Is being a digital nomad for everyone? Of course not! But just because you find yourself in a rut, it doesn’t mean you’re not meant to do this anymore. The nomadic lifestyle is very exciting, especially at the beginning, but like everything in life, it can get tedious, especially as you get older and see everyone around you settle down and abandon the most adventurous sides of life.

If this is you, if you’re a seasoned digital nomad who loves this lifestyle but you’re worried you’re not cut out for it anymore, you need to read this blog. In this episode of the Become Nomad podcast, our host Eli David shares his key to regaining the enthusiasm for this life.

Listen to the full podcast here: How To Live Your Nomadic Life to the Fullest

The Skills And Mindset You Need To Develop

Eli has been a digital nomad since long before remote work and the nomadic lifestyle were cool, so he has a lot of experience to share, and knows better than anyone what skills you need to sharpen to be able to handle this unconventional path.

The most important for him is to get used to being actively curious. Let yourself be impressed by everything you see and be curious about every different place. If you’re only looking at things in passing, you’re not a nomad, you’re on holiday abroad. When you’re curious and genuinely interested in new things, you will get to know the different communities you visit, and you will, as a result, build your international tribe, which will be crucial when you inevitably go through the bouts of loneliness that come with being constantly on the move.

This leads us to Eli’s next recommendation, which is to show love to the people around you. The mindset of “us against the world”, which might work for some nuclear families, doesn’t really work for the majority of digital nomads. The only way to develop long-lasting, genuine relationships with the people you meet on your nomadic journey is to approach everyone with love and understanding.

In the same vein, you need to understand that, when you’re moving through different countries, getting to know different cultures, forming relationships with people who grew up in entirely different circumstances… all of those experiences will change you, and you need to let them. You need to force yourself to get out of your bubble and be receptive to what the world has to offer. Eli remarks that you need to disconnect from your own interpretation of the world and become more connected to the things happening around you. “Look at the world through the eyes of a child,” he says.

At The Same Time, Be Disciplined

And no, it’s not contradictory. Yes, you need to be open to new experiences and be less rigid in your view of the world, but when it comes to your well-being, some structure is necessary. And since you don’t have a 9-to-5 to set a schedule for you, you need to do it yourself. And for that, you need to be disciplined. 

“This lifestyle is a privilege,” Eli says, “and you have to work for it.”

What does working for it mean? Well, it depends on the person, but basically it means taking care of yourself. While you need to be receptive to the experiences around you, don’t let the world carry you away. Make sure you keep a healthy sleep and exercise schedule. Look closely at what you eat. Have some kind of routine that you can maintain no matter where you are. We’re humans, we’re gregarious creatures. We need some kind of structure and community, or we collapse. Being self-aware has a lot to do with this. Know your core values, those things you won’t compromise for anything. That will make it a lot easier to organize your priorities.

Last But Not Least, Be Gracious With Yourself

You’re going to make mistakes, because this lifestyle is risky. You don’t have the security of knowing, more or less, what your week is going to look like every Monday. You might settle for a few months in a place that wasn’t a good fit for you, even if it looked great on paper, and you might get disillusioned with the lifestyle as a whole. Just because something didn’t work out, it doesn’t mean it’s a failure. It’s just the reality of being a digital nomad.

I will say, though, that at this point, it’s important to be honest with yourself. If those ups and downs hit you too hard, the nomadic lifestyle might not be for you anymore, and that’s valid! We’re not the same people at every stage of our lives. While being alone might not have bothered you when you were in your 20s, it’s completely fair that it’s a problem for you in your 40s. We grow and change. Some people will be digital nomads forever, it’s just in their blood. Some people won’t be able to handle it their whole lives, and it makes no sense to force yourself to do something you don’t enjoy anymore.

However, if you’re sure you love this life and you just want to regain the excitement you had when it was a novelty, then hopefully, Eli’s tips will be able to help.

Good luck and safe travels!