There’s no doubt about the rising interest in remote work and, for those who seek to take this emerging reality of working remotely further, they often inevitably end up referring to themselves as digital nomads. They take full advantage of being able to work remotely or ideally, run a business remotely, freeing themselves up of their dependence on a specific location and so they travel the world.
We’re not all meant to be digital nomads though and in fact, many working professionals who are presented with the opportunity of working remotely choose to pass up on it… never mind harboring ambitions of becoming digital nomads. In any case, there are a number of very specific reasons why we’re not all destined to live out our lives as so-called digital nomads, which will be of particular interest to those of us who cannot imagine living the normal life of working a 9-5 job. We tend to think everybody has the same itching desire to travel as we do, but it’s not quite the case.
We’ve got people to look after
In finding a lifestyle that embraces digital nomadism, it’s essential to acknowledge that it’s not a one-size-fits-all aspiration. The call of the open road and remote work might be enticing, but for many of us, some responsibilities and commitments anchor us to a specific place.
One significant factor is the people we care for – whether it’s our aging parents, grandparents, or other loved ones, their well-being often requires our presence and support. Companionship care for seniors is affordable to a lot of people, yes, but that does not mean one can just take off and abandon your parents or grandparents completely. In these situations, the concept of ‘home’ is deeply rooted in companionship and caregiving.
Recognizing the importance of such bonds, individuals might choose stability over the nomadic lifestyle. It’s a decision grounded in the profound understanding that some responsibilities transcend the allure of constant travel.
We don’t all have the required self-discipline
“I just don’t have that kind of discipline” is something I often hear as a reason why many people who otherwise find the idea of the digital nomad life appealing could never really manage to sustain a life of that sort. After all, it requires the kind of self-discipline whose responsibility otherwise falls on some figure of authority at work, such as your manager or boss.
The freedom of not having to heed the annoying alarm in the morning comes at a cost, which is that of extreme self-discipline. Sure, you can definitely determine your working hours, but you still have to DETERMINE them and honor the work that needs to be done during those hours. We just don’t all seem to have the required self-discipline to work remotely, let alone become digital nomads.
The primary production-sector-wheel must keep turning
Although this is true for pretty much all the jobs that exist in the world, the work that a digital nomad can do is not directly linked to the primary production sector. The world needs some people to produce the food we eat, build the roads on which we drive and just keep contributing those tangible elements which make up our lives.
It’s just not that appealing to EVERYONE
Some working professionals find fulfillment within careers that give them ample opportunity to pursue a life of remote work and travel, but they expressly choose not to become digital nomads. Clearly this just means that it’s not that appealing to absolutely everybody in the world, which is something that digital nomads themselves find hard to understand. An established Austin injury attorney could very well offer remote consultations and still make the per-hour rate they’d make if clients walked into their physical offices, for example and still choose not to go that route, because they might very well want to maintain a very clear distinction between their personal life and their professional life.
