Digital Nomad Community Opinions on the Pros and Cons of the Lifestyle

Are you a veteran or newbie in the digital nomad lifestyle? Have you ever wondered what are the pros and cons? As the biggest digital nomad community on Facebook, we have compiled our members’ opinions on the biggest pros and cons of the digital nomad lifestyle. 

We digital nomads enjoy living while traveling around the world and discovering incredible places. We drift away from the office 9-to-5 lifestyle and benefit from the freedom of remote work and being able to make our own decisions regarding where and how to live. 

Nonetheless, as much as there are digital nomad benefits, there are also a few work from anywhere drawbacks. 

Keep on reading to learn about 10 remote work pros and cons and what our community members think or recommend. 

What digital nomads think about the pros of working and traveling

Benefit #1: Food, food, food 

As digital nomads, we get to experience a variety of different cultures, cuisines, languages, landscapes, cuisines again... Let’s be real: one of the best things about travel is having the opportunity to taste food from around the world. Tacos, sushi, ceviche, beer, the list is endless. 

In a recent competition sponsored by SafetyWing, our members shared some of the most unique dishes that they have tasted during their nomadic travels. One of the participants, Lisa G. shared this original Taiwanese dish: 

Giant grasshoppers in Taiwan. They were actually delicious. Stuffed with caramelized onion and baked with chile pepper, basil, and garlic so they were crunchy and spicy on the outside, soft and sweet on the inside. I ate 3 😅

So, there is no doubt that food can be one of the best digital nomad benefits, as it is part of the multiplicity of experiences.

Benefit #2: Staying in colivings or doing travel group programs

Many digital nomads choose to stay in coliving spaces or do coworking programs. Even though it might not be for everybody, it offers the opportunity to work alongside other like-minded people and make new friends.

The community member Mariah H. expressed how much she enjoys staying in colivings:

ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES! But [it] depends on the place and mindset of people there. For me, who [is] always working, that’s the best way to socialize easily.

Incredible, right? Among all the multiple experiences of traveling and working, do not forget to stay safe and get good travel health insurance.​​ We can recommend SafetyWing, an option made by nomads for nomads like you and me. The medical emergency coverage is $250,000 and they also cover dental emergencies, COVID-19, accidental death, and more. The pricing starts at $12/weekly and you can get it even if your trip has begun. Find out further information and stay safe as you experience the world, here. 

Benefit #3: Getting to know yourself, being yourself

Traveling and working remotely can help you discover yourself, your passions, how you react in certain situations, and more. All the good and bad experiences help shape you as a person. Ermo J. explained his thoughts on the freedom to be yourself when you are a digital nomad: 

Traveling itself as you learn something new every day. Living in a completely different environment is also proven to be very beneficial to your brain - whether you enjoy it or not. Traveling also lets you be yourself, by yourself.

Benefit #4: Several income streams

Maybe you are a remote worker, have your own business or offer services. If your case is the last one, you know that there are many freelancing advantages and disadvantages, but one of the good things is being able to have several income streams. 

Remote work can allow you to organize your time better, be more productive, and therefore acquire more clients and maximize your income for more travel experiences, of course! Jayrald A., a community member of Digital Nomads Around the World, shared insights on the matter: 

As for work, online freelancing coupled with an online business or passive income stream is the best.

Amazing, right? The pros of the digital nomad lifestyle are of course what pushes several people to it, but there is as well many work from anywhere drawbacks. 

What digital nomads think about the cons of working and traveling

Downside #1: Loneliness 

We commonly see community discussions about overcoming loneliness as it is not foreign to our digital nomad lifestyle. It is not only the fact that you might be nomading on your own, but that you might find yourself in a different culture without your good old friends and family. On top of that, remote work can be lonely in itself. Lise H. told the community about her experience:

I have the feeling that being digital nomad and being able to work at home, paradoxically makes me stay more at home. I'm more and more disconnected from people, and my friendships fade away as I'm regularly moving to new places

It is highly important that you look after your mental health while you are traveling. Remember that life in itself can always turn lonely, so you need to have a great support system you can talk to wherever you are, and especially, learn to love being with yourself, just as Gustav T. says:

But then again, loneliness has nothing to do with whether there are people around you. It has something to do with your relationship with yourself

Downside #2: Drifting away from your hobbies or other activities you enjoy

Traveling can be a hobby in itself but when it becomes your daily life, the money and time you spend on it can drive you apart from other activities you love. You might not have the resources to keep practicing the tai chi you love or the access to the materials to continue doing mesmerizing sculptures. You are not alone: this can happen to any digital nomad. Take, for instance, the experience of Rein B., a  member of our community: 

Triathlon training and travel don't go together. I have to sell my bike now because I can't carry that along with the accessories to my next stop. Yeah, you can run anywhere to maintain your fitness BUT can't do proper marathon training.

Remember that even if you have to give up for a while on a hobby or activity, you can take up another that you can easily do in the place where you currently are. It could also be a great chance to meet others. 

Downside #3: The weight of society’s judgment

For many years, what has been considered normal is having a 9-to-5 job, paying a mortgage, and settling down in a single place. Thus, some people may judge you for not following society’s norms. Family and friends might not always comprehend the way you live, and this might even lead to making you feel more lonely. This member of the community expressed how after many years, their family still wonders:

Family asking, "Don't you have it out of your system yet?" I'm 56 [and] left home 26 years ago. You'd think they'd have wrapped their heads around it by now.

However, remember that there is nothing like loving what you do and how you live. The only approval you need is of yourself, and the Digital Nomads Around the Community is here to always support you!

Downside #4: Nomad entrepreneurs wondering where to register their international business 

As a digital nomad, you may have doubts about where to register your business because many countries have different rules, benefits, and potential problems. It can be a real challenge to choose the best place to form your company, especially if you do not have a fixed address to open a business account or the business itself. On top of that, you also need to consider taxation, as Stef V. explains: 

You should also be mindful of the tax angle to it. If you are going to set up a business in country A but you run it from country B, both countries might come knocking on the door for taxes.

In any case, there are certain options that can help you run your business whilst on the move. Wyoming LLC is a really popular choice in the community due to its tax benefits and eases of opening. Learn more about it here. 

There is no doubt that being a digital nomad comes with both its advantages and disadvantages. What is important is that you do not let the bad side overshadow all the wonders of living on the move! Take risks and embrace your love for discovery. We promise you it is worth it in the long, and short, run.