As Roamers, we are not tied down to a single location. But instead have the ability to work from anywhere in the world. The term “digital nomads” has been thrown around in recent years, especially after the pandemic, but when we adopted the concept, we preferred the term Roamers. The reason? Being that while digital nomads typically have a plan and a set destination, as Roamers, we embrace the uncertainty and adventure that comes with not having a specific plan or destination.
At the very least, we don’t have every single destination planned out in advance. That way we can make changes based on what we feel we want to do, see and experience.
The idea of being able to work from anywhere in the world was once just a pipe dream, but with advancements in technology and the rise of remote work, it has now become a reality for many people.
For us, being Roamers is about more than just the flexibility to work from anywhere. It’s about embracing a new way of life and being able to live life on our own terms. We have the freedom to travel to new places, meet new people, and experience new cultures. We have the opportunity to see the world and work at the same time, which for us is the ultimate dream.
One of the biggest benefits of being Roamers is that it allows you to escape the monotony of daily life. When you’re always in the same place, it’s easy to fall into a routine and feel like you’re not really living life to the fullest. But as Roamers, we are constantly on the move, discovering new places and experiencing new things. This keeps us constantly inspired and invigorated, and we never feel like we’re stuck in a rut.
Here are some of the many reasons we love roaming:
Freedom and flexibility:
You can work from anywhere as long as you have a reliable internet connection (That’s why at Roamers Community, we make sure you have reliable, high-speed internet). And by anywhere, we mean the temporary home you have settled in, but also the multitude of very cool coworking spaces that most destinations now offer, the many cute cafés…wherever your mood takes you.
A less stressful life:
Roaming can reduce the stress of everyday life in many ways. No need to maintain or manage a property, no long-term financial commitment, no need to deal with property-related responsibilities, flexibility in work schedule, reduced commute time. These are all day-to-day stresses that suddenly disappear, leaving you to focus on being productive at work, exploring your new destination, and pursuing other activities, hobbies or passions. Speaking of being productive at work, keep reading, we will share our best strategy regarding this!
Being exposed to new cultures and experiences:
When you travel for a vacation, spending just a week or two in one place, you don’t really get the chance to truly experience new cultures the way you do when you settle temporarily in one place. This provides personal growth and development, broadening of perspectives, increased empathy and understanding, improved adaptability and problem-solving skills. It can also expand one’s social and professional networks, create new opportunities and enhance creativity and inspiration.
Interested in Roaming in Québec City? Quebec City is the oldest city in Canada. Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its well-preserved architectural heritage and its European-style urban landscape. The Old Town is characterized by its narrow, winding streets, stone buildings, and historical landmarks, and is a popular tourist destination for its beautiful architecture and scenic views. Quebec is a safe and welcoming city with several charming neighbourhoods, where you will be greeted with a smile and genuine conversation. You can rent our apartments in Quebec city – click here to see availability.
But the honest truth is that the journey of becoming a Roamer is not without its challenges. You have to be comfortable with uncertainty and be able to adapt to new environments quickly. But with these challenges come the opportunities to learn and grow both personally and professionally.
We thought it would be important to share with you some of the challenges we have faced and some tips and advice on how to manage them.
Lack of stability:
While the freedom to travel can be exhilarating, it can also result in a lack of stability, especially if you are in constant search for new places to work and live. This is where temporary homes swoop in and save the day! Monthly or mid-term rentals offer the assurance of a cozy and stable home, without unnecessary stress. They become your home away from home, allowing you to get familiar with your environment and find your work-life balance in the place you have chosen to discover. This home away from home feeling is exactly the experience we create for you at Roamers Community. It is our way of sharing our experience with you, of giving you a glimpse of the Roamers magic.
Isolation:
Working alone or being away from friends and family for long periods can be lonely at times. But every place has a community, you just need to step out and immerse yourself in it. Being a Roamer offers you the advantage of having a routine that is different from the regular “live and work in your hometown” routine. In fact, that’s kind of the point. Go out, go for a walk, join a running group, join a gym, have a drink somewhere different. It is a must, culturally, socially, emotionally.
Difficulty balancing work and play:
Finding a healthy balance between work and leisure can be a challenge, especially when in a new place. Here’s a trick we use: deep work sessions.
Deep work sessions allow you to optimize your productivity, and therefore, free up more time for leisure (aka, explore and enjoy your current destination). Of course, during these deep work sessions, you need to be laser focus in a distraction-free environment.
The fact is the human brain has a limited amount of attention available each day. So (as you may have heard before), there is a huge difference between being busy and being productive.
Personnally, we have found that three 90-minute deep work sessions per day works best for us. Yes, this means we work “only” 4.5 hours per day instead of the regular 8/9 we’re used to considering as a “work day”. But to our greatest surprise, we actually get more work done this way than grinding behind our computers for 8+ hours. And over the course of weeks, months, years, this effect only grows.
If you aren’t your own boss, you may be required to be connected for 8+ hours per day for work. Here’s an argument for your employer: Princeton psychologist Eldar Shafir uses the term “cognitive bandwidth” to describe the limited attentional capacity of the human brain. This is actually a thing backed by his research…
We could go on and on about this, but perhaps it can be the topic for another article. Let us know in the comments if you would like to hear more about our productivity strategies!
Note to the reader: Sometimes we work a lot more. For example, when we launch new online course projects. We are not perfect! But you get the concept.
Overall, being a digital nomad, or a Roamer, can offer an exciting and adventurous lifestyle, but it also requires a great deal of adaptation, discipline and organization if you want to be successful, and most importantly, happy.
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We are the Mai & François Roamers. We share with you how to harness the power of Roaming to combine travel and work and create a life of freedom and fulfillment.
We would like to hear your comments on this blog: your questions, your ideas, your concerns, your advice, everything! We can’t wait to read you 👇
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