6 Common Mistakes to Avoid as a First-Time Digital Nomad
Why aspiring remote workers fail
Digital nomadism is more popular than ever.
Fueled by sheer unlimited opportunities, a higher acceptance for alternative lifestyles, and a general thirst for adventure, many former employees now try their luck as remote workers.
It looks so easy on Instagram.
We see travel bloggers staying in the world’s most luxurious hotels. Remote entrepreneurs pose in front of Ferraris. And finance Youtubers spend their days trading stocks in a Bali beach café.
That’s where the phrase “Instagram vs reality” kicks in.
No matter if you’re a remote business manager or employee, full-time travel is no walk in the park.
It takes discipline, prioritization, and a lot of trial and error to make the lifestyle work.
In the last two years, I built four different online businesses as a digital nomad and traveled to every continent.
Throughout those 24+ months on the road, I made countless mistakes, and I had to adapt my lifestyle on multiple occasions.
Many of these mistakes were useful but not ineludible.
On this basis, here are six common mistakes to avoid as a first-time digital nomad.
1. Becoming a digital nomad for the wrong reasons
The first mistake many rookie digital nomads make is committing to the lifestyle for the wrong reasons.
The tale goes as follows: they feel unfulfilled in their corporate jobs, have a vague idea about online business, and end up in a hostel in Chiang Mai.
After three months of nonstop partying, chilling, and indulgence, they stare at an empty bank account.
They may have collected memories along the way, but at the end of the day, they don’t have much to show for it.
They wanted an escape, not an alternative career.
As such, they love traveling, but not remote work.
Of course, you don’t need to plan every single aspect of your remote working career before setting off, but you need a clear road map on what you want to achieve.
In this context, don’t become a digital nomad because you want a backpacking adventure. If that’s your primary objective, embark on a sabbatical, and enjoy your trip to the fullest.
On this basis, here are some reasons not to become a digital nomad:
- it looks easy on Instagram;
- I want to travel and party more;
- I want to escape my current environment;
- I want to work less.
- I want to be my own boss without too much responsibility; and
- my only goal in life is to travel.
In short, if you decide to become a digital nomad because you want to travel, escape your 9 to 5, and work less, you’ll fail. In a matter of months, you’ll be back in the cubicle.
So, what are good reasons to become a digital nomad?
The people who succeed as remote entrepreneurs know why they chose this path.
Here are some of the best reasons to become a digital nomad:
- I want an alternative lifestyle, and I accept the sacrifices;
- I have a great online business idea, and I know how to manage it remotely;
- I have a remote working arrangement with my current company;
- I want to combine my love for traveling with my passion for entrepreneurship;
- I will have to work harder, but that’s not a problem because it’s a passion project;
- I know that my finances will be tight in the first year, but that’s ok because I am an astute travel planner; and
- I accept the challenges that come will full-time travel because I am an avid explorer.
2. Not choosing the right bases
Another typical rookie mistake is to start your digital nomad odyssey in the wrong base.
Many first-timers choose holiday destinations, not suitable nomad bases.
In that same vein, lots of aspiring remote workers go to well-known digital nomad hubs without analyzing the strong points and downsides of these destinations.
Living in Bangkok, I came across innumerable would-be nomads who chose Bangkok strictly because of its reputation as a nomad hub. The nightlife might have played a role as well.
And while Bangkok may be a popular spot for remote workers, the city has many disadvantages that make life difficult for first-time digital nomads.
From language barriers to complicated visa procedures and insane congestion, Bangkok is not a digital nomad eldorado.
Most first-timers, however, see an Instagram post of a young entrepreneur with a laptop at a rooftop bar and immediately perceive Bangkok as a haven for digital nomads.
Consequently, establish your criteria for choosing a nomad base. Always remember that you are not traveling there as a tourist.
You’re staying in a city as a remote worker, and this radically changes the appeal of many destinations.
In this context, my criteria for choosing a nomad base include infrastructure, connectivity, cost of living, cultural things to do, personal preferences, livability, and the presence of remote workers.
3. Not making local friends in your nomad base
Many first-time digital nomads enter a bubble and never get out.
It’s understandable, but also a big mistake.
When you first arrive in a foreign city, you might not speak the language, know any natives, or be familiar with the local customs.
You’ll naturally look for like-minded individuals. You’ll find a circle of fellow nomads and stop worrying about local interactions.
There are benefits to this approach. Fellow nomads are in the same boat and share your challenges, mindset, and outlook on life.
They can help you with administrative chores and support your productivity.
Nevertheless, staying in a nomad bubble without knowing any locals is a bad idea. Long-term, this strategy will work against you.
Your nomad friends will move on, and you’ll be back where you started.
Fleeting relationships are a common theme among digital nomads, and there is only one solution.
To counteract inevitable loneliness, you need to build ties to the local community.
Even if you only make one or two friends, you’ll have an alternative to the come-and-go cycle of fellow remote workers.
4. Failing to integrate
Much like not making any local friends, failing to integrate into your nomad base is a common mistake among first-time digital nomads.
I know. It’s not easy when you only spend one or two months in a particular location.
However, making an effort to understand and build a bond with the local culture will have a dual advantage.
First, you’ll feel less foreign in your nomad base.
You will always be an ex-pat, but people will notice the difference between a tourist and someone who tries to integrate.
They will, in turn, treat you better, and you’ll stand a better chance of making local friends.
Secondly, you’ll reduce the risk of falling into the holiday trap.
Because you feel like a remote worker — not a tourist — you’ll focus your energy on combining work and travel, not just traveling. With that attitude, you’ll safeguard your remote productivity.
You might wonder how digital nomads can integrate into their nomad bases, especially during shorter stays.
Small acts of integration can go a long way.
Read a book about the local culture and ask locals about their traditions. Take a DuoLingo language class to learn the basics. And don’t just shop at international supermarket chains, visit local markets.
I remember my first time in Mexico-City. My Spanish wasn’t yet on point, and I didn’t know much about the city. I was mostly worried about its safety problems.
After a few weeks, I decided to talk to strangers every day at the market. In a matter of days, I knew more about Mexican food, drinks, and customs. I visited various museums and read a few books. I also approached people in bars.
Two months later, I had made Mexican friends, become fluent in Spanish, and built genuine ties to the city. My efforts had blossomed, and locals didn’t treat me like a tourist anymore.
Even though I left the city shortly after, my experience showcased the benefits of integration.
5. Not putting the right work systems in place
Productive systems are the bread and butter of any remote worker.
In this context, successful digital nomads put the right routines and work mechanisms in place before celebrating the lifestyle.
The challenge resides in building systems that work anywhere in the world and account for travel hiccups.
Devise a routine that secures your output and transfer it into a remote setting.
As an example, before committing to a fully-fledged digital nomad lifestyle, work remotely in a neighboring city for a month or two.
If your routine works there, you’ll have a solid base to succeed as a digital nomad.
Most first-time digital nomads reverse this technique, and that’s their mistake. They set off, arrive in their nomad base, and try to build habits.
The problem with this reverse approach is that it will take a lot of trial and error cycles before yielding a productive routine.
And in your first year, those trial and error lessons will become costly and time-consuming.
6. Not finding a balance between work and play
Many first-year remote workers fail to strike a balance between adventure and productivity.
There are two types of remote workers in this regard.
The first category includes people who travel to their nomad base, work twelve hours a day in their Airbnbs, and don’t explore much. Upon leaving, they barely remember the city’s name.
In my first year in Asia, I fell into this category. I “visited” too many cities in the first two months, leaving me with almost no time to do some tourism.
After living in eight cities without seeing much of them apart from Airbnbs and coffee shops, I found the antidote: spend enough time in your nomad base.
The second batch of remote workers believes that digital nomadism is all about fun and exploring, with a bit of work on the side.
They are the ones who travel everywhere, party every night, and end up broke after a few months.
The magic word is balance.
We need to find a balance between working hard to secure our output and enjoying our travel lifestyle.
Experience is crucial in this regard, but for starters, spending enough time in each location is a great way to attain a proper equilibrium.
