wisinomad

wisinomad

Debunking Digital Nomadism

The digital nomad life has appealing qualities and speaks to people who desire to strike out and see the world, while not sacrificing their careers. It speaks to those who aren’t afraid to embrace new experiences while making a global impact. But before you imagine a life of margaritas on a beach, with MacBook perched on your lap, here are few considerations:

Myth #1: Digital Nomads Are Rich

No, no, and no! Most digital nomads do not command exceptionally high income or claim a wealthy background. Most say they desired to experience the world over accumulating wealth, and so sought the best arrangements to accomplish their objective. Most digital nomads seek out areas with low cost of living, but still support the work and lifestyle. Destinations in South America, Asia or Africa offer luxury amenities at a fraction of the cost one would expect in cities like Hong Kong, New York or London.

Myth #2: Digital Nomads Are Always on Vacation

While travel constitutes a great deal of the digital nomadism, it is still work. You have to be productive in your work, and consistently deliver in order to have sustenance. This is greatly enhanced by distance, and can be quite stressful. In fact, many digital nomads experience this as they start out in their experience.

Myth #3: Digital Nomadism Is Only Temporary

Arguably one of the most widely-held misconceptions is that being a digital nomad is only for a short time, under the assumption that people will flame out and get back to wanting to live in one place eventually. For some, it is a lifetime of location-independent work, with some people having spent more than 10 years as digital nomads.

Myth #4: Digital Nomads Are All Young

While most set out in their late twenties, or early thirties, there are some late trailblazers who make the switch to nomadism.  Being a digital nomad is an individual journey, and nomads get to dictate at what pace they move from one place to another, and what environments best suit them. As such older nomads can tailor their experiences to best suit them. Moreover, the digital nomad life is more suited to individuals with specialized skills.

And while this covers most of the common myths, a few less prevalent ones exist namely:

Myth #5: Digital Nomads Have Superficial Friendships

While the transient nature of nomadism makes friendships more challenging, some digital nomads find ways of connecting with friends in far-flung areas. Skype, WhatsApp, and myriad other social networks make it possible to connect with people in ways previously unimaginable. And while the quality of friendships might differ, there’s nothing superficial about people who take time to share their intimate inner thoughts.

Myth #6: Digital Nomads Can’t Have Kids

While most people prefer not to have kids while living the digital nomad life.

They want their kids to grow up in a house, be able to go to school, have friends they can grow old with, and maybe even get to spend more time with their grandparents or uncles and aunties. So often digital nomads return back home, where their relatives live, to start a family. Digital Nomad Soul

For those digital nomads who want kids, they will be heartened to know there are like-minded nomads who choose to travel and school their children through world experiences. There’s even a website dedicated to digital nomads looking to or already have kids, Digital Nomad with Kids.

It is important to realize that digital nomads are professionals who take on the challenge of traveling while pursuing their careers. While some features of their life are different from that of the traditional professional, they aspire and can accomplish similar things, albeit with a bit more challenge, but that’s part of the fun!

About wisinomad : wisinomad is an Africa focused coliving and coworking program for purpose driven individuals who work remotely while making an impact in African spaces. To learn more visit www.wisinomad.com and send in your application.

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