3 Downsides of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle: Know These Before Working Remotely

I adore making money online; there’s nothing better.?Here’s the truth: as I write this from a coworking space in Manila, The Philippines, I couldn’t be happier working for myself and building an online business.

It’s freedom, and you can’t beat it.

In my eyes, at least.

Nevertheless, the digital nomad lifestyle — despite all its hype and glory — has considerable downsides. Online grifters will often market their online courses with one message:?quit your job, make money online, travel the world, and live the dream.

Wow.

That sounds good.

Doesn’t it?

I bet they sold you the vision like Jordan Belfort sold penny stocks in the 1980s.

Here’s the catch: typically, and many would say unsurprisingly, they won’t talk about the downsides, even though there are many.

In contrast, I will:

1. You’ll Struggle to Build Stable and Meaningful Relationships

A location-independent lifestyle means one thing: you’ll struggle to build stable, long-lasting relationships. As a result, your life can sometimes feel purposeless.

That’s why most people quit the digital nomad lifestyle after a couple of years.

Freedom is excellent; there’s?no?getting around that. That said, when you’re not sharing that freedom and extraordinary experiences with other people — life can feel empty. And the only way to avoid that is by making friends with other digital nomads.

However, it will hit your love life, social life, and —?at times?— your overall mental health; anyone who says otherwise is full of?****.

Period.

2. Self Employment Isn’t for the Weak-Minded

Some digital nomads work remotely with a full-time job. However, most remote workers —?myself included?— are self-employed. And it’s become cool to be self-employed in the last twenty years.

But why?

Self-employment is brutal; there’s nothing ‘cool’ about it.

• The income can be irregular.
• You won’t get the respect you deserve for great work.
• You have the hustle for every penny.
• Clients can drop you for no reason.
• You have to hold yourself accountable, often unpleasantly so.
• You’ll have zero co-workers.
• You’ll feel lonely.
• You’ll need a robust mindset.

For many people, the stability, conformity, and comfort of a 9–5 job are better than being self-employed — even if they don’t realize it right now.

Be careful what you wish for, as they say.

3. Nobody Will Understand You

Although the digital nomad lifestyle is becoming more prevalent —?in fact, it’s on the way to becoming a fad?— most people still don’t understand it. Subsequently, if you want approval from society, you’re unlikely to find it from being a digital nomad.

It’s an alternative lifestyle, and you must enjoy being unconventional and out of the box.

Stick to a normal lifestyle if that’s not you; you’ll be happier.

When I graduated from university, the notion of wearing a suit and tie, climbing the empty corporate ladder, and taking orders from some jobsworth called?Dave?made me?deeply troubled.

So, I never wanted a regular job. I knew that from a young age.

Some people are like me, but many?aren’t.

Figure out which one you are.

I love being unpretentious.

I love the digital nomad lifestyle,?also.

It’s full of immense benefits — such as location freedom, global travel, self-determination, etc.?However, there are downsides. That’s why most people don’t live this lifestyle for the long term.

It takes a certain type of character to enjoy living like this. It might not be for you, and that’s okay.

Pursue happiness; that’s all.