Best Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads
By Natália Becattini
Many people started to rethink how they work and live in the past few years. One trend that has gained popularity in recent years is the digital nomad lifestyle.
I discovered the possibility of working from anywhere in the world in 2013 when few resources for Digital Nomads were available. Before that, I had been traveling as a non-digital nomad (not working online) for three years. After the pandemic, more people joined me, and companies have become more adapted to the possibility of remote work.
This is an excellent advantage for those who aim to become digital nomads now, and many professionals are choosing this alternative approach to work and daily life.
But is this choice ideal for everyone? In this article, I share some of my experience accumulated over these 13 years and tell you about the challenges and benefits of the digital nomad lifestyle.
So, considering the advantages and disadvantages of remote work, you can see if this option suits your personal needs and aspirations. Let’s go!
The concept is straightforward: a digital nomad is a professional who works remotely, using technology and the internet to do so while constantly moving between different locations and countries.
Essentially, a Digital Nomad works from a laptop and uses the flexibility of geographical freedom to travel more, often spending long periods in one place, thus experiencing the day-to-day life of cities.
This trend reflects a shift in the perception of work and personal life, prioritizing the freedom to choose where and how to live without being tied to a fixed location or a traditional office.
The popularity of the digital nomad lifestyle has been increasing significantly in recent years, driven by various factors transforming how people work and view their professional and personal lives.
It’s estimated that by 2035, 1 billion people worldwide will have adopted this lifestyle.
This trend was accelerated by the need for companies to adapt due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolution of remote work technologies. Today, it’s possible to work for large companies and institutions without needing to be present in an office daily, something unthinkable when I started.
A study conducted by MBO Partners, a company providing services for independent workers, found that in the United States, 2020 about 10.9 million self-employed workers considered themselves digital nomads.
Compared to 2019, there was a 49% increase in digital nomads in the USA. Although this number does not represent the global population of digital nomads, it indicates the rapid growth of this trend.
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Like any lifestyle, this isn’t the ideal choice for everyone, but there are several advantages to being a digital nomad.
Here are some of the main benefits of adopting this lifestyle.
Over the past few years, my life as a digital nomad has provided me with geographic freedom and the flexibility to explore different corners of the world while working.
Thanks to this, I’ve been to over 40 countries and considered myself a “resident” in at least five. This unique experience has been one of the main attractions of this lifestyle for me. If you have a travel bug like me, it’s a way to keep traveling or, at least not just during vacations.
Instead of being tied to a fixed office, I can work from a cozy café in France, a paradisiacal beach in Thailand, or even the comfort of a rented apartment in Mexico City.
Geographic freedom has allowed me to experience different cultures and broaden my horizons. I’ve had the opportunity to learn Spanish in Buenos Aires, complete a postgraduate course in Spain, and isolate myself on a beach in Bahia when the pandemic hit hard. All this without having to give up my career.
Traveling and working as a digital nomad also helped me break the routine and combat the stress and monotony of everyday life. Being constantly on the move and facing new challenges keeps me motivated and curious, bringing me more happiness.
However, it’s important to note that flexibility and geographic freedom also require constant planning and adaptation. Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of organizing myself and balancing work and personal life, ensuring I can make the most of my digital nomad life.
As a digital nomad, I can live in countries and cities with lower or higher living costs, according to my current income and personal preferences.
In leaner times, this freedom allowed me to explore living in places with a lower cost than my own country, thus enjoying greater purchasing power without suffering too much from a temporary reduction in my income. This way, I could keep traveling without compromising my financial security.
In more prosperous times, I followed my dream of living in major and expensive cities like Berlin and London.
I embarked on this lifestyle to travel and experience as many cultures as possible during my time in this world. I’m not interested in life hacks and other issues that usually arise in nomadic communities.
Traveling to different countries allowed me to experience firsthand local people’s traditions, customs, and ways of life. Meeting and interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds has been a great way to expand my understanding of the world and to develop critical interpersonal and intercultural skills.
Through the experiences I’ve lived and the friendships I’ve made along the way, I’ve learned to be more empathetic, resilient, and tolerant. These skills have been fundamental for my professional and personal growth and well-being.
By making friends worldwide, you can also build a global network of professional contacts that can help in your career. It allowed me to access information about job opportunities, collaborative projects, and shared learnings.
A few years ago, for example, I participated in a web doc project with friends I met in Spain. And many people from developing countries I know take advantage of remote work to work for companies in Europe, Australia, and the United States, thus earning a solid currency.
Furthermore, exposure to different business environments can teach you to adapt to different professional contexts, a fundamental skill in any career.
Suggested Read: Work Exchange: What is it and how does it work?
Of course, it’s not all roses. If it were easy, everyone would be a digital nomad, but we see many people giving up after trying this lifestyle.
For me, these are the main disadvantages of working from anywhere in the world:
Being in constant motion and adapting to different time zones and environments can make establishing and maintaining a consistent routine difficult.
This can affect our personal and professional lives, making establishing healthy habits and maintaining productivity challenging.
The need to adapt your routine with each time zone change can lead to a work-life imbalance, resulting in increased stress and a sense of overload.
It’s not uncommon to hear nomads feeling that they are working too much or too little, not enjoying the places they visit, or falling into unhealthy habits and diets.
I admit this was a big challenge in my journey as a digital nomad. But, after so many years, I think I’ve found a formula that works for me:
As I said, the number of fixed jobs that can be done remotely has increased significantly with the pandemic. Choosing this path can help you have more financial stability and peace of mind to start a nomadic life.
On the other hand, being a freelancer gives you more control over your schedule to increase or decrease your workload as needed. However, it requires greater self-management and discipline.
The lack of routine and stability can harm various aspects of our lives, including physical and mental health.
Not knowing how to manage the local health system, adapting your exercise and eating routine with each change, and not being physically close to your therapist can be some of the challenges to our health.
SafetyWing is a travel medical insurance developed by nomads for nomads, adapting to the needs of this lifestyle.
I don’t leave home without activating mine!
It costs only $49 per month, and the best part is that you can purchase a policy even if your trip has already started; plus, you have the freedom to pause and resume coverage as needed.
With it, I have medical coverage in 185 countries and don’t need to inform my itinerary in advance. Therefore, it’s perfect for people with flexible plans who never know where they’ll be next month!
Check out their website by clicking here.
The transient nature of the digital nomad lifestyle can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. The lack of enduring ties and a stable social circle can be emotionally draining and make it challenging to build meaningful relationships.
Traveling is a very pleasurable activity, after overcoming the involved bureaucracy: visas, stay periods, immigration, luggage, long flights, complex itineraries, choosing accommodation… phew!
Going through this process several times a year can be pretty stressful!
At times, the lack of a space that’s yours will hit hard, whether it’s to decorate it your way, buy things that don’t fit in your suitcase, have plants, or a pet.
This conflict is constant in my life as a digital nomad, and I often find myself wanting to go back home when I’m traveling and wanting to travel when I’m at home.
This is a very personal decision, and the answer will vary from person to person. The best way to decide if the lifestyle is for you is to test it in practice.
You can start slowly, working remotely from a town or beach in your country, and then take more extended flights, making the necessary adjustments along the way. Nothing prevents you from stopping whenever you want and even starting again in a few years.
So far, the benefits of being a digital nomad have outweighed the disadvantages for me. Geographic freedom is a non-negotiable priority. Having the opportunity to explore the world, immerse myself in different cultures, and broaden my horizons has been an incredible experience that I value greatly.
Don’t know where to begin? Check out our Nomad Guides about the best cities around the world!
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