🌍 Digital Nomadism: Beyond the Hype, Back to the Roots 🚐
Once everyone’s dream—now just for those who meant it
It’s impossible to scroll through LinkedIn a few years ago—especially between 2020 and 2023—without stumbling upon a post (or fifty) glorifying the digital nomad lifestyle. It was the buzzword. Everyone was talking about it. Dreaming about it. Writing books, guides, and opinion pieces about it. Everyone from travel influencers to junior marketers to micro-consultants had something to say.
The problem? A lot of these people had never even left their home country.
There was a tidal wave of self-proclaimed experts with little real experience, a passport gathering dust (if they even had one), and zero understanding of what this lifestyle actually entailed. Meanwhile, entire consulting companies and even public administrations from tiny, often overlooked villages jumped on the bandwagon, promoting themselves as "remote worker paradises" without grasping what digital nomadism really is.
To many, the digital nomad was just a glorified tourist. Or a real estate investor buying properties around the globe. Few bothered to learn the truth: being a digital nomad isn't about escaping work—it's about reshaping it. It’s not vacation. It’s not "doing nothing on a beach with a laptop." It's hard work, constant adaptation, and above all, conscious choice.
A Shift in the Hype Cycle
Now here we are in 2025, and much of that noise has died down. The buzzwords have faded. The trending hashtags have changed. Many of the so-called "experts" have moved on—some now styling themselves as gurus in AI, productivity, or yet another trending topic, all from the comfort of a dim city apartment.
But something curious happened. While the hype faded, the real community didn’t shrink. The numbers of true digital nomads haven’t really dropped. What we’ve seen is a natural filtering: the trend-chasers moved on, and those who remain are the ones who chose this path deliberately, respectfully, and sustainably. Not for show. Not for likes. But for life and for work—on their own terms.
Misunderstood by Many
Sadly, public institutions still often misunderstand us. Some blame digital nomads for the housing crisis, as if we were responsible for years of poor urban planning and real estate speculation. Others see us as temporary economic boosts, useful only for photo ops and tourism metrics. Rarely do they seek to understand what we really need—or what we really offer.
Yet the digital nomad lifestyle is not a threat. It's a reflection of how work has changed. It’s not a fashion trend—it’s a strategic decision, sometimes temporary, sometimes permanent. But always a choice.
And that’s why we’re still here. A few voices, staying true to the mission: giving space to those who actually live this lifestyle—the good and the bad—and cutting through the myths, especially here on LinkedIn where hype often overshadows truth.
So what is a digital nomad, really?
A digital nomad is someone who uses digital technologies to work remotely, earning a living while maintaining a nomadic lifestyle. They can be freelancers, remote employees, entrepreneurs, or creatives, traveling while staying connected through Wi-Fi, cloud tools, and mobile devices.
The idea has been around since the early 2000s but gained momentum as technology made remote work more accessible. With the rise of platforms for freelancers, global coworking spaces, and a cultural shift away from traditional 9-to-5 models, this way of life found its place.
But it’s more than lifestyle—it’s philosophy. It’s about freedom, discipline, balance, curiosity, and flexibility. And if you ask the real digital nomads, they’ll tell you: it’s not for everyone. And that’s exactly the point.