5 myths on the digital nomads
The former advertising executive,
he left the comfort of his home
in Singapore and a constant pay check in exchange for a nomadic lifestyle that
allows him to see the world, call home to different cities and the freedom to
work wherever he lands with his laptop.
She founded Nomads Digital Women share
guides cured city, co-working spaces, and local councils
for those who are living a similar or aspiring lifestyle. Is it as easy or exciting as it sounds on
paper, or is it full of challenges? We
ask the truth behind some common views about
being a digital nomad.
1. Being a digital nomad is something that only young people can
do. I am in my 40 years,
I'm too old for that.
I have met many digital nomads in their 30s and 40s (some even in
their 60s!), La age It does not matter when it comes to being a
digital nomad. Whether you are 19 or 49
years old, being a digital nomad only requires that you have some kind of skill
or business that allows you to earn a living remotely.
2. I must have a large amount of money saved before I can become a
digital nomad
My advice is to research, have a plan on how to make a living and
have some savings before becoming a digital nomad. If you still do not have a freelance job or
an online business, the ideal would be to have 6 months of savings to tie you
down while looking for a remote job.
The concept of being a digital nomad is that you work while
traveling, therefore, you continue to earn income, so ideally you would not
need many savings.
3. A digital nomad is someone who is permanently on vacation, they
almost do not work!
The lifestyle looks very glamorous, but in fact, many of us work
more hours than at home. Depending on
the type of remote work you are doing, you may be working during fixed hours or
working all the time as an employer.
Most of us do not travel quickly from one place to another
either; instead, we usually rely on one
city for a longer period before moving on to the next. This is done to reduce interruptions in our
work.
Some digital nomads also do not travel permanently. They live in their countries for half a year
and travel the other half, often to avoid the cold winter at home.
4. I will lose my friends and I will become a stranger to my own
family since I will never be home, it is like cutting ties.
With technology these days, it is easy to keep in touch with our
family and friends regularly. I Skype
with my family once a week and I talk regularly with friends at home
through Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp
. However, I will not deny it,
that being away creates a distance between
I and many of my friends. But the truth is that true friends will
always stay, even if I'm not physically dating them as often as I did while
living in Singapore.
5. I will have to survive with brochures, volunteer work, couch surfing , etc. since it will be difficult to have a stable income while I am moving.
This would depend on the type of work you have, but in reality
many digital nomads earn the same amount of salary they would earn at home. Some win even more! Being a digital nomad is the same as working
from your country of origin, except that you are not in your country of origin.
If you do not earn enough money to have a sustainable lifestyle, it is better
to evaluate your income streams.
Many digital nomads also choose to live in cheaper cities to have
a better standard of living at a lower cost.
For example, I am currently in Mexico City, which is a huge and bustling
city with many things to do and an
international environment. However, my
rent is only one fifth of what I would pay in Singapore, and I live in the
best neighborhood From Mexico City.
Useful lessons since the psychological effect of being a digital nomad for entrepreneurs
A road warrior always in motion.
A digital entrepreneur without an office. An unsustainable road. What can be learned from the nomadic existence of the
co-founder of Serengetee , Ryan
Westberg , on the one hand, it
is a wake-up call for those who think they can manage their business with only
a laptop and a telephone, you do not need an office with humans. On the other hand, it demonstrates how you
can redesign your life to be more satisfying and at the same time achieve success. It is about the substance of your existence.
'I started to feel really, really empty, as if something was
missing. I had this picturesque life
where I can see every corner of the world.
Every week I'm in a different country, but I do not have a home,
"Ryan reflected. Westberg , co-founder and CMO of Serengetee
, a very successful clothing brand .
"I had nowhere to go back to where I had those friends who have
always been so important in my life."
What we might call a digital nomad, established a course on this path before
graduating from college.
While attending the University of Arizona and participating in the
study abroad program Semester at sea,
Westberg he met his co-founder
Jeff Steitz .
During the three months of the program, while circumnavigating the
world, the fabrics and designs they found inspired them. Two months after his return, in January
2012, they launched Serengetee , which incorporates fabrics and designs
from around the world in its products, but also responds to local causes of
craftsmen and the base.
A road warrior with headphones with noise cancellation
The company was an immediate success, but behind this great
success, Westberg and his co-founder undertook an
exceptionally aggressive travel program to fulfill his vision. "Travel has always been part of the
brand", explained Westberg
. Hence its slogan: Wear The
World. In the first years, the travel
program was equivalent to nine to ten months a year with the aim of spending
three months in a continent and a week to ten days in a country, sometimes
less.
Your office has been your laptop and phone, but Westberg
He duly noted: "The best investment I have made is a pair of noise
canceling headphones that have facilitated the conversion of any space in the
world into a mobile office." Your
biggest challenge while traveling, especially when you reach the most remote
corners of the world, is the Wi-Fi connection.
'Today is easier, but back then we had to do a thorough investigation of
where we were staying; how we were
designing it; and what would be our
access to Wi-Fi " , He said. Also, forget about any sense from a normal
Monday to Friday from 9 to 5 hours
working day labor. "We make a map working on the travel
calendar." Establishing a work
routine was almost impossible, which increased stress.
An epiphany and the change
Not yet 25 years old,
Westberg He acknowledged that
the crippling travel schedule, to be always in transit without a base of
operations at home, was not sustainable.
"I also realized that I was not getting so much out of a trip
because I was so focused on planning the next one basically while I was in
one. I could not enjoy it. ' After a moment of reflection, he added:
"I had the feeling that I was missing something more important, like
concrete friendships and being surrounded by like-minded people. My version of numbing that pain was working
longer and harder, as if it were my excuse many times.
The substance no longer takes a back seat
Those changes included travel time, personal wellness practices
and, perhaps most importantly, the management of personal relationships. To begin with, he cut the trips to six
months and the substance no longer backed down: "I no longer care how many
countries, but where I'm going, with
who will I meet , the substance
of it. I make sure there is a meaning
behind each trip now, whether you are looking for a specific fabric; meeting with a weaving cooperative; volunteering with a cause; meet friends; or just taking the time to get away and
unplugged.
Personal care has also become more important, which has helped him
maintain his energy and not feel so shattered during the trip. 'I am incredibly worried about health now
compared to those early years. It has
been a natural progression. I realized
how important it is to eat correctly, because when I was younger I used to go
to these countries like in Southeast Asia, where meals cost a dollar, and I
only ordered everything I wanted to try
just because it was very cheap. "
Now are Many fresh fruits and vegetables, much
easier said than done in the places you go.
But number one: a lot of filtered, clean water.
To maintain an exercise regimen,
Westberg Pack a bag of equipment. 'I have a bag full of exercise equipment
that I will bring, because many places do not have gyms. I will bring resistance bands, depush-up bars and a
roll of ab , a yoga mat if I have space and a jump
rope. So health and exercise are the most
important thing in my mind when I travel, because all the other things that
come with it are like productivity. "
Find a like-minded community
However, he still did not have a traditional office or a place to
call home, where he could have real contact with his friends. Understandably, relationships have been
difficult to maintain. "Everything
was just social networks and I kept in touch with people", He said
Westberg , "but even when I
was at home everyone expected me to leave, so I did not receive many text
messages to do things". He created
this intense feeling of loneliness when everyone thought he had this perfect
and incredible business. " As for
having a girlfriend, he acknowledged: "I could not maintain a
relationship. I still have problems
with relationships with my current lifestyle even though it has slowed down so
much. '
It would take a few moves before finding a place that felt
good. He tried San Francisco and Los
Angeles. 'But when I was in the Santa
Monica-Venice area, I realized it was where I wanted to be. I grew up in the
ocean and forgot how important it was to be close to the water for me. So now, being in Santa Monica, I see the
ocean every day and it has really helped me. " In addition to having a base of operations,
you are connected to an incredible community of entrepreneurs and friends. So I've been much more satisfied with this
group of friends that I can trust, and with other like-minded people with whom
I can hang out and be around, instead of spending so much time alone, which I
keep doing because I do not do it. I do not have an office, but now it feels
much better in a holistic way.
Spaces are important
'Spaces are very important to me.
I still spend a lot of time working outside of my home office, but also
in creative and inspiring spaces like
Soho House in Malibu, where I
often work and collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs for hours. I found it very important to try to be close
to people, and people who do similar things have led me to some of my best
ideas. I also have my local coffee shops where I spend a lot of time, like
Demitasse in Santa Monica, which is A quick escape and only a few blocks from
my apartment. "
Ultimately, Westberg
is He sees himself as two different
people: those of pre-25 years and now of post-25 years. Undoubtedly, there has been a real
transformation, but it had a serious reflection and requires continuous contemplation. Whether
he try of a
trip, of a personal well-being or of a friendship, he says: "I
think of these things all the time".
