Digital nomads are people who travel while working, using new technologies. Their lifestyle is also called workation, a combination of remote work and vacations spent away from their place of residence. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the widespread adoption of this way of working, and interest in it continues to grow.
The term “digital nomad” is most commonly used to describe individuals working in professions such as programmer, project manager, software tester, analyst, filmmaker, blogger, vlogger, YouTuber, copywriter, accountant, virtual assistant, photographer, graphic designer, foreign language teacher, coach, psychologist, journalist, and many others.
Among digital nomads, the largest group consists of the self-employed and those running their own businesses. However, there are also freelancers working on projects, and even employees with employment contracts.
Benefits of Being a Digital Nomad
The main advantages of the digital nomad lifestyle include:
- The ability to travel and explore the world
- Increased motivation to work
- Flexibility in choosing the location of work
- Lower stress levels
- Lower cost of living
- Greater sense of freedom and independence
Challenges of Being a Digital Nomad
The challenges of the digital nomad lifestyle typically include:
- Self-discipline of the digital nomad
- Language barriers
- Cultural differences
- The need to understand the legal regulations of the country of residence
- Access to electricity and the internet
- Maintaining work-life balance
- Building and maintaining relationships
„According to the steppe tradition of Tengri, to live life to the fullest, one must be in constant motion, as only in this way will each day be different from the previous one. As nomads passed through cities, they thought: ‚How poor are those who live here. For them, everything is always the same.’ Most likely, the city dwellers thought about the nomads: ‚Poor souls, they have nowhere to go.’ Nomads had no past, only the present, which is why they were always happy.” — Paulo Coelho, The Zahir
According to Nomadlist.com, the most popular destinations for digital nomads are currently Bangkok (Thailand), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Lisbon (Portugal).
In upcoming posts in the series “Digital Nomads and Their Legal Dilemmas”, I will address the legal aspects that should be considered when planning the life of a digital nomad. Topics such as visas for digital nomads, employment conditions, and conducting remote work and running businesses abroad will be discussed.
Status as of: January 13, 2024
Photo: pixabay.com
Cyberlaw by Judyta 