Do you wonder how to overcome the odds and all the different digital nomad challenges? Then keep reading.
Paris cafe, van, or mountain top – every place is perfect for working if you are a digital nomad. Digital nomads seem to enjoy working on sunny beaches without any trouble and exploring the world with no worries. Truth is different – this lifestyle also presents some challenges.
Digital Nomads revealed the following six challenges in recent studies:
- Inability to unplug from work
- Uncertainty
- Loneliness
- Potential financial difficulties
- Collaborating and communicating
- Staying motivated
Do you also experience them? Don’t worry – the solution lies in hand. Whether you are a digital nomad or a remote worker, you can learn from my experience with this guide. Discover 6 life hacks that will help you take full advantage of the Digital Nomad lifestyle.
In This Post
How to Overcome the Digital Nomad Challenges
Create a work shutdown ritual
When you have a regular 9 to 5 job, you mentally leave your workplace the moment when you leave your office. It’s a time of transition between professional and personal life. As remote workers, we don’t have this opportunity – so we have to establish it.
Yes, the idea is to create a work shutdown ritual – specific actions you do whenever you finish your work. It can be a ritualistic closing computer, going outside for a walk, or saying to yourself – “the work is over.” Whatever it is – the point is to build your habit, which signals to you that the work is done and you are free.
Follow a routine
Even if humans make weather, economic and technological forecasting – we can’t predict the future for sure. Uncertainty is just a part of our lives. However, it’s more harmful to digital nomads, who often change their environment. The daily routine is a set of activities you do every day, like yoga in the morning, calling friends during a coffee break, or reading a book at bedtime.
If you make it a habit, it becomes your specific element in the world’s uncertainty. Even if a whole day was a disaster, this one thing could bring you back. My daily practice is to write a journal before bedtime. It recalls all the great moments of a day, so I fell asleep grateful for the passing day. You can try it as well, but feel free to find a routine that suits you the best.
Join local clubs
Can you imagine walking around a park and asking strangers to meet you for a coffee? It would be awkward. Luckily, there are easier ways to make friends in a foreign place – local clubs. By joining a local club, you can pursue your passion and meet new people at once. Also, local clubs attract passionate, open-minded individuals, so establishing relations is accessible there.
Plan your savings
Like many other digital nomads, you may worry about potential financial difficulties. However, you can relieve yourself from this stress in a simple way: plan your savings! I discovered that I’m much less worried since I started to use a budget planning app.
With mobile apps like Oval or Mint, I can easily track my finances and plan my budget. Thus, I’m not surprised by the empty account at the end of the month. Instead, I have a financial cushion for any unforeseen expenses. It makes my mind calmer and allows me to enjoy my journeys fully.
Form Tighter Bonds with Colleagues
Both digital nomads and remote workers struggle with workplace collaboration and communication. Without a doubt, it’s pretty difficult to discuss problems with people you have never met in person.
But – the better you know each other, the easier it is to talk together. Therefore, the solution to this challenge is to form tighter bonds with your colleagues. Start with integration video calls, off-topic chats, or team-building games. The better you will feel in each others’ company, the more effective you will work as a team.
Think about your purpose
Do you know how your everyday work contributes to the success of your workplace? Are you aware of how your company’s goals serve the greater good? If the answer is yes, you are lucky! Otherwise, it’s high time to think about it. Knowing the impact and meaning of your work gives you a sense of purpose, which is a secret ingredient of a meaningful job.
Indeed, feeling that we do something significant motivates us much more than work perks and cash bonuses. So, the best way of self-motivation is to find the purpose and keep it in mind. To simplify it, you can even note your goal down and stick it on the front of your computer. I will be your friendly reminder for challenging days.
In the words of Levon Peter Poe
“No man was ever a great success traveling an easy pre-made road. All great things REQUIRE sweat, tears and maybe even some blood spilled to be accomplished. The average man walks the easy road, the innovators CREATE the road!“
All digital nomads are innovators who create their unique way. So don’t get discouraged by troubles! Each lifestyle presents its challenges, but it shouldn’t hold you back from pursuing your path. When you identify your challenges, you can also find a way to overcome them. I hope that this guide helped you face difficulties and live your brave digital nomad life happily!
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This is a guest post from Karolina Zając, a writer at Passport Photo Online.
With a background in cognitive science and communication, she is fascinated by how language influences our perception of reality. It’s more likely to find her in the forest than at the dance club.
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