Here is a guide on how to avoid becoming a "lazy potato" during the digital nomad lifestyle:

I visited 21 countries in the last 7 years. Thousands of memories & life stories. But... There is a hidden cost for that.

Here is a guide on how to avoid becoming a "lazy potato" & staying productive during the digital nomad lifestyle:

I love traveling. Visiting new places & nature, trying new food. This feeling of excitement comes from a new place over & over again. There are many positive aspects to being location-independent. I'm sure you know them.

But there is less awareness of how it can negatively affect you. Don't get me wrong. Being a digital nomad can create a lifetime experience. It can be the best thing ever.

In the last year, I have been in 8 different countries. Constantly changing locations and visiting new places. Together with my partner, we created memories that an average person might need 5 years for.

It's an amazing feeling being spontaneous, putting your stuff in small luggage, and finding yourself on an island far away from busy city life:

• Spending time on a beach.

• Visiting famous tourist locations.

• Eating local fresh food & enjoying warm weather.

Like a vacation that never ends... Here is the catch. It's not a vacation. It's a lifestyle. And it can be problematic. Soon you will understand why...

I have been working online for 12 years. I can afford to open my laptop only for a few hours per day to maintain my lifestyle. Sounds like a dream, right?

Yes and No. Let me explain.

When you are part of the corporate world:

• Working in a team.

• Big money environment.

• Deadlines & tough schedule.

Even when you make a significant amount of money, the corporate environment pushes you to the next level.

You are constantly on the move to the next challenge. You can't allow yourself to stop because the competition around you is huge. You are afraid of losing your job & career momentum. And If you are in good company, you are part of something bigger than yourself.

Life is divided into sections. Everything is clear and predictable.

You wake up & go to your office and work hard. On the weekends you rest and spend time with your family. You have an "illusion" of stability and predictable growth in your career.

Now read very carefully… The digital nomad lifestyle breaks this pattern.

There is no pattern of growth unless you create it. There is no stability if you don't invest time to have it.

When you are outside of the "Matrix." And you make all the decisions.

• When to wake up.

• From where to work.

• When to eat and sleep.

After some time... Even if you have military discipline. Sooner or later, you will start becoming "fluffy" with your tasks and goals.

Example: When you are on the island, in Las Palmas, and your partner will ask you: "Can you postpone this meeting? There is an animal shelter that I would like us to visit." You will think twice if you need the meeting at all.

Because the life around you is so colorful, and there are endless things that you can do and see.

• Beach

• Nature

• Animals

• Attractions

And this is just the beginning.

For everyone around, "you are living the dream." Do you?

The feeling of freedom & vacation is everywhere. And you want to take part in it. Otherwise, what is the point of being a digital nomad?

But most people that you see on the beach. It's their vacation time. After some time, they come back to their life. To develop their career and make an impact. And what is your dream? Just to see the world and how others are living?

I love to see other cultures. For sure it's better than some boring job. But for me. It's just not enough. And life isn't black and white.

If you are a nomad with enough money for your basic needs and wishes. You don't feel the pressure of competition and life in the same way as a regular person.

From one point of view, you are "blessed." And here is a point where slowly, without notice, you are becoming a "lazy potato."

From going to the gym 3 times per week, it's transformed to 1 time and after to a short morning routine... Work time is minimized to a few hours per day, but not for new projects. Because anyway, if you are from a Tier 1 country, you make enough.

There is no easier way:

• Destroying daily habits.

• To lose a sense of growth routine.

• Becoming addicted to something.

Then becoming a digital nomad. Why? Because there is nothing that can avoid that except YOU. There is no system or schedule if you are not creating one.

And if you don't know how to say NO to temporary pleasure and say YES to your biggest goals. You can become the worst enemy of yourself. 

Nomad freedom comes with a price of bigger responsibility if you want to achieve something impactful for you. You are the one who needs to create:

• Sports routines

• Financial stability

• Work-life balance

• Uplifting environment

And this is not easy for an average person who gets used to having a stable schedule built by someone else.

During my traveling, I met digital nomads that been traveling for 10 years. The first impression from this kind of person is that there is no stability in most aspects of life. There are plenty of stories and experiences. But lack of a strong character. Something was missing.

Maybe because when there was a conflict, this person just picked up his stuff and left? Instead of staying and becoming something more…

How to avoid that?

You only need 2 things:

• Big life goals.

• Effective daily habits routine.

That's it. It's simple.

When you have a goal for yourself 5 years from now. And you know what you want. Your goal will be more important than temporary pleasure. If it's not, it's not your goal... You just took it from someone else.

When you have a real goal. You will not work from a need. You will work from a desire to create. Energy will come from the inside.

When you have this...

Digital nomad lifestyle will stop being an escape mode from real life. An escape from taking responsibility. It would be a:

• Money-saving tool

• Networking opportunity

• Deep focus goal-oriented work

And effective daily habits? It's the system for your goal.

• Cold showers and morning meditations.

• Waking up and going to a Co-Work 5 times per week.

It doesn't matter which habits. You just need to have one that is measurable and works for you.

It's not easy to know what you want and be consistent. When there are so many temptations. The solution that I see is you need to be your own coach. Or to work with one to develop your character spine.

When you know what you want. When you have strong habits that push you forward. Being a digital nomad is the best thing ever. As you live the present moment to the fullest, but also becomes something bigger than you.

Otherwise, you have a chance to waste a few years of your life.

Take care,

Alex