That you can be a digital nomad even when employed proves Lotte. She is 27 years old, content and branding marketer at Parakar Group and combines her work with life as a digital nomad. For the past 4.5 months, she has been working from Australia, Bali and Singapore, developing her career while exploring the world. This summer, she will embark on another adventure, this time indefinitely. “Remote working gives me the feeling of ultimate freedom while building my career and future,” she says. In this blog, she talks about how to travel the world while building your career.
The world as your workplace
With the rise of remote working, many employees are no longer tied to one place. For those who have always dreamed of exploring the world, remote working is a great way to combine travel with career growth. I myself have taken this step: I now work completely remotely while traveling the world. I am happy to share my experiences and insights on combining work and travel in this unique lifestyle.
“I have found that this lifestyle offers unprecedented freedom. I can take the trips I’ve always dreamed of, while also continuing to build my career.”
Pursuing your dreams abroad
For years I dreamed of traveling the world, but often felt constrained by work or other commitments. Becoming a digital nomad has given me the opportunity to do both. With a good Internet connection, I can now work from the most beautiful places on earth.
Whether I start my day with a sunrise on a beach in Bali or work from a cafe in Australia, the freedom to change my environment makes life challenging and dynamic. And the best part? This isn’t a short vacation or work trip-it’s a lifestyle that allows for routine AND career development while allowing me to explore new places. Of course, your work duties must allow for this, but if possible, it can offer a perfect combination.
Balancing work and adventure
One of the biggest misconceptions about being a digital nomad is that it feels like traveling with a little work in between. The reality is that this lifestyle requires much more discipline than people think. When you travel without working, your time is completely yours-you can explore at your own pace, sleep in and plan activities whenever you want. But as a digital nomad, you have to deal with deadlines, meetings and responsibilities.
It takes focus and discipline to do your job well. Time zones, distractions and sometimes unreliable Internet can be challenges, but with good planning they are certainly surmountable. The biggest difference with traveling is that you are not relaxing or sightseeing all day; you are constantly balancing work and leisure.
If you change locations too quickly, you may experience more stress. Therefore, it is important to build a rhythm and routine, which is easier if you stay in one place a little longer. For me, changing locations actually works to motivate me, but I have also found that the pace can be too fast if you change too often. Taking the time to build a routine is essential to this lifestyle.
The challenges of remote working
Of course, this lifestyle also has challenges. Sometimes it can feel lonely to be away from home and from the office. Especially if your colleagues do all work in the office. Also, working in different time zones can make communication with colleagues or clients difficult. But by staying connected through video calls, being flexible myself and building a network with other digital nomads, I have found ways to address these challenges.
Life as a digital nomad shows that you don’t have to put your career on hold to explore the world. In fact, it offers the opportunity to combine work and personal development. You can continue to challenge yourself and grow professionally while discovering new cultures and adventures. For me, it has been the perfect way to not only build my career, but also grow personally while exploring the world.
If you like to connect, check out my LinkedIn profile here.
Learn more about remote working and workations:
365 dagen remote werken: van kantoor naar een tropisch strand
