sort of a sabbatical people take to get a break from their normal lives and live an enchanted one. Someone who has never lived a digital nomadic lifestyle would naturally think in this manner. However, that is not the case. It’s not a break or a phase. It’s a way of life people choose to live. Nomads consciously choose this way of life because they appreciate its perks and can live with its drawbacks. Digital nomadism is a way of life that nomads consciously choose to lead; it is not a phase of self-discovery that necessarily leads to settling down. Although it might be challenging in the beginning, there is no need to return to a normal life if you succeed in earning money through remote work. In fact, after a while, the majority of digital nomads will slow down in terms of travel speed and only relocate every few months, maybe twice a year. Many of them choose to rejoice in this lifestyle for the flexibility, freedom and financial independence they get in this life. In the beginning, it might seem hard but it will surely take a leap of faith to get over the hardship and live the life you have always dreamed of.

4. It’s Eeasy-Peasy

Being a Digital Nomad is not an overnight success. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to make a mark in an ocean. There are a lot of better candidates out there. As long as you don’t stand out, it’s difficult to make any difference. Working remotely also means giving up job security unless you truly have recurring business from previous clients. Sure, there may be fewer distractions in your new country, but having too much free time is often more dangerous than being busy! Plan ahead for every situation before setting out on this path and make sure you already have multiple projects lined up for when you arrive at your chosen destination - that way bills will stay paid. Success as a digital nomad depends on a variety of things, including your abilities, just like success in any other work situation. This means that in order to become successful in jobs, digital nomads must first learn the requisite skills, which require time, money, and effort. It's an endless journey of constant learning and unlearning. One has also to prepare mentally for uncertainty and constant change. It’s not a very comfortable path often. And not everyone is prepared for constant change.

There’s no perfect rulebook for digital nomadism. There’s no perfect age or job one has to do in order to become one. You write your journey as a digital nomad and the rest will fall into place. For sure, being a digital nomad is a very rewarding experience but you must also look into the reality and understand that the path does not come that easy. If you can see it without being biased, you can plan accordingly and not be caught by things that cause you loss. We have more myths in the upcoming blog. So Stay Tuned.

Happy Backpacking!