Gone are the days where a classic nine-to-five is considered to the Holy Grail. Freedom, flexibility, and time have taken the top spot in the form of the luxury digital nomad.
A digital nomadic lifestyle is nothing new. But a luxury digital nomad? Now that’s a term that’s starting to make waves.
Having the ability to travel the world while working simultaneously has long been alluring to many people. But the nomadic lifestyle often conjures a vision of Bali beach bums and backpackers on a budget.
When the term ‘digital nomad” first took off during the 2010’s, it still wasn’t quite a luxurious concept.
Again, images of hostels and couchsurfing, cheap eats and low-cost locations came to mind.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course–each to their own.
Yet, somewhere along the way, something changed.
The career landscape is changing
In fact, the way we work in general changed.
I’ve touched on the whole idea of the word ‘freelance‘ meaning pauper before, but the world has certainly taken note.
Even before that thing that happened in 2020–and 2021, and still caused a stir in 2022–becoming a freelancer was on the rise.
But since? Whole workforces have gone remote.
And can you blame them?
With entire office blocks left empty in the wake of the unmentionable disaster of the 2020s, it was inevitable.
Yet, with such a move, those with what we’d traditional consider to have high-powered successful careers were now free to do whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted.
Enter the era of the luxury digital nomad.
The luxury digital nomad lifestyle
While I have zero intention of this being a how to become a digital nomad style post (fear not–I have a follow-up in the works), there is something about the idea of the luxury digital nomad.
Rather than pennypinching and roughing it in conditons I really can’t bear to think about, the modern digital nomad is speaking my language.
The luxury digital nomad is more about the high-life. There’s no longer a need to slum it or cut-back on living costs because the funds are there.
After all, the bulk of this brigade are digital entrepreneurs and business owners!
And I don’t know about you, but–despite having a little flirt with the lifestyle myself in recent years (more on than another time)–it’s interesting to know exactly what the lifestyle of a luxury digital nomad might require.
Seemingly, it’s as follows…
1. A location independent career
Ironically, work that can be done from anywhere in the world is key.
It doesn’t overly matter if it’s a remote job, a career as a freelancer, or an online business, it just has to be location indpendent.
Naturally, being able to navigate timezones is equally important.
If one plans to jetset around the world, they need to do so in accordance with their work schedule.
2. Disposable income
While a backpacker or what the OG vision of a digital nomad used to represent may pride themselves on getting by on less than ten dollars a day, it’s far from a must.
In fact, the luxury model requires a disposable income to fund the lifestyle.
Whether you have your eye on Le Sirenuse in Positano or Six Senses Koh Samui—two of my personal favourites–you’ll need the budget to match.
But again, with a fruitful career path or profitable business, that’s just the natural byproduct.
3. The desire to experience more
And finally, we have the desire to live a life beyond what would be considered to be the norm.
To the luxury digital nomad, living on the conveyor belt of life isn’t enough.
If you have the desire to experience more, see more, explore the world, and truly live, a nomadic lifestyle will certainly speak to you.
Teamed with an affinity for the finer things in life, if everything in this post has got you salivating like one of Pavlov’s dogs, the life of the luxury digital nomad might just be for you.