What is a digital nomad?
Zara Chechi
26 Aug 2025
Reading time:
12 min
You’ve seen the alluring picture of a laptop set against the backdrop of a turquoise sea - an image that sells the dreams of an endless summer, a career that feels like a constant holiday. But seasoned nomads will admit, this is just the highlight reel. Behind that sun-touched shot is a reality of discipline, planning and a constant juggle of commitments.
So, what is a digital nomad? At its core, the term describes a person who leverages technology to work remotely whilst living an itinerant or semi-itinerant lifestyle. It’s about decoupling one's income from a specific geographical location. This guide is a look behind the curtain, a definitive resource for anyone who has ever felt the pull of this unique way of life - from the nomad-curious daydreaming in their cubicle to those actively planning their escape. It navigates the exhilarating highs and the grounding lows, exploring how to build a career that travels, manage finances from anywhere and find a sense of place in a world that has become an office.
Are you wired for a life in motion?
Before you book your first flight or start selling off your possessions, it’s important to check in with yourself. This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, and its unique demands can quickly destroy the dream if you’re not suited to its challenges. Being a digital nomad is about creating a sustainable life, not just chasing a never-ending holiday.
What’s your relationship with uncertainty? A nomadic life is inherently unpredictable. A perfect flat can have bad Wi-Fi, visa rules can change overnight and the best laid-plans could be scuppered by a cancelled flight. If you thrive on the stability of a nine-to-five, the constant change can be a big source of stress.
Are you autonomous? Without a manager watching over your shoulder, your productivity rests completely on your self-discipline. The ability to motivate oneself to put in a full day's work when a vibrant new city is begging to be explored is a critical skill. It takes a powerful internal drive to balance the call of adventure with the responsibilities that fund it. This is a life for the self-starter, the independent spirit who is comfortable being the sole captain of their own ship.
Crafting a career and financial fortress that travels
Finding your remote income stream
The paths to finding a reliable income are as varied as they come. It might come in the form of looking at remote-first industries like tech or marketing. Specialised job boards such as FlexJobs or WeWorkRemotely are excellent starting points, acting as curated gateways to location-independent roles.
If you already have a job you enjoy, you might consider negotiating a remote arrangement with your current employer. We suggest framing it as a win-win, with a proposed trial period to prove that productivity will flourish with this high-level of autonomy.
Of course, the classic nomad path is through freelancing and gig work. The flexibility is unparalleled, but it requires a constant hustle to build a stable of clients and navigate the feast-or-famine nature of the work.
For the most ambitious, entrepreneurship offers the ultimate freedom. Building a location-independent business - be it an e-commerce brand, a consultancy or a software company - is the pinnacle of this lifestyle, but it also carries the greatest risk. Whichever route is chosen, investing in a portable Wi-Fi device is one of the wisest decisions a nomad can make, it’s a professional lifeline when local connections fail.
Fortifying your finances for a life without borders
Financial stability is the bedrock upon which a stable nomadic life is created. Without it, your dream can quickly dissolve into a mess of stress and uncertainty. It’s important to manage money with diligence, tracking spending to make sure your lifestyle is sustainable.
If you have a fluctuating freelance income, building a significant financial cushion is essential for peace of mind. We recommend an emergency fund covering at least three to six months of living expenses.
We also recommend seeking professional advice from an accountant around international tax law. This advice can help you avoid serious financial penalties down the line. Similarly, a standard health insurance policy usually won’t provide coverage abroad. We suggest securing comprehensive, travel-friendly health insurance designed for nomads.
The Art of the graceful exit
Moving from a stationary life to a nomadic one is a profound act of untethering. It begins with the often cathartic, sometimes painful, process of downsizing. Sifting through material possessions and distilling a life into a suitcase or two is a powerful exercise in distinguishing needs from wants. This process of minimising belongings can be incredibly liberating, forcing a focus on what truly adds value to one's life.
The logistics require a project manager’s mindset. One will need to digitise important documents, arrange for mail forwarding, and decide what to do with the few precious items that cannot be taken. But perhaps the most crucial preparation happens before the packing even begins. Start living the remote work routine before departure. Perfect the schedule, iron out any technological kinks, and ensure the income is stable. This makes the transition from a home office to a café in Lisbon seamless, rather than a jarring shock to productivity.
Navigating a world office
There’s an art to finding the right destination. First, focus on the practicalities: low cost of living, safety and of course, a reliable internet connection. Time-zones are a key consideration if your work involves real-time collaboration with a team elsewhere in the world.
You’ll also want to account for legal requirements. While many start out on tourist visas, this can be a legal grey area. It’s a good idea to research countries offering specific digital nomad visas - a legitimate foundation to live and work, so you’re not stressed by your visa running out or an uncertain legal status.
Once the practicalities are sorted, you can shift the focus to lifestyle. What kind of environment do you need to be productive and happy? A quiet mountain town, a vibrant beach community or a bustling metropolis?
Are there co-working spaces nearby? Co-working can provide structure and an instant network, while co-living spaces provide a powerful combination of accommodation, workspace and community events.
Thinking about your needs and desires will help you figure out what location is right for you.
The bliss and the burnout
It's important to walk into this life with one's eyes wide open, ready for both the incredible highs and the significant challenges. The experience is a study in contrasts.
The incredible benefits
Unmatched freedom: The profound liberty to decide where in the world to wake up each morning is the core reward.
Deep cultural immersion: Living in a place, rather than just visiting, allows for a much deeper connection with it.
Accelerated personal growth: Constantly navigating new challenges builds resilience, adaptability and a quiet confidence in one's own capabilities.
The grounding challenges
The ache of loneliness: This is the unspoken shadow of the lifestyle. Being thousands of miles from an established network of friends and family can lead to periods of deep emotional isolation.
The danger of burnout: When a flat is also an office in an exciting new place, the lines between work and life blur. It takes immense discipline to switch off and rest.
The constant mental load: The background hum of planning - the next visa, the next flight, the next flat - is constant and can be mentally draining.
Beyond wi-fi: The search for human connection
In a life of constant movement, community is the anchor that provides grounding. But unlike at home, it does not just happen. It must be built, proactively and intentionally. This means stepping out of one's comfort zone. It involves joining local digital nomad Facebook groups, saying yes to meetup invitations and choosing co-living or co-working spaces designed to foster connection.
Structured events can also be a fantastic way to find a tribe. A digital nomad retreat or an event like the Nomad Cruise can create an instant international community of like-minded people, forging bonds that can last a lifetime and span the globe. These connections are not just social - they are a professional network, a support system and a sounding board on the road.
How to thrive, not just survive
Making this lifestyle last for the long term requires a crucial shift in perspective. It is an evolution from a traveller into a resident of the world. The key is to slow down. The frantic pace of moving to a new city every few weeks is a recipe for burnout. By staying in one place for several months, a nomad can build a genuine routine, form deeper friendships, and truly connect with the local culture.
A successful nomadic life is built on a mindset of flexibility and continuous learning. It's about prioritising experiences over possessions and understanding that the greatest rewards of this path are measured in personal growth, not passport stamps. For those not ready for the full-time plunge, a "workation" - working remotely from a new location for a few weeks - can be a good way to test the waters.
Ultimately, this is a deliberate and demanding choice. It's a path that trades conventional security for absolute freedom. The world can indeed be an oyster, but it asks for resilience, discipline and courage in return. For those willing to provide it, the pearl they find is a life richer and more expansive than they ever imagined.
