Digital Nomads: the freedom to live and work remotely

Being a digital nomad means having the freedom to live and work remotely, traveling and carrying out your profession from anywhere

Being a digital nomad means being free to travel, living and working remotely

Living and working remotely as a digital nomad, carrying out your profession while traveling and constantly moving, intrinsically carries a value of freedom, independence, and autonomy; it’s an innovative way of thinking about life and work, making it particularly appealing. In the past, working and traveling were seen as antithetical concepts, like two parallel lines that never meet. Yes, because taking a trip is usually a freedom we allow ourselves only for a set period, using those weeks of vacation when, by definition, we don’t work. But with the emergence of professional figures like digital nomads, smart workers, and freelancers, supported by the increasingly widespread use of the Internet and digital technologies, the parameters for choosing work (from the perspective of the professional) and workers (from the perspective of companies) have been completely redefined.

The freedom to work without constraints

We mostly think of remote workers as simply those who carry out their work online. In reality, behind this obvious characteristic, there is much more than just the way the work is done. The main reason why in Europe, the growth rate of digital nomads is +45% is the ability to freely decide where, how, when, and for how long to work, having the freedom to organize oneself according to their own needs and interests. In fact, the digital nomad works while traveling; they spend most of the year abroad; they choose the place where they work, be it their own home, the office of their client, a coworking space; they choose the clients and jobs to accept; they manage their time and working hours in total autonomy and freedom. Moreover, the ability to work from any place, nation, continent opens up professional scenarios to countless opportunities: the possibilities for networking, meeting new people, and discovering new realities multiply, allowing the establishment of both professional and personal relationships around the world.

The advantages of a digital nomad lifestyle

Those who embrace a “nomadic” and digital lifestyle and work support innovation, fostering the exchange of ideas, experiences, knowledge, and advice among people and professionals worldwide. This can happen, on one hand, through the continuous moving from place to place, spending long periods in environments that encourage cultural exchange, such as coliving spaces; on the other hand, thanks also to the use of digital tools that facilitate communication, sharing, and collaboration across all boundaries. In this way, true online communities are created, consisting of people who share lifestyles, interests, passions, and projects, where the key words are sharing, collaboration, and cooperation. Another positive aspect of being a digital nomad is the undeniable positive effect on the environment. Those who live constantly on the move can only adopt a minimalist lifestyle, traveling only with what’s necessary, practicing “intelligent consumerism,” far from the capitalist mindset.

The digital nomad profile

But who are the digital nomads? In most cases, we think exclusively of freelancers and self-employed workers, and indeed they make up the main slice of this type of worker. However, digital nomads can also be employees – in this case, it’s clear that the company must be remote friendly or remote first – or even real entrepreneurs. In general, however, the professions that can be carried out remotely are many and varied. In fact, beyond the classic professions already inherently linked to the digital and online world (like computer engineers, web developers, digital marketers, web designers, SEO experts), there are also more traditional jobs that can be done remotely without problems; it’s “only” a matter of changing mindset and work paradigm, both for workers and for companies. To name a few examples, these can include: journalists, accountants, teachers, translators, customer service managers. Thanks to the digital transformation and the strong push in this direction due to the current pandemic period, it’s becoming increasingly easier and more common to find oneself working remotely.   We are increasingly moving towards a smart way of thinking about work: what defines it is no longer the place where it’s done, but rather how it’s done and what’s being done. A working world redesigned according to more flexible and agile standards would help develop a society of workers and entrepreneurs who are more resilient and better prepared to face critical contexts like the one we’re experiencing now due to the Covid-19 emergency. At BeetCommunity, we’ve created a highly inspirational and creative environment within a city rich in history and beauty, perfect for those who love an independent, free, and stimulating work style. Start your digital nomad experience in our coliving and coworking spaces in Palermo. >