Pros and Cons of a Digital Nomad | Work and Travel

In this video, I’m going to share the Pros and Cons of being a Digital Nomad. I’ll also discuss my experiences with Work and Travel, a few of my favorite things about this lifestyle, some of the biggest challenges I face, and a few unexpected observations.
#digitalnomad #workandtravel #solotravel

First, a bit about me: this week is the midpoint of my journey as a solo traveler - a digital nomad!. I’m two years in being a widow, and this travel adventure has been a healing opportunity for me.

Follow my journey through grief and around the world, and learn how I fund this lifestyle, you may be surprised!?

So, here are the three things I love most about being a digital nomad:

1. No Housekeeping: I never have to clean a house. Staying in resorts means housekeeping takes care of everything once a week – changing beddings, replacing towels, vacuuming, mopping, and dusting. I’m definitely enjoying that perk!

2. No Household Expenses: People often ask how I can afford this lifestyle. Surprisingly, it isn’t any more expensive than living in my former four-bedroom house in Phoenix. I don’t have utility bills, cable, Wi-Fi service costs, or even have to buy toilet paper and paper towels. All these typical household expenses are covered in the resorts where I stay.

3. Living in Incredible Places: I get to live in some of the most beautiful places. I’ve stayed in St. Martin with a balcony view of the water, in Daytona Beach, Florida with the Atlantic Ocean outside my window, and recently spent a month in England, UK visiting amazing places like Bath and Stonehenge. Trading household expenses for these experiences has been incredible!

However, there are also challenges. Here are three of the biggest ones I’ve encountered:

1. Travel Planning: When I lived in Phoenix, I knew my travel plans would start from Sky Harbour airport. Now, planning trips is more complicated because I don’t know which airport I’ll be near. I end up researching flights from multiple cities like Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, Missouri, and Charlotte, which adds a lot of extra work.

2. Solo Travel Costs: As a solo traveler, I face additional expenses and limitations. Many tours require double occupancy, so I can’t book as a single passenger. Sometimes I have to show up and hope there’s availability. Cruises and all-inclusive resorts also charge based on double occupancy, making it more expensive for solo travelers.

3. Maintaining my hair color. This one’s a bit embarrassing. I’m in my 60s and maintaining my red hair color takes effort. My hairdresser gave me the supplies to color my hair on the road, but it’s a challenge. Resorts have white linens and towels, so I have to bring my own to avoid staining them. Timing my hair color around my travel schedule adds another layer of complexity for me.

Here are three interesting observations I’ve made:

1. Mind Shift: Initially, I would wake up every morning disoriented, wondering where I was. Now, it doesn’t matter. I wake up, enjoy the process, and figure it out as I go. It’s a significant mind shift from needing a fixed location.

2. Redefining Home: I don’t have a permanent residence, but I’ve realized home is where the heart is. Whether I’m referring to the resort where I’m staying or my next destination, “home” has taken on a new meaning. It’s a flexible concept that fits my nomadic lifestyle.

3. Unencumbered Life: I have no bills or debts aside from a 0% interest car payment. I don’t have stuff or attachments to any place. This freedom from everyday stresses and obligations is something I hoped for but didn’t fully realize the effect until I started living it. It’s a truly unencumbered and stress-free life.

Being a Digital Nomad enables me to work and travel 24/7. I literally work from the places I travel to, as well as enjoying a holiday-type lifestyle

I hope you found this video enlightening and fun.

For those who love to travel, hit that subscribe button to follow my journey through grief, being a digital nomad around the world, and to learn how I fund this lifestyle so that maybe you could experience the freedom I have for yourself!

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