Radio silence, over.
Why did I stop sending you my weekly updates and the insights on travel with remote work? To be honest, there is no single reason. This blog was the first thing I started in 2024, when I realized I wanted to reshape the world of tourism through remote work.
Yes, building Lemon Bros in Azores has been in the making for longer. But writing led me to further research on the problems the world of tourism is facing and how nomadism could be a solution to it.
This blog led me to new connections. A new skill. It even led to me landing a few clients I wrote content for. Yet, I abandoned it in the past weeks. Due to other issues I was facing in my personal life, that made me rethink some of my choices. I went as far as questioning the idea of digital nomadism. Until I realized, I just moved on to another stage of my nomad life cycle.
It feels good to have the blank page in front of me again and putting my thoughts on paper.
I set off on another journey and realized it is not fulfilling me as it once was. It may be because I’m different now than I was 3 years ago. I have a better clarity of what I want to do with my life, where I want to be. Who I want to be with.
This process happens to anyone who ever tried and lived a life of a digital nomad, traveled extensively, or moved a lot.
Why Would One Become a Digital Nomad?
Nomadism comes in waves & at different periods of life. I have studied abroad, at different universities in different countries. I have naturally gravitated towards living life in different places. But then a COVID came and I moved back to Slovakia. Working a corporate job, living alone, working throughout the day, finishing uni in the evenings.
Ironically, I was working remotely on projects in the US & Canada with teams across Europe & North America. But I had to be in my office to join all the Zoom calls. And as the curfew began and we were allowed to work from home – it’s the first time I thought – this work CAN be done from anywhere. I could travel, explore, see places while earning money. Without sacrificing my professional growth.
I just turned 25 and thought there is nothing better to do, ever. I have not seen much of the world, I have barely left Europe before becoming a digital nomad. So the thirst after adventure was the main driving force for me leaving.
There are other reasons why people become nomads. Some of them being the idea to pursue location independence, lifestyle design, escaping problems, or just sheer economic opportunism.
People in different stages of life turn to a nomadic lifestyle. But the reasons behind their decision can often be assigned to the same motivations.
And as you know, while most of the public thinks the nomadism is a phenomenon of the youngsters, the data suggest quite the opposite.
Nomad Life Cycle
Yep, I just made up this term.
But generally, being a digital nomad is an expiring thing. Just last week I spoke to a friend who has been a digital nomad for the same time as me. He called it quits. He understands this was a period of his life and is thinking of moving to a new city, starting an office job and getting on with his life. Will he be happy? I guess time will tell. But one pattern that’s easily recognizable is the fact that nomads love to slow down. Become so-called slowmads. Because the high-pace of life is simply unsustainable.
And so you find a base.For a couple of months or a couple of years.
Living life as a digital nomad is tiring. It has many benefits, but there is always another side of the coin. The constant movement, accommodation planning, activity planning, networking, all while trying to be productive at your work or trying to build a business. It does take a toll sometimes.
I heard someone said that “being a digital nomad is a job itself” and I couldn’t agree more. Sure, you can travel to places and only spend time between the restaurants and your AirBNB apartment. But how does that give you the real feeling of nomadism & travel – when you don’t have time nor the energy to explore?
My goal here is not to argue for what’s better or what’s worse. I believe there are periods of life when we crave more adventure, and a period of life when we need more stability. It changes as life goes on.
But the real beauty of location independence is that you can always change your decision and you can adjust the life to what you need.
So in January I set off to explore a country that has long been on my bucket list. But something felt off. My mind was often elsewhere, for various reasons. Businesses & projects I’m building were thousands of kilometers away from me and so was my family. Suddenly the travel felt secondary & purposeless.
At the end of the day – digital nomadism has a fine line. It’s a hedonism of the modern era, that often gives an idea of “the perfect life.” Which is a belief I’m trying to break by my consulting, marketing, and writing work. Remote work & digital nomadism can shape places for better. But that won’t be done without purpose. So enough of purposeless travel. I’m turning semi-nomad. Spending time at places where I have reason to be. With people I want to spend my time with.
Also, I’m getting back to my writing on this platform. I’m not sure on the frequency yet – but I’m sure about the content.
Expect more success stories of other people who are running businesses in remote work & digital nomad ecosystems. Expect more deep-dive insights into the destination’s problems. And expect more action ideas. All while keeping my usual writing style.
Has anyone missed my weekly emails?
Let me know – I want to know how many of you read my essays until the end 🙂
