There’s something almost ‘James Bond’ about living as a digital nomad. Imagine waking up to the gentle sound of waves in Bali one week and sipping coffee in a quaint café in Prague the next, all while working on the same project for a client thousands of miles away. That same client probably rents a one-bedroom flat in the centre of London for more a week than you’ve spent on hotels in the last month.
For many creatives, this dream has become a reality, thanks to the widespread adoption of remote work following the wake of the pandemic. Given the fluid nature of the creative industries, it’s also a life made for the open-minded traveller who can use their experiences ‘on the road’ the colour their ideas.
However, this lifestyle comes with its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to finding and maintaining a sense of purpose. Because, if you’re not building a career at an agency, saving for a mortgage or “thinking about starting a family”, what’s the point?
The Quest for Meaning in a Remote World
For creatives, purpose is often deeply intertwined with their work. It’s not just about meeting deadlines or producing deliverables; it’s about creating work that resonates, inspires, and fulfils a deeper mission. You don’t necessarily need to be sharing physical space with your contemporaries and associates to achieve this. However, the isolation and constant change associated with the digital nomad lifestyle can sometimes dilute the sense of purpose.
One of the primary struggles for remote-working creatives is the lack of community and peer feedback. In a traditional setting, the immediate feedback and collaboration can enhance your work and make you feel more engaged in the project and the team. Remote work, while offering freedom, often lacks these spontaneous interactions, which can leave creatives feeling disconnected and uninspired. There’s only so much you can get across with a Zoom call, particularly if your 11pm Monday night is everyone else’s 9am Tuesday morning.
Building Community Digitally
Addressing the need for connection, many digital nomads naturally turn to online communities and coworking spaces. Platforms like Creativepool play a crucial role in bridging the gap by providing a space for creatives to showcase their work, exchange ideas, and receive feedback. Coworking spaces, increasingly popular in major cities around the world, also offer a semblance of an office environment and community, but with the flexibility that nomads need.
You’re not so likely to find coworking spaces in more remote locations though. Indeed, that’s probably half the appeal of remote locations. Speaking of which, WiFi, which is arguably a resource as food and water for nomadic workers, not all WiFi is created equal. As somebody who once attempted to upload a finished whitepaper to a client from a hotel lobby at Disney World, stable WiFi is something the digital nomad often finds themselves grasping for whenever and wherever possible.
Cultural Inspiration
Another significant positive aspect of the digital nomad lifestyle is the exposure to diverse cultures and environments. This can be immensely enriching for a creative professional, providing fresh inspiration and perspectives that could provide something of a USP.
However, the transient nature of a nomad’s life can also lead to feelings of superficiality in these cultural interactions. To combat this, some nomads choose to spend longer periods in one location, allowing them to form deeper connections with the local community and culture, which can enhance their work’s depth and authenticity.
Maintaining Discipline and Motivation
The freedom to set one's schedule is a significant perk for remote creatives but managing this freedom requires substantial self-discipline, something which creatives are seldom blessed with. Without the structure of a traditional work environment, it’s easy for time management and productivity to suffer. Successful digital nomads often develop strict routines and set clear boundaries to maintain their productivity. Apps and tools that help manage tasks and time can be invaluable in this regard.
Staying motivated without the external push from colleagues or a traditional boss can also be challenging. As somebody that has worked without a conventional boss for almost two decades now, I can attest that being your own boss should be a literal necessity. Set goals, set guidelines and stick to them. This not only helps in maintaining productivity but also ensures that they are aligned with their broader career aspirations and purpose.
Work/Life Balance
Finally, there’s one niggling thing about living as if you’re always on holiday – you probably don’t feel like doing a lot of work while you’re catching some rays on a beach in Phuket. I can’t remember the last time I took a holiday where I didn’t also need to take my work laptop with me and that’s a burden undoubtedly shared by most digital nomads. We are, ultimately, mercenaries and if we’re not working, we’re not earning.
This is true of all freelancers, of course, but it can be so much harder to create that barrier between your work and your home life when you don’t technically have a home. As such, one of the biggest dilemmas for digital nomads is finding a balance between work while exploring the world around them. There’s no silver bullet here but, as somebody that spend a few years between flats working as a semi-digital nomad about 10 years ago, here are a few tips I picked up along the way to end the piece with:-
Set Clear Boundaries
I can’t tell you how many times in my early twenties I looked up from my computer and saw it was gone 4am while I was still hammering out copy. Stick to regular work hours and communicate these work hours to your clients. If they can’t respect your “off the clock” time, then you’re better off without them.
Create a Workspace
It’s harder to create an office space when you’re moving from place to place but you can at least create something resembling a cohesive work environment. Don’t just work from your hotel bed or a lounger by the pool; find a decent space with strong WiFi a good desk and comfortable lighting. It makes a difference!
Prioritise Tasks
Use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important. Focus on what truly matters and not only what you’re being paid more for but the work that matters to you most.
Unplug Regularly
This should go without saying but you really should schedule digital detoxes. Turn off notifications, close work-related apps, and disconnect from email and social media periodically. Use tools like Freedom or Cold Turkey to block distracting websites during your leisure time or simply turn off your phone altogether!
Plan Your Work and Travel
Balance work commitments with travel experiences, allocating time for sightseeing, cultural exploration, and relaxation. The whole point of travel is to find your place in the world and detach your purpose from your ego. It’s pointless being in a stunning beach hut in Bali if you’re still spending 7 days a week working on briefs.
Stay Connected with Loved Ones
Loneliness can be a major challenge for digital nomads, particularly if you’re travelling alone. Regularly connect with family and friends via video calls or messages to keep yourself grounded. Yes, the nomadic lifestyle probably appeals to you more if you’re a natural loner but even loners need people. Without people, purpose is almost impossible to find.
Learn to Say No
As a freelance nomad, you’ve probably been told that “the hustle is everything”. Ignore that. If a project seems beneath you or they’re not offering you enough, just say no. You’ll thanks me for it later!
