The Good, the Bad, and the Terrible WiFi - Why Being a Digital Nomad Sometimes Sucks!

Digital nomading sounds great doesnt it?

Sunsets, palm trees, cocktails on a roof terrace…but life as a digital nomad isn’t all just instagrammable moments.?

The excitement of living in another place can bring new experiences and massive highs, but the nitty-gritty of living in a foreign country or constantly being on the road can bring unexpected challenges that can be tough at times…

So this week, I’m being honest about the hardest and weirdest things I’ve experienced as a digital nomad…?

It can be Lonely

As a solo digital nomad, you can end up spending a lot of time alone, which is sometimes great, but sometimes incredibly lonely and scary. You can find yourself having a lot of superficial conversations and craving deeper connections with people.?

Plus airports on your own get really boring after a while!

BUT after a little while you get used to being solo. You shake off the nerves and become really good at entering a room full of strangers and making friends - sometimes they’re friends just for the week, and sometimes for a season, but sometimes for life!

I have such an amazing network of friends all over the world now, and whenever I’m headed somewhere, I can usually get some insider tips which are always super helpful.

You also become a whole lot braver when it comes to trying new experiences. Making big decisions on your own is empowering and allows you to enjoy incredible freedom.

You find yourself in Crazy situations

Being a digital nomad you often find yourself completely out of your comfort zone - and it can be terrifying!

I’ve been lost in the snowy mountains of Montenegro with no winter tyres or gear, stayed in a mountain camping hut with a bunch of strangers in Croatia, I’ve flown across the ocean and spent a week in downtown San Francisco completely by myself.

I’ve had moments where I’ve not been well and had to source medication abroad, I’ve had instances where I’ve got lost and ran out of phone battery - PANIC! I had a dreaded moment where I needed the toilet at a bus station and didn’t have any local currency before an 8 hour bus ride.

BUT - what a life I get to lead! On my travels, I’ve been lucky enough to experience so many different things, good and bad.

But, I’m braver, more independent, and more open-minded as a result of some of the trickier adventures I’ve had along the way!

• I got ‘unlost’ with the help of some friendly locals.
• Someone helped me get back on to a main road that was safe.
• A stranger helped me through the paid gates before my bus journey.?
• The strangers in the hut became my best friends for the evening!
• I got the medication and got better.

Actually Getting Work Done

When you don’t have a stable base, you find yourself obsessed with WiFi and power points.

Getting work done can become a bit stressful.

Even at a coworking space, you can find yourself swept up in small talk with strangers or trying to find a quiet space to make a client call in silence. I'm consistently trying to make the point that... I'm not on holiday - I'm got more than a full-time job of work to do and I need to get sh!t done!

BUT - You get really good at finding places to work that suit you. Digital nomads are all looking for the same thing - great coffee, great WiFi, and a bit of camaraderie - and in the end, you do find them! I’ve found some great 24/7 coworking spaces and I always make sure I have a suitable working space in any accommodation I choose.

Taxes and Visas

For me, sorting this stuff out is the worst thing about being a digital nomad. And Brexit has made being a digital nomad in Europe way more complicated and stressful.

BUT there are still lots of opportunities out there and so many places to explore!

I keep complex spreadsheets on where I can go for how long, and where digital nomad visas are easy to get.

You can also save yourself a lot of headaches by hiring a great accountant for the financial stuff and an agency to help with any complicated local paperwork.

Unexpected Nostalgia

When you’re away for a while, you reach a point where you start thinking of home with rose-tinted glasses.?

It doesn’t really rain that much in England does it?

The tea here just doesn’t taste the same.

I want a proper Sunday roast with my family!

Yep, you have days when you think you’re crazy for giving up a stable ‘normal’ life surrounded by the comforts of home.?

BUT, the biggest learning curve for me was when I returned home after living in Canada for over a year and realised that home will always be home and it doesn’t change that much. I can always pop home for a proper brew, a proper Sunday Roast and a proper moan about the bloody weather!

The novelty of being back in the UK lasted about a month before I started to get itchy feet again.

It turned out that I missed being away much more than I missed being at home, and that’s why, after a few years, I was back to travelling again.

And I don’t plan to stop any time soon!

I’d love to hear about the challenges you’ve faced as a digital nomad and how you’ve overcome them. Or if you have any questions about my digital nomad experiences, good or bad, post below!?