The Pros and Cons of Working from Anywhere
If you've been dreaming of working while traveling the world, it's time to give it a try.
If you’ve ever followed any location-independent blog or Instagram account, you’ve seen those glorious photos of the freelancer happily working away while sitting by the Caribbean blue waters on a white sandy beach with an adult beverage in hand. #LifeIsGood 💕
What most people don’t realize is that a freedom lifestyle business rarely ends up like the fairytale stories sold by these content creators.
Sure, we get to work from anywhere while playing by our own rules. And yes, there are some days when building a digital business by the beach is possible.
But most of the time, you’re grinding it all out in your travel van or RV, in a motel, or by hanging out at coffee shops. #TheRealLife 💁
Don’t get me wrong.
It’s still an awesome way to live and work! I’d rather do that than spend hours in traffic going to a “real” job. It’s just that so many of the digital nomads sharing their lifestyle are really marketing a fantasy in exchange for your hard-earned dollars.
So I won’t bullshit you. Here’s the truth about it all.
The Pros of Working from Anywhere
The best aspect of running a digital business is the ability to travel and see the world at your own pace. But there are other benefits, such as improved mental wellness and greater freedom in your daily life.
These are some of the biggest reasons people choose to become digital nomads.
You can move to new locations each day or stay in place for weeks.
You can experience different cultures, cuisines, beverages, and landscapes.
You can build your life around new adventures or interests.
You can spend more time doing what you love and work less.
You can meet people and build relationships wherever you go.
You can enjoy the great outdoors and be more physically active.
As you can see, these are some strong points for being location-independent. It can certainly offer you a fantastic future of happiness.
The Cons of Working from Anywhere
In life, there are ups and downs. The worst aspect of becoming a digital entrepreneur is embracing the fear of the unknown. There will be times when things don’t go as planned, and you'll need to adapt.
Here are some of the most common drawbacks of working on the road.
You can’t get dependable WiFi everywhere, which will affect your work.
You can’t predict the flow of business so that it can be feast or famine.
You can’t budget every travel expense because rates change constantly.
You can’t trust that there will always be hotel rooms or RV spots available.
You can’t play ALL the time AND expect to make a living.
You can’t expect everything to go the way you envisioned.
These problems will require you to be flexible in your daily work routine while working from the road. It can be mentally draining and stressful at times.
Is it all worth it in the end?
Overall, your experience will depend on several factors, including how you travel, your current financial situation, where you will be staying, and your type of business.
But I can tell you we have enjoyed our life on the road.
Even though being a digital nomad and running online businesses has challenges, we wouldn’t have it any other way. We can’t imagine going back to a “normal life” in the foreseeable future.
Think about it like this.
No matter where you work, whether it’s a traditional business or an unconventional company, there will always be pros and cons for each.
Nothing is ever perfect. So why not explore the options?
The biggest question you have to answer is, do you believe it will make you happier to work from anywhere? If so, you need to do it.
You will never know how it works out until you try. It’s always possible you will hate it or fail at it, but the pain of regret will always hurt more.
Take a leap of faith. Go for it.