With the opportunity to travel around the world and to work from anywhere, digital nomads are an envy of many. They only need a laptop and internet connection to get working.
As a digital nomad, you will get the opportunity to experience different cultures and sample different food. You will also get a chance to interact with many people from different part of the world and an opportunity to make great friends.
But, as a digital nomad you will also be faced with a myriad of challenges and you must be prepared before you book that flight.
In this article we look at some of the top challenges you will face as a digital nomad abroad:
Tax implications
It is important to note that unlike a tourist visa, a digital nomad visa is long term in nature requiring one to secure a resident permit in the host country. Some countries will also require you to file and pay tax which can be very challenging.
Inconsistent income
Freelance workers always grapple with inconsistent income. It could take time to get a new project and this could present a major challenge to plan financially. Remember that as a digital nomad you have bills to pay such as internet, house rent, gas, clothing, food among others.
Loneliness
According to a recent survey, 40% of digital nomads feel lonely either often or all the time. This is a known phenomenon in the digital nomad world.
Maintaining relationships with friends and family back home can be challenging as your life paths begin to take separate directions. Making close connections in new locations can also be difficult due to the short period of your stay and language and cultural barriers.
You’ll probably work in the solo mode for a significant chunk of time. Two, it’ll be difficult to find someone who understands the challenges of YOUR job since digital nomads specialize in a wide range of industries, from SEO to graphic design. That makes it hard to relate.
Suffering Burnout
A recent interview by passport-photo.online reveals that a seemingly high 77% of digital nomads interviewed report experiencing burnout at some point in the last few years.
While this is a worrying figure, it seems to be in line with the U.S. working population as a whole, with around 89% of Americans reporting experiencing burnout in the last few years.
It is perhaps not surprising that digital nomads would be as susceptible to burnout as their colleagues back home.
While traveling and experiencing new places offers some stress relief, constantly catching flights, checking into new accommodations, organizing visas, and so forth can be a source of great stress.
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