What Do Digital Nomads Do? A Day in the Life of a Digital Nomad

What do digital nomads do? 

You see incredible photos of digital nomads sitting on the beach, exploring exotic places, and having the time of their lives. From an outsider’s perspective, it looks like digital nomads are always on vacation. 

Many people who are working location-dependent jobs ask, what do digital nomads do that they can afford this kind of lifestyle? What digital nomad jobs do they have to support themselves solely from their computer?

I’m going to reveal what it’s actually like to be a digital nomad and take you through my day. 

Let me introduce myself – I’m Brittany! 

I’m the co-founder of Nomads Embassy and also a freelance writer. I began my digital nomad lifestyle three years ago. I’ve visited 17 countries and have lived in 5 of them so far. 

Often people ask me how I can travel so much when they see my Instagram stories. I can read a tinge of jealousy in their questions. So, I want to share with you, who’s wondering what digital nomads do, exactly what my days are like while living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. 

Morning Routine

If you’re familiar with Nomads Embassy, you know how much we advocate for having a strong morning routine. Setting a morning routine for yourself sets you up for success throughout the rest of the day. 

Here’s my morning routine:

I set my alarm for 6:50 am every morning. Don’t think of me as an overachiever, though. I don’t get out of bed until 7:10 or so. 

The first thing I do is brush my teeth and make my bed. 

Then I spend about 15 minutes stretching or a short yoga flow while my coffee is brewing. Stretching is one of the most important parts of my day, especially because I spend most of it sitting hunched over a computer. I like to focus on my neck, shoulders, and hips to keep me flexible and comfortable. 

As I eat breakfast, I make my to-do list for the day and check my emails. Then it’s off for a shower! 

Starting the Work Day

I’ll usually start working around 9 am. As a digital nomad, I’m able to set my own schedule, so technically I could work in the afternoon and into the late night. But I enjoy my sleep too much and choose to keep semi-normal hours. 

There’s a lot to do running Nomads Embassy and also working with my freelance clients. Usually, I’ll spend the morning sitting out on my balcony overlooking my apartment complex’s pool and write articles for my clients. 

Sometimes I choose to spend the morning working at a local cafe, my two favorites in Playa del Carmen are Mi Dogo Cafe and Choux Choux Cafe. 

Around 11 am I’ll take a break for a quick snack, to browse social media, or to take a walk around the neighborhood if it’s a nice day. But then it’s back to work! 

A Relaxing Lunch Break

Until now, it sounds like digital nomads do what everyone else does, right? 

Well, one perk of living the digital nomad lifestyle is the opportunity to enjoy a different culture’s cuisine. And I must say, I’m a big fan of Mexican food!

I’ll usually go out for lunch. Each day I can choose whether to have lunch on the beach, go along the bustling 5th Avenue, or stop at my favorite taco spot just down the street. 

This is my time to really appreciate my lifestyle. How many other people get to enjoy enchiladas while digging their toes in the sand overlooking the Caribbean Sea every Wednesday afternoon? Not many! 

Back to Work

After lunch, it’s time to get back to work! 

It’s in the afternoons that I spend working on Nomads Embassy either creating content, strategizing with Jack how best to help aspiring digital nomads, and working to make it the best platform possible for you. 

So, ask again, what do digital nomads do? 

They work – a lot! 

It isn’t easy to maintain the lifestyle we live. It takes a lot of courage, hard work, and self-discipline. But, being part of a global digital nomad community and having a vision for wanting to help others become digital nomads and enjoy the lifestyle I created is what motivates me.

Self-Care is Just as Important

After a long day of writing, strategizing, and answer emails, it’s time to shut my brain off for a bit of self-care. 

Around 5 pm I’ll take an hour and a half to go to the gym or do some yoga. This is my time to let my brain stop for a bit and get the blood flowing after sitting down for most of the day. 

It’s so important to take care of yourself, especially while living an exciting digital nomad lifestyle. This keeps our mindset in check, our bodies energized, and motivation for pursuing our dreams high! 

Soak It All In

Depending on the day and the mood I’m in, I like to end my walking through town, popping in and out of the little stores along 5th and 10th Avenue. 

Sometimes I’ll visit my favorite beach bar for a relaxing drink and watch the sunset over the sea. 

This is my time again to love and truly appreciate my digital nomad life. I stay grateful every day for what I’ve created for myself. 

And it gives me even more motivation to help someone else create it for themselves! 

The Weekends of a Digital Nomad

Now, what do digital nomads do on the weekends? 

Everyone loves an adventurous or relaxing weekend, especially digital nomads. 

Since I work during the week and keep a fairly normal schedule, I use my weekends to explore the country I’m living in. 

For example, in Playa del Carmen, I’ll visit one of the thousands of cenotes in the area, spend the day at a beach club, or go to Tulum for the weekend and check out ancient Mayan ruins. 

One weekend we visited Chichen Itza, the gorgeous Mayan pyramid, and explored the colonial town of Valladolid. 

It’s a Pretty Normal Life – Just With Some Awesome Perks

As you can see, my life is fairly normal. Sure, I get to see some pretty cool places, hang out at the beach a couple of times a week, and enjoy delicious authentic Mexican food, but for the most part, I’m working just like you! 

Every digital nomad is different, though. The beauty of a digital nomad lifestyle is that it’s an individual experience. You make of it what you want! 

If I wanted to sleep in until lunchtime and work late into the night, I could do that. If I wanted to move to the west coast of Mexico, I could do that. If I wanted to just stay in my apartment and watch movies all weekend, I could do that too. 

The digital nomad lifestyle is about freedom – the freedom to choose to do what makes you happy. 

Do You Want to Do What Digital Nomads Do?

Does this lifestyle sound like something you want to do? 

Do you want to choose the hours you work?

Do you want to choose where you live?

Do you want to have the freedom to make these choices without the complications of living a location-dependent lifestyle?

Nomads Embassy can help! In just 5 minutes or less, you can get started on your journey to achieve a digital nomad lifestyle. With an interactive platform with a step-by-step process and one-on-one assistance, you won’t have to go through this transition alone. 

You can also your digital nomad journey with our comprehensive online course, How to Become a Digital Nomad in 2021.