From Office to Anywhere: Why I decided to join the Digital Nomad life
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The digital nomad lifestyle isn’t just a passing trend – it’s a bold reimagining of how we live and work.
In this article, I share why I left behind a comfortable career to embrace location independence, the mindset shifts that made it possible, and what it really means to live intentionally in a world without borders.
If you’re considering remote work or dreaming of a life untethered by geography, this is for you.
The rise of the Nomad
“Nomad” was the name given to the early traveller who ventured from the safety of his tribe in search of lands anew. So, why did they do it?
The Historian, Yuval Harari (author of the bestseller ‘Sapiens’), believes that it wasn’t just about survival. It was driven by some innate desire to move – to be somewhere else, somewhere new.
I think about this often as I start my life as a remote worker. When I told my friends and family about my plan to give up my comfortable, well-paid job I enjoyed, I was initially met by supportive smiles and compliments about how “cool” or “brave” it sounded.
But beneath that I sensed an undertone of scepticism – a subtle acknowledgement of the irregularity of my decision, even a betrayal of the expectations of societies orthodoxy.
Why leave comfort behind?
It is true that it is a rejection of the steady 9 to 5 workweek, as well as the labrador and the white picket fenced garden and the neighbour you grew up with, as well as every other comfort that comes with a consistent sense of place and community.
These are not bad things. On the contrary, these are noble goals worth striving for. My objection is to the modern belief that this is the life we were always meant to live, and that anything that does not fit this mould should be perceived to be irregular or abnormal. Certainly, the prehistoric Nomads would have something to say about that.
The Digital Nomad life is unpredictable. It rejects the sense of order of the regular workweek. Modern society prioritizes comfort and predictability, often avoiding anything that feels uncertain — different cultures, beliefs, or ideas — because they challenge our sense of order.
Chaos vs order: A different perspective
In The Art of Travel, Alain de Botton writes of the famous French novelist Gustave Flaubert and about how he believed that life was in fact fundamentally chaotic, and (apart from the exception of art) any attempt to impose order implies a denial of our human condition.
What if Flaubert was onto something and the natural order of things is in fact chaos and disorder? If this is indeed true, then the Nomadic lifestyle might be a more honest acknowledgement of the way we are meant to live.
Yes, this choice brings discomfort. But then I remind myself that most of the best things that have happened in my life have been outside of my comfort zone.
Living an intentional life
Whilst the reasons for choosing this lifestyle may vary, one thing is clear: the attitude you bring to it matters. I have been fortunate enough in my life to have travelled to some wonderful places, and I know how easy it is for my mind to occupy itself with the multitudinous list of worries that constitute modern life: work deadlines; bills; relationship troubles; even sometimes where to travel next.
I have chosen the location independent lifestyle because I believe that there is so much more of this great, big world to experience. But if I cannot pause in the present moment, the experience is lost.
When I wake up and walk the cobbled streets to the small, unassuming café, perched on the quiet corner of some non-descript, European plaza, I want to appreciate the wonder of that moment. Not just once, but everyday that I am lucky enough to have it.
I made the intentional choice to leave my old life behind, therefore I must remember to live each day with the same intentionality. That means learning the language, trying the foods, getting to know the locals and their customs, and most of all, appreciating every beautiful, chaotic moment.
Your turn: Comfort or Freedom?
If you’re thinking about becoming a Digital Nomad, start by asking: What do you truly value – comfort or freedom?
The answer might surprise you.