Reflections From My First 3-Months as a Digital Nomad

On the 31st August 2024, I decided to leave my life in Scotland and start my adventure as a digital nomad. I took a flight to Morocco, eager to experience another culture and connect with other remote workers. After nearly 3 months, I thought now would be a good time to reflect and share my experience with my network here on LinkedIn.

I've always had a passion for travel, ever since I went backpacking to Australia in 2011. The urge to travel again had been growing over the past few months and as an online business owner, it just felt like the right time to take my business on the road and explore the digital nomad lifestyle.

I'd spent the last 4 years working from my flat in Edinburgh, a city that I'd fallen in love with, with it's beautiful architecture, green spaces and walkability. It wasn't an easy decision to leave, I had a comfortable and settled life there, I made friends, played football every week and was part of an outdoor exercise fitness club. Also at 38, I wondered if I was too old for the digital nomad lifestyle - would I only meet much younger people? In truth, there's been a number of high's and low's from my first 3 months, which I'll now go into in more detail.

I've certainly been able to experience a different culture, which was one of my main goals. Morocco is a muslim based country, so there are numerous mosques throughout the country, where prayers can be heard throughout the day. The dominant language is Arabic, but French is widely used, particularly in business settings. I've found the Moroccan people to be incredibly welcoming, they often smile as you pass them on the street and are curious, eager to ask questions and learn more about you. I've been living in a small village called Tamraght, where the life is relaxed and the tourists come to surf. The village is so small that you quickly feel like a local, frequently bumping into familiar faces as you walk around. The cost of living is very affordable, you can easily dine out for $7 and the accommodation is far cheaper than in Edinburgh.

The weather had been a huge factor in deciding to come here. As the UK settles in for the winter, the climate in Morocco remains warm and pleasant. Most days, I take a short walk from my apartment to the beach and relax in the sun, or take a swim. It's true that we feel happier in the sun and I really enjoy this part of digital nomad life. At the time of writing this, the temperature has started to drop a little, but is in no way cold, its actually very comfortable. My plan is to continue to chase the sun and avoid the colder winter in the UK.

When I arrived in Morocco, I decided to try co-living - accommodation designed specifically for digital nomads to live and work together. My aim was to connect with other remote workers and find inspiration to grow my business. I stayed in two different co-livings, but unfortunately I did not have a good experience in either of them. I came away feeling that they are more like glorified hostels, just marketing themselves to European digital nomads, with an atmosphere that felt chaotic rather than suitable for productivity. In the end, I left the second co-living early and found an apartment for myself where I felt far more comfortable. Would I try another co-living in a different location? Possibly. But perhaps I have become used to living alone now and having my own space, which I admit I enjoy very much.

I have also found exercise and eating healthily to be a challenge since arriving in Morocco. Back in Edinburgh, I would religiously exercise 3-4 times a week and I found this provided enormous benefits to my mental health and my business. As a digital nomad, it's not so easy and my unpredictable schedule has made sticking to an exercise routine and eating well more difficult. However, things became easier when I moved into the apartment where I could prepare and cook my own food.

So am I happy with my decision to come to Morocco? Absolutely! It's been a fantastic place to start my adventure and I've been able to grow my business and help more Software Engineers. As my 90-day visa is due to expire soon, I'm in the process of deciding where to travel to next. I'm really excited to continue my journey and I hope I meet more digital nomads along the way. After three months, I can honestly say that I really enjoy this lifestyle, it resonates a lot with me and I hope to continue for quite a while. The freedom to move anywhere in the world with just my laptop and a reliable Wi-Fi connection is incredible—what more could I ask for?

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my experience as a digital nomad as much as I've enjoyed sharing it with you.

Does this kind of lifestyle appeal to you? Have you ever thought about becoming a digital nomad? What is holding you back?

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message and we can have a chat.

Until the next time,

Tom :)