Meaning
In a narrower sense the term nomad In a narrower sense, the term nomad describes groups of people who, for economic reasons, lead a life without a permanent home. The migratory movements of the group usually follow a recurring pattern, which is mainly necessary due to climatic conditions, comparable to the migration of wild animals. Traditional forms of economy such as pastoral nomadism or hunters and gatherers were able to secure their livelihood all year round. With the advent of internet communication, a scene has emerged around digital nomads who travel frequently for various reasons and work from anywhere. The traditional lifestyle of nomadic societies has little to do with the modern notion of the digital nomad. This term, used as a lifestyle description, rarely refers to actual societies but usually includes individuals, couples or a family group.
Working method
Digital nomads have the freedom to choose their workplace every day. The only condition is a stable internet connection. With the right SIM card, a mobile WiFi hotspot can be set up in a hammock in seconds. If you do not want to pay extra, you will find sockets and WLAN in most fast food restaurants. Also recommended are public libraries or small cafes. If you like it a little quieter or maybe want to meet like-minded people, you can rent a place in a co-working space for a few euros. There is usually fresh coffee there too.
All professions that, thanks to networking via the Internet, can do their work from any location are suitable for life without a permanent home. The jobs of digital nomads can be correspondingly diverse. Many digital nomads run a website or blog and monetize content there. Digital products and services are offered for sale or advertising is integrated (affiliate marketing). Other nomads work as authors or translators. Livelihood can also be earned with graphic design, web design, photography or software development. The list can be continued.
What is it really like to live as a digital nomad?
Living as a digital nomad describes a life situation that is characterized by freedom and insecurities. Not having a permanent home makes it necessary to look for a place to stay the night every day. We're not talking about a four-week holiday here, but about a life plan. Staying in a hostel or even a hotel every day puts a lot of strain on your wallet. At the same time, frequent relocations are time-consuming and exhausting. If you only look at the pictures on Instagram, you only see one side of the coin. If you want to earn money while traveling you shouldn't be too picky.
Before a profitable online business is established and the first euros are even earned, dozens (supposedly hundreds) of hours of work usually have to be invested. For most travel bloggers and influencers, the well-known motto "fake it till you make it" applies. It is easier for so-called freelancers from the IT industry, where it is common to work from any location. An apprenticeship or degree in a relevant professional field opens up the possibility of separating from the location-bound office.
Controversy
Unfortunately, the tax code does not bring the same flexibility as the free spirits of nomads. Often travelers only have a tourist visa that does not include a work permit. A recurring criticism is that digital nomads are illegal workers. Whether and when digital nomads work illegally in the host country is viewed controversially by those affected as well as by the state authorities. Because digital nomads' clients are typically based in another country, it's often argued that local labor laws don't apply. Due to the lack of laws, the employees of the immigration offices usually do not know how to treat digital nomads. Taxes are often paid in the traveller's home country and rarely in the country where the work was performed.
Sensitive extra equipment
One piece of equipment that shouldn't be included on any hike is the laptop. We advise everyone not to take one with them. The parts are generally too heavy and sensitive. As digital nomads, however, we cannot avoid having a laptop with us. For me it is the tool for working and making money. In this context, the criteria of weight and connectivity were decisive in the selection. There are now a number of devices that weigh less than 1000g. Our choice fell on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Carbon*. The laptop issue caused us a lot of trouble on the trip: after the display failed at the beginning of the year and we wanted to send the device from France for repairs in Germany, it got lost in the mail. When it luckily reappeared after three months, we had already decided on the slightly cheaper Samsung Galaxy Book Pro* as a replacement device.
A compact, powerful GaN power supply* should not be missing in your luggage. 2x USB-C and 1x USB-A deliver up to 20V and thus replaces an additional power supply unit and charging cable for the laptop, which is charged via USB-C like our phones.
Note on transparency: You will find so-called affiliate links for the respective products, which are marked with a * or the shopping basket symbol. The links will take you to shops that sell the respective products. If you decide to make a purchase through this link, we will receive a small commission. This does not make the product more expensive for you.
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Sustainable travel culture
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