Waking up in a seaside village in Portugal, tapping out code with ocean spray filling the air. Answering emails from a hammock in Bali. Drafting reports while sipping thick espresso in a bustling Lisbon café. Sound ideal? For many, it is. Digital nomadism — that elusive blend of freedom, flexibility, and, well, Wi-Fi — is no longer niche. As of 2024, over 35 million people worldwide identify as digital nomads, a number that continues to swell with every new freelancer, remote employee, or daring corporate dropout. But here’s the part nobody tells you: it’s not just sunsets and rainbows.
Before you pack your backpack and set off with the best aspirations, there are unfortunately some unglamorous — but essential — truths to know.
The VPN Question: Not Optional, But Essential
Security. That’s a boring word, right? But ask any experienced nomad work veteran and they’ll tell you: it’s your lifeline. Using a virtual private network (VPN) isn’t just about accessing Netflix catalogs from home — though that’s a bonus. It’s about protecting your data on insecure networks, especially when hopping from café to hostel to public library. You don’t know who’s lurking on that open Wi-Fi. Someone in Prague once hijacked a freelancer’s Dropbox and deleted months of work. Months. Gone. Poof. Don’t be that story.
In some countries, you’ll also find yourself brushing up against firewalls, censorship, or geo-blocking. China, for instance, even restricts access to basic tools like Google and WhatsApp. Want your tools to work abroad? Get a VPN app. Want to shield client info while sending files over a dodgy café network in Medellín? Download VPN for PC. Those who are ready to get VeePN download can not worry about data during its transmission. At least, VeePN can provide information protection when connecting to networks of any type. Other advantages of VPN to PC are the ability to save on online subscriptions, digital services and online goods, as well as connection optimization and protection against Internet channel trattling.
Paperwork Doesn’t Vanish When You Travel — It Multiplies
“Digital nomad” sounds like you’re shedding structure. Truth? You’re trading one type of structure for another. Visas, taxes, insurance, banking logistics, time zones — the grown-up stuff follows you. Sometimes amplified. Take visas: many countries only offer 30- or 90-day tourist stays. Yet working while on a tourist visa? Often a legal grey zone. And don’t even start on taxes. According to a 2023 survey by MBO Partners, 41% of nomads didn’t know where they were legally supposed to pay taxes.
Some countries have launched digital nomad visas — Estonia, Costa Rica, Portugal, Croatia — but each with its own rabbit hole of eligibility rules. Some require income proof. Others demand health insurance. And some even want a background check. Yes, even if you’re just planning to “write in cafes and explore.” Bureaucracy doesn’t care about your wanderlust.
Your Wi-Fi Is Your Boss
Imagine this: It’s 2 a.m. in Ubud. Your client in London needs a Zoom call in 15 minutes. You’re bleary-eyed. The fan is rattling. Then — the Wi-Fi dies.
That’s not fiction. That’s reality, and it can tank your credibility. Your productivity is only as good as your connectivity. Always have a backup. In fact — two backups. Pocket Wi-Fi. Local SIM card. Coworking memberships. Hotspotting from your phone in an emergency. In Vietnam, some remote workers carry two smartphones, each with different carriers, just to make sure they never lose signal.
The golden rule of remote working abroad: Test the Wi-Fi before you commit to an Airbnb or hostel. Do a speed test. Ask previous tenants. Read reviews. Some listings lie. And when the internet goes bad, even the most luxurious jungle bungalow becomes a prison.
Your Clock Is Not the World’s Clock
Time zones are either your nemesis or your secret superpower. Depends on how you play it. Working from Bangkok while your team is in San Francisco? That’s a 14-hour difference. Your 9am is their 7 p.m. That can work — or not. Some nomads exploit this to do deep work in the quiet hours. Others find themselves pulling all-nighters and battling burnout.
Synchronizing schedules is an art. Use tools like World Time Buddy or Google Calendar’s time zone view. If you’re client-facing or part of a remote team, be upfront about your availability. Nobody likes a ghost at 3 p.m. when the deliverable was due by noon — their time.
Loneliness: The Shadow You Can’t See in Instagram Stories
You’ll see sunsets on social media. Remote jungle retreats. Digital nomads toasting cocktails in Cartagena. But what you don’t always see is the isolation. Changing countries every few weeks means starting over again and again. New friends, new cafes, new everything. It wears on some people.
A 2022 survey by Buffer revealed that 52% of remote workers struggle with loneliness, even more so when abroad. Communities help. Coworking spaces. Nomad meetups. Facebook groups like Digital Nomads Around the World. Even local expat bars. Whatever your speed — find your people. Otherwise, you’ll feel like a Wi-Fi-enabled ghost.
Burnout Wears a Different Face When You’re Abroad
You’re working by the beach. You’re drinking fresh coconut water. You’re posting stories from Mayan ruins. Why do you feel exhausted?
Because digital nomad burnout is sneaky. It doesn’t look like office burnout. It’s disguised in jet lag, visa stress, lost luggage, currency confusion, and sleeping in your fourth bed this month. The life of constant movement may sound energizing, but it also wears down your cognitive and emotional bandwidth.
So, here’s the hack: slow travel. Stay somewhere for a month. Or two. Or more. Build a routine. Take breaks. Eat well. Sleep more. Walk. Disconnect. The lifestyle is only sustainable if your mind and body are in sync.
Money, Time, Boundaries: The Trifecta of Survival
Set work hours. Even in paradise. Especially in paradise. Digital nomadism can blur every line — between day and night, work and play, responsibility and indulgence. Don’t let it.
And money? Budget hard. Some places are cheap, yes. But one bad month — or one unplanned hospital visit — can wipe you out. Always travel with insurance. Always keep a buffer. Always have a backup income stream. Even if it’s just consulting or teaching online part-time. Nomads work smart. Or they stop being nomads.
Final Words (Or, The Non-Inspirational Truth)
To everyone asking “how to be a digital nomad,” here’s the answer: with planning, patience, backups, boundaries, and — yes — a VPN.
It’s thrilling. It’s messy. It’s more logistics than the lifestyle blogs ever admit. And it’s absolutely worth it — if you do it right. So don’t just chase the dream. Build it. Where do you want to wake up tomorrow?
No Comments