Here’s
a universal truth: No matter where in the world you work, deadlines
still exist. But here’s another truth I learned firsthand when I
backpacked my way around the world, filing assignments from Costa Rica,
Bosnia, and Ireland, among other places. No matter how stressed out you
are, there’s something about being untethered in the world that reminds
you life is so much bigger than your email inbox.
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
I’m
not the only person who’s developed that realization. The explosion of
technology in the past 10 years, combined with the rise of the gig
economy, the expansion and ease of solo entrepreneurship, and the
realization that remote workers do actually, well, work has
meant that more and more people have found themselves living a
location-independent lifestyle — basically they have no permanent
address. Armed with a laptop and a plane ticket, digital nomads say
they’ve never been happier — and are quick to correct some
misconceptions about their day-to-day reality.
First
of all, while those ‘grammable sunsets, waterfalls, and café con leches
may look like a perma-vacation, location-independent people say that
they are working — just from a different place (and time zone) than you.
“One thing I learned pretty early on is that it’s really hard to travel
and be productive,” notes Erica Blair,
a 30-year-old marketing consultant who currently calls Chiang Mai,
Thailand, home and has been location independent for the last eight
years. “I need to stay somewhere at least three months and set up a
routine. Otherwise, with traveling, it’s just too hard to both enjoy a
trip and grow my business.”
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
Donteacia Seymore,
38, a startup coach currently based in Mexico, agrees. “My mom sees my
pictures and thinks I’m at the beach all day. But what she doesn’t
realize is that I’m working just as hard, if not harder, than I would
have been at home.” For Seymore, that means being a stickler about
scheduling. “I became location independent last year, when I traveled
through Europe for seven months. I brought my laptop, and I was
constantly on calls or doing work. I was burned out, and as I hurried
through Budapest, I realized: I hadn’t seen anything.” That
realization made her take out a spreadsheet and begin planning. “I
decided to make Tuesdays and Thursdays meeting days, with all of my
phone calls and Zoom or Skype sessions scheduled then. And I made the
decision that Wednesdays were for exploring.” Now, Seymore says that
scheduling lets her have the best of both worlds. “One of the best
things about working somewhere else in the world is that the time
difference can work in your favor. When I was in Thailand, I could work
through the day, knowing it was the middle of the night in the United
States, and I wouldn’t be interrupted.”
[post_ads_2]
Lindsay Tigar, 30, a freelance writer currently traveling the world as part of Remote Year,
an organization that creates itineraries, provides coworking spaces,
and arranges accommodation and transportation for remote workers, agrees
that juggling time zones can be an advantage — as long as you’re
committed to stay on top of your own schedule and be your own
(deadline-driven) boss. “For me, I’m always surrounded by activities I want to
take advantage of: Surfing lessons in Lisbon, beer tastings in Prague,
the chance to visit the Sahara desert. But I still have to get work
done. Right now, I’m in Europe, so I’ll explore in the morning and work
until nine or so. I also truly try to stick to four-day workweeks
whenever possible, which, yes, means saying no to drinks in the evening.
But for me, it’s 100% worth it.”
While
it may seem like most people who work remotely are doing so because
they’re freelancers, entrepreneurs, or otherwise work for themselves,
that’s not entirely true. As businesses become more global, more and
more workers find themselves living out of their suitcases, and finding
that having a full-time job — and no fixed address — is the best of both
worlds. Cassie Hesse, 28, beverage director for hospitality firm Ellis Adams Group,
jets around the world providing training and developing menus for
clients, including Marriott International, and considers herself
location independent. “The best part of not having a ‘home’ is that
anywhere can be home. If I have a few days between jobs, I’ll
think about where friends and family are, and then just book my ticket
to and from there,” says Hesse. In addition, she loves that her work
days are truly never the same. “There are always new people, a new
environment, and new places to explore. That’s what keeps it exciting.”
[post_ads_2]
That
said, even the most jetset digital nomads sometimes miss the creature
comforts of having all their stuff — and their mail — in one place.
Brooke Lovell, who is helping to create guest houses for location-independent entrepreneurs
in Kathmandu, says that having a point person back home is crucial.
“Moms are life-savers for the location independent! Or at least someone
who can perform mom-like duties. After all, someone has got to watch the
mail for scary stuff from the IRS, or when you have some technical
problem with your bank and can't get any money out. It would be so much
harder for me to be living abroad or on the road without her.”
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
And
while “international villages” full of digital nomads are popping up
around the world, Blair says that one of the best parts of living abroad
is interacting with local culture. “There are expat scenes all over the
world, but taking the extra step and getting to know a culture, trying
local restaurants, and even living in a neighborhood that’s popular with
the locals enhances the experience,” says Blair.
Bottom
line: It’s a big world out there. Pack your laptop and get exploring —
and don’t forget to look up from that Skype call and say hi to the
people who surround you.
