Written by: Alexandra Elinsky, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
When you hear the term “digital nomad” what do you picture? Do you see a man sitting on the beach with his laptop and an ice-cold beverage on the side? Do you envision a young woman living on the road in her van? What about a mom working at her home desk while her toddler takes a nap? The terms freelancer, digital nomad, and traveling remote worker are interchangeable. Remote workers come from diverse levels of society. But one thing remains true of the lifestyle: location independence. Flexibility and location independence are pros to the remote lifestyle, but it comes with a hidden toll. Keep reading to learn more!
This one factor of remote work is what has sparked the great migration into working from home online. Millennials crave flexibility, and Gen X and Baby Boomers are not far behind.
The craving is so intense that National Geographic’s Andrew Evens dedicated an entire series to work on the road, traveling 10,000 miles across the United States.
As intriguing as it is, Andrew stated, frankly, when he decided to step away from the journey that “I do love to travel and that will never change, but I also love waking up in my own time zone and enjoying a meal without juggling my phone and fork. I hope you understand.”
Juggling a phone and fork is not the only issue with remote work, traveling or not. The remote-work lifestyle can be lonely.
The cons of remote work
Flexibility and location independence are pros to the remote lifestyle, but it comes with a hidden toll. Truly remote work is isolating and requires a great deal of self-discipline and focus. And no one wants to work remotely if it means having no friends.
Some people prefer the traditional 9-5 life because of the structure. Defending their schedule can be intimidating. Having a boss set deadlines, enforce schedules and offer one-on-one coaching is better for some workers.
The social aspect of working in a traditional office setting is also beneficial and what many people miss the most when they transition to remote work. You are forced to be around people and communicate with other human beings. Not to mention, you are both working toward a similar goal. Human interaction is necessary, and not many people are okay with doing it through a screen forever.
But the truth is, you can have all these things in a remote-working lifestyle. The question is, where do you find community in a field that is vastly different in all corners of the internet?
Housing companies are springing up worldwide, offering housing accommodations to remote workers of all kinds. But not all housing options for remote workers are the same. Let us take a look at the different options.
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Types of housing for remote workers
Co-working is a means of providing office space for remote workers.
You do not live with each other- you work in each other’s presence. These offices have everything you would find in a typical office but are focused on remote workers to build a community around a common career trait.
Co-living is a way to live alone.
Just like in a regular apartment, but surrounded by a community of other freelancers and remote workers. A co-living space provides the necessities that an apartment complex offers.
Co-housing is for remote workers living under one roof.
Each person has their income and personal life but helps manage the space with the other tenants. Again, everyone is working remotely and building a community around the remote-working lifestyle.
Now that we have covered what type of remote-lifestyle communities exist, let us take a look at how to find these communities so you can start building relationships with like-minded people.
How to find housing as a digital nomad
The Collective
The Collective, located in New York, East London, and West London, offers studio apartments with all the amenities you would find in a traditional apartment complex. The Collective puts all fees into one hassle-free bill and arranges events and outings for their tenants to build relationships.
Common
Common lists several locations for remote-working tenants like Seattle, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Chicago, to name a few. Tenants share a fully furnished house and are offered private bedrooms with other high-end utility services.
Hostelworld
Although not a traditional remote working housing option, and maybe not a preferred method of travel, Hostels are co-living hotels that attract hundreds of remote workers every year. Hostelworld can help you find quality Hostels near you that provide everything you need to work and build a community around frequent travelers, like community dinners and outings.
Air BnB
Air Bnb can help you find the perfect apartment when you’re a traveling remote worker. You do not have to live with others to build community. Find a nice studio apartment and a coworking space in the area, and it is like working in a traditional office!
Outsite
Outsite lists several locations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America. It is another wonderful resource for anyone looking for a remote-working community while constantly moving. You do not have to be there in person either. You can connect with the Outsite community online!
Conclusion
The remote lifestyle is wonderful. It offers exciting new adventures, life-changing relationships, and dazzling views. It does not have to be lonely.
No matter where you are in life, community and mentorship are vital to a successful career. Remote workers should not have to starve themselves of these relationships.
Do not let the fear of the unknown stop you from pursuing your dreams. And certainly, do not let the fear of loneliness diminish your untapped potential. We live in the digital-nomad age where anything is possible. And it continues to evolve. It has never been easier to work from home or on the road, and it comes with a wonderful community. Working from home or on the road has never been easierSo why not start now?
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Alexandra Elinsky, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Elinsky lives to support professionals of all levels from all walks of life to book a call on her calendar, use this link – https://calendly.com/teamempoweryou/60min Dr. Alexandra Elinsky has a Ph.D. in Industrial Organization Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and is a trained Executive Coach, Corporate Trainer, and Researcher. Dr. Elinsky is the owner/founder of Empower Human Potential LLC and owns/operates another event planning business that builds confidence and leadership skills in children and teenagers. Dr. Elinsky has 10+ years of professional business and corporate experience and has built both of her businesses from the ground up with nothing short of patience.
