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Roaming free: pros and cons of digital nomadism

Digital nomadism has seen a 131% rise since pre-pandemic year of 2019

In Summary
  • Digital nomadism refers to a lifestyle in which individuals use digital technology to work remotely and live a location-independent life.
An internet user browsing on Youtube- Kenya's third most visited website in Kenya for news, entertainment, sports,politics, current affairs, and music. IMAGE/F ILE
An internet user browsing on Youtube- Kenya's third most visited website in Kenya for news, entertainment, sports,politics, current affairs, and music. IMAGE/F ILE
Image: COURTESY

Digital nomadism refers to a lifestyle in which individuals use digital technology to work remotely and live a location-free life.

Digital nomads typically work as freelancers, remote employees, or entrepreneurs who run their businesses online.

They often travel from one place to another, living and working in different cities or countries for extended periods.

According to a report by Forbes, digital nomadism has seen a 131 per cent rise since the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

Digital nomads can work in a variety of fields, including programming, writing, graphic design, marketing, and more.

The ability to work from anywhere allows digital nomads to pursue their passions and explore new places while maintaining a stable income.

The freedom to work from anywhere, whether it's a coffee shop, a co-working space, or a beach, allows these nomads to work at their own pace and schedule as well as balance work with other aspects of their life, this gives them the freedom to manage their time.

It also offers the privilege to tour and work at the same time since this profession entails a lot of travel.

Digital nomads often work on a variety of projects and with different clients, which can lead to career growth and new opportunities.

This is the ultimate hub for networking since working from different regions or countries exposes one to people that they can connect with in terms of business or even on a personal level.

It also breaks the monotony of working in a place for a long period of time, such as reporting to an office daily.

The downside is one never settles, moving from one place to another can be very overwhelming since it might take a long time to adjust to a new region or a country. 

Working remotely and constantly traveling can make it difficult to establish long-term personal relationships and can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Digital nomads may struggle with staying motivated and productive in unfamiliar environments, especially if they are constantly on the move and have limited access to consistent workspace and reliable internet.

Relying on freelance work or remote contracts can be unstable at times, especially during a low season, and this might pose financial instability.

Overall digital nomadism has its ups and downs so it's important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before embarking on a digital nomad lifestyle.

With the right mindset, preparation, and resources, digital nomadism can be a rewarding and fulfilling way of life. 

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