Wake up, eat, get to work, come back home and sleep. Party? Yes, on the weekends. Passion? Listening to music, umm yeah, thats it. Any girlfriend? Yes, I had one 6 years back but it didnt quite work out. My insides tickle with discomfort, as I hear another person respond to these questions with eyes so bereft of life and magic. As I see people around me, living their life in concentric circles of their misery and limitations, without having the slightest idea of what they are doing, clawed and caged in spirals of other peoples expectations and conditioning, I howl in pain at this suffering the human self subjects itself to. I wake up everyday trying to break free, of something. I wake up everyday trying to break free, of everything.
Wanderlust sits in my chest like all the tears you hold back sit in your eyes. Day after day, I see people living the same day 75 times and calling it a life. But there are some people who paint their skin with courage and desires. Who walk with legs like swords cutting through the human limitations of time and distance. They are the Digital Nomads! Yes, you heard it right. These are a bunch of crazy people who are always on the move, living in different places, and working through the miracle we call technology, look at those smartphones and laptops. They turn technology from a tether to one specific place to a ticket to freedom from any physical office space. Digital nomads work in everything from blogging to web designing to coaching to consulting to researching, from Hongkok to Singapore to Thailand, exploring new people, places and perspectives.
Why do you think, some people choose to leave everything behind, and go anywhere they want? Isnt that scary? Digital Nomads are people just like you and me. People like you and me who are tired of their 9-5 jobs but just cant leave their jobs. Digital Nomads break the boundaries between work and leisure, challenging established concepts of work. They work anytime they want, from anywhere they want, on anything they want, having qualitative time to spend with family and friends or to engage in gardening or painting or absolutely anything. They get past the restrictions time subjects one to by making one sacrifice their present in hopes of a beautiful tomorrow, by learning to survive in difficult situations and creating opportunities for themselves in places where apparently none existed. They believe that life doesnt equate work and see work as a means to grow personally and professionally. But most of all, these crazy gypsies challenge our unreflective habitual lives and routines. These are people who believe in conscious deliberate living. They are people who know that home is not a place, but something that you come back to, and the thing that you come back to, could be the tingling in your stomach at the danger and the excitement that anything new presents to you.
You need to choose your Digital Nomad Destinations, with that wild brain. Consider the cost of living, easy visas, the speed and availability of internet, the proximity to other digital nomads and/or an inspiring community. Look for inspiring environments with safety and a good weather. , Indonesia is known as the mother ship of digital nomads, a co-working island, with volcano-climbing, surfing, diving and motorbiking. Because easy travelling, great food and a unique culture. Moreover, , with open social network groups, and with co-working spaces like the , provide an opportunity to share workspace with filmmakers, programmers, lawyers and media designers, helping each other in finding new solutions and ideas. Co-working helps nomads to have colleagues who are working, but are just not working on the same things. , is value for money with the bliss of breathtaking surroundings, where you can do anything that doesnt require snow. will poke the musician, the entrepreneur, the artist, the academician, and the writer buried in you. is the hippy paradise in , which is one of the worlds cheapest countries to live in with foreign currency. is an overlooked digital nomad heaven-to-be with outstanding local cuisine. is not just a wi-fi heaven but offers great deals on accommodation. has a bad reputation for drugs and crime, but has an unmatched diversity, home to .
which is Thailands first co-working space for tech and creative startups, says that work isnt about being stuck to one place and one company. You can be happy in Bangkok one day and in Bali the other day, you can be working on your own projects, getting mentored, meeting random strangers and exploring collaboration.
who is a Kitesurfing digital nomad and helps create joint ventures, talks about the magic of having never-ending summers. She emphasizes creating well researched job profiles, focusing on specific skill upgrade, switching between ones top three skills, and transforming the ways we live and work. She knows that you dont need much to be happy. She advocates minimalism, because once youve lived in a tent, everything is luxurious. She spent a few summers in a van with her boyfriend in Greece, having solar panels for energy, and bicycles to reach local villages for food. She describes it as the most challenging and beautiful experience of being a digital nomad while following the sun and the wind in the world.
There is a human need to plug into communities and spend time with people, so its difficult to move constantly. Digital nomading presents its challenges, which are actually what make it all the more interesting. You have to be productive, professional and structured to work in some of the best places in the world. You need a strong presence of mind, open mindedness, a strong emotional base, to sustain yourself in the face of frequent change and challenge. You might be waking up to a beautiful beach with a cocktail in your hand, but you might still need your exchange of ideas with people in order to get the best out of yourself. You may even experience isolation, as you might have a difficulty in forming meaningful and lasting relationships while youre on the move. However, building connections with the locals, building a support network of friends and family back home and connecting with them through skype and social media, and using co-working spaces of freelancers, can help to wash away these feelings and help you rock the digital nomad lifestyle and live life on your own terms.
