Digital Nomad Mistakes: 10 Things I Would Do Differently if I Became a Digital Nomad Today

I’ve been a digital nomad for nearly four years, and while the experience has been incredible, there are definitely things I’d do differently if I were starting over. Hindsight is a powerful teacher. Here’s exactly what I would change if I became a digital nomad today.

I’d sell all my things first

Or at least most of them. I made the mistake of putting everything in storage, and I mean everything. All my furniture, even stuff I didn’t even like, plus things like towels, kitchen utensils, and other easily replaceable items. If I had it to do over again, I would have sold all my furniture, donated all my easily replaceable items, and gotten a smaller storage unit. Now, four years later, I’m dealing with a storage unit full of things. I’ve started selling them off little by little, and I’ll be doing a donation clearout soon, but man, what a PITA it’s been.

I know, I know, the safety net temptation is real. What if I hate being nomadic, you may ask yourself. Well, if you must keep your things, at least donate the cheap, replaceable things, and sell or donate anything you don’t love.

This is ridiculous…

I’d pack less

When I started out, I packed up my car as full as it would go and hit the road. But having so much stuff is stressful–you have to play car Tetris every single time you move, plus it gets to feel daunting when it’s a few days before your next move, and you think about having to pack everything up. It’s really not worth the extra outfit options.

I’d prioritize health and fitness from the start

It’s easy to get swept up in traveling and feel the urge to try every restaurant and coffee shop possible, and, of course, drink at new bars, all while skipping the gym. To find balance, I’d have committed to a low-pressure workout routine just 2-3 times a week and set a limit on how much I was eating out.

I’d give myself permission to rest and Let go of perfectionism

It can be tempting to try to cram in everything you want to do in each place you stay, but that can lead to feeling burnt out. I’d pace myself better if I had it to do all over again, especially knowing that I’m an introvert and my social batteries can die at any minute.

Also, there were a lot of new ventures I tried on the road, such as blogging and freelance writing. I managed to burn myself out on both because I was too focused on perfectionism from the start instead of just letting myself be a beginner. This obsession with perfectionism led to me feeling guilty when I wasn’t constantly working on something, which took away from my travel experience.

I’d budget better

Similar to overindulging, it’s easy to get carried away overspending too. That mindset of “I won’t be here forever, so I better make the most of it” can be dangerous. I’d have set weekly and monthly spending limits for categories like experiences and food and drink.

I’d save up more money before traveling

Extra expenses can add up pretty quickly, and the more of a cushion you have, the better. Plus, it’s harder to job hunt or try to set up other streams of income while you’re on the road because you’re so busy with travel.

I’d stay longer

I stayed around a month per place when I first started out, but that’s too often to move. The ideal sweet spot for me is 3 months or even longer.

I’d ditch any place I didn’t want to be

On the opposite side, I’d leave earlier if I didn’t like a place. I’ve toughed out disgusting hotels and dealt with other less than ideal conditions because I told myself it’s temporary. Never again.

I’d build community differently

My primary way of making friends when I first started was essentially meetups that involved drinking. If I had it to do over again, I’d have gone to more yoga classes, writing groups, book clubs, and other meetups that weren’t centered around partying.

I’d embrace the solo travel thing more

Honestly, I still struggle with a lot of things solo travelers do, like eating alone in restaurants. There are times I’ve quietly hidden at my table for one and wished I’d eaten at the bar after the fact. Who knows–I could have had interesting conversations and gotten great recommendations from locals!

Final Thoughts: What I would do differently

Though my nomadic experience has been great overall, I do wish I’d have done some things differently in the early days. Hopefully if you’re thinking of becoming a digital nomad, you can learn from my mistakes!

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