The concept of life as a digital nomad is a relatively new one, at least in any sense of it being an organised idea. In truth, people have moved for work and to work for years, but in recent times it has become more of a dedicated concept for people who want to travel without having to take the financial hit that comes from taking time away from their job. There are many people who are skeptical about the idea, in truth. Some find it difficult to imagine that there is anything stable or practical in being a digital nomad. Because it’s an unfamiliar idea, there are countless people who don’t think it can be done in any meaningful sense.
It’s worth having a few counter-arguments if you’re planning to become a digital nomad. Resources such as Digital Nomad World exist precisely to make the lifestyle more of a realistic possibility for more people. You could begin the process at any time. But if there is someone in your life who doesn’t think it’s a real thing, you will struggle to get them to see sense unless you can present replies to their protests – of which the following are some of the most common.
You need to be rich to be a digital nomad
People have always moved around the world while doing their jobs. They’re usually minor royals or the children of billionaires, of course – or so some would have you believe. And, sure, it would certainly help if you could crack open your trust fund and pretend to be a business consultant while yachting off St. Tropez. But the truth is, you can live as a digital nomad while doing your current office job – as long as it’s a job that can be done remotely, it may even work out cheaper than living as you do right now.
It’s an extended holiday, not a real job
Is it more fun to file a sales report from an apartment overlooking Lisbon than from a windowless office in your home town? Yes, sure. Of course it is. But people have been working remotely for years now, and the wonder of the internet is that you can Zoom in to the office from pretty much anywhere. In many ways, digital nomad life is more practical and financially sound than working in the same town you live in. When you can choose where you’re living from one week to the next, you can set up in a cheaper city and benefit from your existing wage suddenly going a lot further.
It’s lonely and isolating
This one we have to be careful with. It isn’t easy to uproot yourself and go live somewhere else, and if there’s a language barrier it can be tougher. Homesickness affects people more than they expect it will. However, there is a global network of digital nomads who share the lifestyle and implicitly understand what you’re going through. People get homesick going to college, even if it’s 50 miles away from their parental home. And sure, it will take longer to return home and see everyone if you’re living in Bangkok, but you can still do it – and you’ll probably have enough money saved to do it without batting an eyelid.
