nomad life
Imagine traveling abroad for weeks, months, or even years at a time. That’s the nomad life! For the nearly 5 million nomads around the world, this lifestyle is a reality. In case you haven’t heard, nomading is currently all the rage.
As remote work options become more plentiful, millions more people will probably join the movement that combines work with long-term travel on their own nomad life journey. While the pandemic may have put some people’s travel plans on hold, borders are starting to reopen and nomads are hitting the road.
Living the nomad life is a fun adventure. Still, life on the go can get overwhelming or lonely. There are many ways nomads can maintain a sense of familiarity, even if they are thousands of miles away from their homes.
Ways to Keep It Together When You’re Nomad Life Gets Challenging
Get Social
The nomad community is open and offers diverse opportunities to connect to other people starting on their journeys. Nomad meetups are commonplace in popular destinations like Bali, Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Tulum, Mexico.
Finding and joining a coworking or co-living space is a reliable way to meet like-minded people and make friends in a new city.
Learn the Language
Communication is essential for nomad life so you can feel at home in a new country. Arriving with a few key phrases on hand can help you settle in smoothly. Pocket language guides are useful for learning important phrases.
These books usually divide language terms by contextual situations, so you’ll know exactly what to say when you’re at a restaurant or at the pharmacy. Many include pronunciation guides and visuals.
If you have more time, try enrolling in an official language class. You can also join an informal language exchange, where you can practice with a local while helping them with their English.
Embrace Uncertainty
Nomad life by its very nature is unpredictable. Some institutions that run like clockwork in the United States may be far more bureaucratic and complex in other countries.
As difficult as it seems, try not to compare your experiences abroad to those in your home country. Instead, remain open-minded and patient.
If you are really having a difficult time navigating some aspect of your nomadic life, you can ask a more experienced nomad for help. If it is within your budget, you can work with a reputable relocation firm that specializes in assisting American travelers.
Create a Routine
The best thing about setting a routine is that you can take it with you no matter where you are in the world. Many nomads follow the same itinerary the first day they arrive at a new destination.
This can include testing the wifi, searching out nearby cafes or co-working spaces, and trying out the public transit system. Following the same morning and night routine can also bring a sense of predictability to your day, which can be comforting.
Share Your Experiences
One way to minimize the loneliness of the nomad life is by sharing your day-to-day experiences with family and friends. You can start a blog to keep loved ones updated on your travels.
Another easy way to share your journey is by starting a private Facebook group. This way, your friends and family can interact directly with your posts and feel like they are part of the experience.
Choose a Homebase
Even the biggest travel bug can get burned out from constantly relocating. Setting up a home base is an effective way to get stability while exploring the world.
Most nomads set up their home base in a location that is accessible to other attractive destinations.
For example, nomads can set up a home base in Portugal or the Canary Islands and gain easy access to the European Union and North Africa. Thailand makes a great launchpad for nomads interested in exploring Southeast Asia and Australia.
Having a home base can also offer you benefits that you would otherwise not have, such as access to a healthcare system and pension. There are many countries that offer temporary residency permits to digital nomads.
Do some research and see if any of these options are a good fit for you.
Adapt Your Pace
If you’re living the nomad life you’re going to deal with a lot of unpredictable situations, so adaptability is key. The constant changes mean certain personality types are better suited for nomading than others.
If you prefer to live that nomad life at a slower pace, though, nomading can still be an option for you. Many nomads follow the slow travel mantra. Rather than flitting from place to place, these travelers settle in one location for months or years at a time and mainly explore the surrounding region.
Choosing to travel this way will require a bit more preparation. You will probably need to apply for a long-term visa well before you arrive at your destination. However, the stability and peace of mind slow travel can bring is unbeatable.
Travel Light
While it may seem counterintuitive, reducing your baggage can make it easier to settle into a new location. If you can whittle down your belongings to only your bare essentials, you’ll be amazed at how much you can actually live without.
Suddenly, having a permanent residence doesn’t seem so important anymore.
Stay Open
Most people who venture out into the nomad life are attracted by its flexibility. Ironically, having a too rigid view of what a nomadic lifestyle is supposed to look like can make people impose artificial boundaries on themselves.
You don’t need to work on the beach or even leave your home state to try out the nomad life. And remember, you can also always change your mind and go home again.
Did you start off as a nomad, and now are settled into working remotely from one location? That’s also okay! The only important factor to creating a nomad life is making sure that it works for you.
Final Thoughts
Living the nomad life has it’s ups and downs. But with the suggestions above, you’re sure to have the tools to make the best out of your nomadic journey.
