The Shocking Truth About Digital Nomad Life People Don't Tell You

The world was my home, until I realized I needed a real one.

For over half a decade, my life was the dream for many people. Winters in Asia, springs in Europe, and the rest of the year back in North America, with exotic vacations sprinkled in between. It was exciting, but something was missing.

I was busy chasing patio season across continents, only to realize what I really needed was a place to watch the sun set every day.

I decided I needed to stop.

The nomadic lifestyle looks great on Instagram, the adventures, new experiences, delicious food, and endless parties. But in reality, digital nomad life is not the best way to grow and build a life.

“You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation.” — Gordon B. Hinckley

You can't take a lot of risk in life, if you don't have a safety net. Constantly moving around the world makes having a real base out of the question.

Every time I moved to a new city, I needed to set up a new home, develop new routines, find a new gym, make new friends etc. These constant changes ate up my days, leaving me with less time for personal projects, growth, and career development. It's exciting, sure, but it's also extremely draining.

In Vietnam, we have a saying: "An cư lập nghiệp," which means you need to settle down to establish a career. Whenever we migrate to a new place, we do whatever it takes to buy a home. I remember when we bought our first home in Canada. We had no furniture because we spent everything on the house, but we were happy. It was a new beginning.

Steve Jobs wore the same black turtleneck over and over. Mark Zuckerberg often shows up in the same grey t-shirt. These weren't just fashion choices. They were strategies to reduce decision fatigue. These ultra-successful billionaires optimize their lives to focus on what truly matters. But when you're constantly moving, everything is a new decision, every single day.

Now every evening, I come to this same spot to watch the sunset.

Nomadic life might look glamorous, but remember that the most impressive journeys often start from a place of stability.

It's about building a stable home, not just hopping around the world wherever the wind takes you

The more I traveled, the less I grew.

I read less, wrote less, worked less.

I missed consuming content and working on myself. Starting new businesses was nearly impossible with my nomadic lifestyle.

That's why I quit being a nomad.

The fewer decisions you have to make every day, the more energy you'll have for what truly matters. And that's how you can become your best self.

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