Why "working from anywhere" is hard work
The globetrotting “work from anywhere” lifestyle sounds idyllic to many of us, but is it as easy-going as it sounds?
New research from the School for Business and Society at the University of York suggests that the glamorous lives many “digital nomads” present online are often misleading, and do not tell the full truth about the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.
Digital nomad
In a post-COVID world where millions of us have embraced working from home, many more may now be tempted to go one step further and untether themselves from a fixed location entirely to become a “digital nomad”.
It’s very possible you know a digital nomad or two – those friends who post daily social updates from ever-changing exotic locations, extolling the virtues of being able to attend a meeting one moment then jump into the sea for a quick surf the next.
It’s hard not to be a bit envious of this kind of freedom, but the latest research shows that the lifestyle they’re presenting probably takes a bit more work than they’re letting on.
“What digital nomads discuss between themselves on private forums and Facebook groups is at odds with what they display on their social media profiles, blogs and websites that are aimed at potential clients,” says Jeremy Aroles of the School for Business and Society.
By trawling through forums and Facebook groups where digital nomads discuss the practicalities of making such a lifestyle work, Aroles and colleagues have documented some of the more humdrum aspects of digital nomadism – the “meta-work” that is crucial to the smooth functioning of professional activities.
Challenges
Many of the challenges you can probably imagine: working from cramped and noisy coffee-shops, dealing with power outages in remote locations, and the constant worry about poor internet connections.
On top of these difficulties, however, much time is devoted to maintaining a professional front to clients in challenging circumstances. For instance, time-zone differences with global clients can lead to constantly shifting working hours that makes the creation of a work routine nigh-on impossible.
As well as this, many legal aspects must constantly be considered when moving from country to country, including the need for work visas, where taxes must be paid, and how to get paid when not having a fixed address.
“What we find is that the glossy and glamorous depictions of digital nomadism encountered on blogs and social media mask the realities of working in these conditions,” says Aroles.
“Unsurprisingly, this leads to feelings of frustration, disappointment and even betrayal from many of those who have been lured by the promises of digital nomadism as an easy-going and liberating lifestyle.