At Digidop, a Webflow agency, we are a 100% remote company. We also give the entire team the opportunity to be Digital Nomads. During our recruitment interviews, the request is becoming more frequent.
Can I work from anywhere in the world?
So, to fully understand the emotions and challenges surrounding this lifestyle, "the Digital Nomad life".... I decided to experience it myself and become a Digital Nomad for 1 month👨🏼💻🌎!
In September 2022, I worked in 4 cities across 2 different countries. My hours were asynchronous with the rest of the team (GMT-6 / GMT-7 🇺🇸🇨🇦).
The goal was to comprehend this lifestyle that combines work and travel, enabling me to advise/help future team members in this situation.
Here’s my feedback on the experience!
Digital Nomad vs Asynchronous
First, I would like to differentiate between two terms and two modes of operation that are often confused, yet are very different. The Digital Nomad mode VERSUS the asynchronous remote work mode.
Here’s my personal definition of these terms to conceptualize my argument;
Digital Nomad: They travel very often and spend little time in the same city or country.
Asynchronous remote work: A working method where team members can work from anywhere in the world, regardless of time zones. They do not necessarily move around and can remain (be sedentary) in one city/region/country for several months or even years.
In the first part of this article, I will only discuss the advantages and limitations of the Digital Nomad lifestyle, the topic of this article. Then, in the second part, I will share my thoughts on "sedentary" asynchronous remote work.
Digital Nomad: The Pros and Cons
I will address the topic concisely. There are advantages and disadvantages to combining work and travel. It is therefore crucial to know yourself and understand the lifestyle you desire.
Here are my Digital Nomad destinations:
- Saint Petersburg, Florida
- Niagara Falls, Ontario
- Toronto, Canada
The Advantages of the Digital Nomad Experience
- Discovering new cultures and engaging with perspectives different from my own is very enriching.
- It's much easier to establish new habits in a new environment.
- There is an energizing element that comes from "the adventure."
- Learning new languages.
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The Limitations of Being a Digital Nomad:
- My primary need: a constant quest for Wi-Fi.
- The time it takes for my brain to associate a new place with an area of deep concentration #StateOfFlow
- Traveling is energy-consuming (the fatigue associated with each move: comparing hotels, hostels, transport, etc...)
- Just as a "good habit" starts to settle in, it gets disrupted.
Working Asynchronously in Florida
My destination: Orlando, Florida
I'm a fan. From an operational standpoint, asynchronous remote work had NO negative impact on Digidop.
- Projects continued to be delivered,
- Clients remained satisfied,
- I was able to communicate effortlessly with the entire team thanks to technologies like Loom, Slack, and Google Meet.
I was able to establish my daily routines: diet, exercise, reading, etc...
The only "limitation" I felt was that I am an early riser. I love waking up early and tackling all of my "difficult tasks" at that time. It's during this part of the day that I am at my best and most effective. In France, I rarely (if ever) take client and/or partner calls in the morning to focus on what we call "deep work."
In Florida, I was on GMT -6. To conduct training sessions and follow up on client projects, I had to schedule these exchanges in the morning (afternoon in France). I had to change my habits and adapt.
But I remain an early person, and during my next departure, I will go even further in organizing my schedule to find the most productive balance.
My Opinion on the Experience
In conclusion (⚠️ this is just my opinion on the experience, based solely on my preferences and personal lifestyle);
Asynchronous remote work works very well, you just need to be mindful of scheduling with different time zones if you need to have live calls with clients. Because in reality, many calls can be replaced with Loom recordings.
I am less of a fan of the Digital Nomad lifestyle, which I find costly in terms of time and energy.
I like to settle in one place for several months. At a minimum, to create my work habits and boost productivity. Once I am comfortable in my environment, I can push myself each day and concentrate on my work to achieve my goals. Having my own space, with good Wi-Fi and leisure activities nearby is a lifestyle that suits me better.
So, yes, I would work in other countries again. This lifestyle allows me to combine exploration, travel, and work. It also permits me to work in the cultural environment that fulfills me the most. But I would stay in these countries for at least several months. (6 months?)
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Questions?
If you have a question about this experience, feel free to ask me directly on LinkedIn.
If you want to join a web agency (specialized in Figma and Webflow) that offers you the opportunity to work from wherever you want in the world, you can contact us!
