The Pros and Cons of Working from Anywhere
Working from anywhere offers a lifetime of adventure, as well as challenges. Here's my pros and cons for the digital nomad lifestyle.
If you've ever followed any location independent blog or Instagram account, you've seen those glorious photos of the freelancer happily working away while sitting by the Caribbean blue waters on a white sandy beach with an adult beverage in hand. #LifeIsGood 💕
What most people don't realize is a freedom lifestyle business rarely ends up like the fairytale stories sold by these content creators.
Sure, we get to work from anywhere while playing by our own rules. And yes, there are some days when building a digital business by the beach is possible. But most of the time you're grinding it all out in your travel van or RV, in a motel, or by hanging out at coffee shops. #TheRealLife 💁
Don't get me wrong.
It's still an awesome way to live and work! I'd rather do what I do now than spend hours in traffic while giving my soul to somebody else.
But I do want to set a realistic expectation of what you will likely encounter should you choose this lifestyle. You deserve (and can handle) the truth.
The Pros of Working from Anywhere
The best thing about running a digital business is the ability to travel and see the world at your own pace. Other benefits include better mental health, increased creativity, and having more freedom in your life.
Some of the biggest reasons people choose to become digital nomads include:
Moving to new locations and places each day, week, or months.
Experiencing different cultures, foods, drinks, and geography.
Building a life around new adventures or interests.
Spending more time doing what you love and working less.
Meeting people and building relationships wherever you go.
Enjoying the great outdoors and being more active physically.
As you can see, these are some really good points for becoming a location independent business.
The Cons of Working from Anywhere
Of course anything in life has it's ups and downs. The worst aspect of becoming a digital entrepreneur is embracing the fear of the unknown. There will be times when things don't work out as planned and you have to adapt.
Here's some of the biggest challenges of working from the road:
You can't get dependable WiFi everywhere, which will affect your work.
You can't predict the flow of business, so it can be feast or famine.
You can't budget every travel expense because rates change constantly.
You can't trust there will always be hotels rooms or RV spots available.
You can't play ALL the time AND expect to make a living.
You can't expect everything to go the way you envisioned.
These have been our negative experiences. Other people have told us the same. But I think your experience will depend on a variety of factors like how much you travel, your financial situation, or where you hope to stay.
Is it all worth it in the end?
Even though being a digital nomad has its own unique challenges, we wouldn't have it any other way. We can't imagine going back to a "normal life" in the foreseeable future.
Besides. No matter if what you do, there will always be some sort of pros and cons. Nothing is ever perfect.
For example, we live in hotels and resorts.
The last two years, room rates have fluctuated greatly. Sometimes we get a nice hotel for a great price and other times we pay exorbitant rates for a dump. Not only is this frustrating, it destroys our budget. So there are times we have to adapt.
Do we have any regrets? Not a single one. It's been worth it to us.
The biggest question for you is what do you feel will make you the happiest? Does working from anywhere while traveling the world sound better than what you're doing now? If so you need to GO for it!
You will never know what it's like by thinking about it. The only way to know is by doing it. You might hate the lifestyle or you might love it, but regardless, it's better to try and fail than not try at all.
Regrets always hurt more than anything.
So go ahead. Take a step forward.