The digital nomad life is not all it’s cracked up to be. Here’s why

There’s a good chance that you need faster internet and more bandwidth than you realize. And an even better chance that you’ll have difficulty finding it when you travel. Most coffee shops and hotels that offer Wi-Fi often can’t match what you’re used to in an office or at home. This is especially true if you’re like the millions of people who keep lots of tabs open at once.

There’s also the crucial matter of security. Using public Wi-Fi can expose your information, and that of your employer, to hackers. It’s important to use technology like a VPN to protect your data. But there’s also the matter of “shoulder surfing,” in which people nearby see what you’re typing. Hackers prey on digital nomads, and some have gotten very good at disguising what they’re up to.

In most American offices and restaurants, workers can count on a basic level of sanitation to be kept up—partly due to health codes. But in some other places, it’s just not the same. Unclean restrooms, unavailability of certain diet choices and food poisoning from water are quite possible. Be careful, and beware. 

Mosquitoes and spiders are a big nuisance while travelling and working across the world.

The clamour of traffic, crowds, construction, nearby airports, and more can make it especially difficult to take calls or do Zoom meetings. Sound can also dramatically decrease productivity when you’re trying to concentrate, and noise-cancelling headphones can’t get rid of everything. Continuous noise pollution can also make you more irritable and stressed.

Some other digital nomads we encountered on our travels are the definition of lonely.

Many people working remotely, even from home, have wrestled with loneliness in recent years. But in tourist sites, such as coastal cities and towns, where people are working remotely, they run into a tricky situation. Vacationers show up looking for a quick fling, but the digital nomads are looking for deeper connections and real conversation. It can lead to frustration.

Most people are likely to be most productive and have the best work experience when they’re stationary and within the comforts of a home office.

A digital nomad sounds cool, and has the perks of going to new places and meeting new people. But when work is supposed to be done, nothing beats home!