The Mental Health Challenges of Digital Nomadism

The Mental Health Challenges of Digital Nomadism

The digital nomad lifestyle is often characterized as one that offers a better balance between work and leisure. Many people assume that it will be better for their mental health than remaining trapped in a corporate 9-5 existence. But, as with most things in life, the reality is far less simple.

Lack of Routine Undermines Stability

Having no routine at all can leave us feeling adrift and out of control.

The Verdict

The digital nomad lifestyle is an alternative to the corporate 9-5, but comes with its own mental health challenges.

Loss of Self-Care Routines

While the digital nomad lifestyle might help you escape negative routines, we also often lose positive routines, and the put ourselves in positions where they are hard to re-establish.

Loneliness and Loss of Support Network

While you make friends on the road, these ephemeral friendships don’t fill the void the same way as being physically close to your nearest and dearest.

Lack of Control

Living in these “borrowed environments” in which many things are out of our control can leave us feeling like we don’t really have a safe haven when we need to escape from the world and be on our own.

We Don’t Talk About Mental Health

There is a stigma against digital nomads complaining about their mental health as it can make you seem ungrateful, spoiled, weak, and unworthy of the lifestyle you have chosen

Travel Burnout

One of the biggest mistakes that digital nomads make is trying and squeeze in too much.

Constant, Low-Level Anxiety

One of the biggest causes of mental health issues in the modern world is constant, low-level anxiety caused by the pressures to “do it all”

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