How to stay Motivated Working as a Digital Nomad
Being a digital nomad undoubtedly comes with a lot of perks, but it’s not always a walk in the park. Yes, you do get to travel whenever and wherever you want, but none of that comes for free – you do have to work once in a while. So how do stay motivated to work, when all you want to do is to run down to the beach? We have gathered some tips which will allow you to do both.
Stay organized
If you’re working freelance or working on your own business, everything you achieve will be dependent on your own efforts. Nothing will be given to you, and this is what you need to remind yourself of. If you’re working remotely for a company, it might be a bit easier, because your boss is expecting you to do what you’re essentially paid to do.
However, we know that work isn’t always at the top of your priority list, regardless of your work situation. Something which might help is to have designated working hours each day so that it’ll feel more like an office environment. Depending on where you are, try to also set up a workstation, which you only use during work hours.
If you haven’t already, this might also be the time to invest in a personal planner. By giving it a personal touch, perhaps with some photos of your dream destinations, you might find yourself with a bit more motivation to keep working.
To sum it up; be a bit strict with yourself, tell yourself that you will sit down at your workstation during working hours, and complete what you need to complete this particular day.
Connect with likeminded people
Being a digital nomad doesn’t mean that you need to do everything alone. There are tons of communities online where you can connect with people who are in the same situation. You can even work together.
If you think it might help, you can also establish an accountability group. An accountability group is a group of people holding each other accountable to finish up work. Even if they’re not connected to your business, or company, having someone else to push you might get your motivation up and running. After all, we humans generally hate to let other people down. Therefore, this is a great mind-trick to keep busy during working hours. If you’re wondering how to make friends as a Digital Nomad, check out this article we wrote.
Something else you might want to do is to join a co-working community. This can either be a physical gathering at a cafe or someone’s house or renting an actual co-working office. If going somewhere else to work is too much of a hassle, you can even find virtual co-working spaces like Gather.
Adapt
Make a habit out of planning your days according to where you are. If you’re residing right by the ocean, with the beach a short walk away, it wouldn’t make much sense to be trapped in front of your computer all day.
Try to schedule your days so that you get some much-needed hours in the sun. You could try and do more work in the afternoon. If there’s a concert you want to attend, do your best to finish your work earlier in the day. Lack of motivation can be fueled by the frustration of missing out on the things you want to do. Try to avoid that to the best of your abilities.
Another good idea is finishing as much work as possible whilst you are on the plane or on the train. You will have more free time once you reach your destination!
Remember why you started
Sometimes it can be good to take a step back and remember why you chose this life in the first place. Remind yourself how far you’ve come, and what you have achieved so far. Practicing some gratitude occasionally might help you keep up your motivation when you’re struggling.
Remember that part of life is to try to love the situation you’re in right now. Even if it’s not exactly where you imagined you would be. Focus on yourself and try not to compare yourself with everyone else. Comparison is a huge happiness deflator. You’re doing this for yourself, so keep doing what you’re doing, and enjoy the ride!
