Coping with Loneliness as a Digital Nomad

As someone who’s lived the digital nomad lifestyle for a few years now, I’ve experienced the allure of beautiful exotic locations, newfound freedom, and flexibility in my working schedule. Yet, there also comes the flipside – the intense feelings of loneliness and isolation. Just like many modern-age globe trotters, I’ve had my fair share of solitary moments in bustling coffee shops and quiet studio apartments. So, today, I’d like to share some strategies that have helped me cope with loneliness while living life on the road.

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Causes
• Building Connections
• Embrace Technology
• Make Time for Yourself
• Look After Your Mental Health
• Final Thoughts

Understanding the Causes

Initially, it’s crucial to acknowledge that feeling lonely is totally normal. Notably, loneliness doesn’t always stem from being alone. More accurately, it springs from a lack of deep human connections. This can be especially challenging as a digital nomad because relationships are often temporary. Given these points, the first step to coping is understanding the source of your loneliness. Believe me; I’ve spent many a night musing over why, despite being in a city of millions, I felt so alone.

Building Connections

My primary solution to the loneliness problem is simple: forge connections. However, it’s important to realize that while meeting new people can be adventurous and exciting, it also requires effort. Happily, digital nomads are normally a friendly tribe. Moreover, we all crave a sense of belonging and community, no matter where we are in the world. For example, I once struck up a conversation with a fellow digital nomad at a co-working space in Bali. Fast forward to today, and we’re inseparable friends on and off the ‘virtual’ work floor.

Recommended article: Finding Love on the Road: Relationships and Digital Nomadic Life

Embrace Technology

Fortunately, technology can also be a luxurious companion. In particular, social media platforms and communication apps like Skype, Zoom and Slack can help you stay connected to your family, friends, and colleagues back home. They’ve certainly helped make my journey as a digital nomad less lonely. Every Sunday, my parents and I have a standing Skype date. Being in different time zones only adds to our endearing tradition.

Make Time for Yourself

Especially when feeling low, it’s significant to realize that it’s okay to spend time alone. Indeed, being alone should not necessarily translate to loneliness. Strangely enough, I’ve found that solitude can help me develop a clearer sense of who I am. Therefore, taking time for self-reflection, reading, or just lounging on the beach can genuinely help abate those feelings.

Look After Your Mental Health

Equally important to any established routine is ensuring you’re looking after your mental health. Indeed, it’s hard to foster connections if you’re not feeling your best mentally. Exercise, healthy eating, and good sleep habits can have a profound impact on your mood and outlook. For example, I always make sure to practice yoga every day, which has proven to have significant stress-relief benefits.

Recommended article: Conquering Loneliness: A Digital Nomad’s Greatest Challenge

Final Thoughts

Altogether, the point is not to ward off loneliness completely – that would be unrealistic. Rather, the key is to have strategies in place for a healthier mindset. As for me, with each passing year, the pangs of loneliness are becoming less frequent, less potent. After all, finding the balance between solitude and companionship, work and leisure, unfamiliarity and routine – that’s what being a digital nomad is all about.