In this episode we talk about what life as a digital nomad is really like with our guest Christina. She’s been a digital nomad for about 10 years and traveled the world while working as a consultant, before she decided to settle down in Lisbon. She shares what daily life as a digital nomad looked like for her and how she managed to create a healthy work-life balance. We discuss if the digital nomad lifestyle is really as ‘free’ as it looks on the outside or if there are any downsides to this way of life that are not so visible. Also Christina shares what she misses most about her life as a digital nomad and if she would see herself doing it again. Last but not least Christina has some advice for digital nomads who are thinking about settling down.
Enjoy listening and don’t forget to rate the podcast and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform, like Spotify – it will help more hearts find our little corner of the world.
With love, April Betts & Anna Jirina.
About From Lisbon With Love
Welcome to From Lisbon With Love! A podcast about real stories of love, laughter, and life in Lisbon — from women who have left it all behind. We share real stories about moving to Lisbon, starting over and figuring life out along the way. We talk love, dating, friendships, breakups, healing, growing, all of it. Basically, the stuff we usually talk about over coffee ☕️ or vinho 🍷. If you’re thinking about moving to Lisbon, already here or just love honest conversations with heart: you’re in the right place! Learn more about our story here.
Digital nomad lifestyle
Have you ever dreamed of becoming a digital nomad and traveling the world while working remotely? You’re definitely not the only one. Researches show that there’s approximately 35 to 40 million(!) digital nomads around the globe. Although we’ve settled down in Lisbon and we don’t consider ourselves a digital nomad, we can definitely see why this lifestyle is tempting for many. Especially when you’re into traveling, the digital nomad life can be an amazing opportunity to explore different countries, cultures and ways of life.
Also the flexibility and freedom that comes with the nomadic lifestyle is very rewarding and can make you feel more productive, since there’s a world waiting for you to explore. As a digital nomad you’re constantly navigating new situations and new places, which
inevitable leads to personal growth in speed mode.
The reality of being a digital nomad
However the nomadic lifestyle is very tempting and has a lot of benefits, there’s definitely some downsides to it, as Christina explains in this episode. Living as a digital nomad can be very exhausting, since you’re constantly moving places and you’ll always need to find a new place to stay. This may be very exciting at first, but can cause fatigue after a while, since adapting to a new place and creating a new routine takes time and energy. On top of that, creating a healthy work-life balance can be challenging, since you can work basically anywhere, anytime. Not only can this lead to fading boundaries but it can also cause burn-out on the long run.
As a digital nomad you might feel pressured (by others or by yourself) to be able to provide for this lifestyle. This can be extremely draining, sometimes even to the point that you’ll start to question if the digital nomad lifestyle really fits you. Besides this, it can be hard to build a stable group of friends, especially with other nomads, since you never know if and when you might see each other again.
Settling down after digital nomad life
After being a digital nomad for several years, it can be challenging (and even a bit uncomfortable at first) to settle down, as Christina shares in this episode. You’re so used to traveling and staying in places for a relatively short time, that it might seem unlikely that you’ll ever plant roots somewhere. Although the digital nomad life can be very fulfilling and exciting, after a while you’ll might start to feel like you want to build a stable life at a place that you can call home. This is also what Christina experienced: after 10 years she suddenly felt the urge to settle down. In the episode she explains why she chose Lisbon and how building a new life in Lisbon is going so far.
Curious to more stories about moving abroad? Listen our episodes about why we moved to Lisbon and how living in Portugal changed our mindset.
