Why I'm Quitting the Digital Nomad Dream

Living as a digital nomad for two years was one of the best things I could have ever done. I've always said travel, especially solo travel, is the best form of self-growth. Not just for the travel and different settings, but for the logistics, the different cultures, the different ways of life, and most importantly, the different types of people.

It's enhanced so many things about me: my thirst for knowledge, my understanding, my curiosity, my communication skills. It makes you see life through a completely different lens.

I'd been in an office for 12 years, no regrets, but when you wake up in shorts and a t-shirt and work from a café or coworking space with the sun shining, your budget extremely low, just a suitcase of clothes, you've stripped life to its simplest form.

It really makes you think: how much do you actually need? The answer, I discovered, is surprisingly little. A laptop, a good pair of headphones, comfortable shoes, and an open mind. That's basically it.

Lombok, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Sri Lanka, the French Alps, Valencia. Each place taught me something new about myself and the world. I learned to navigate foreign transit systems, to communicate across language barriers, to appreciate the small differences in how people approach work, food, community.

I met people from every corner of the globe, each with their own story, their own perspective on what it means to live a good life. These encounters changed me in ways I'm still discovering.

The freedom was intoxicating. No commute. No dress code. Just the flexibility to work when inspiration struck and explore when wanderlust called. There's something profound about watching the sunset over a new beach, knowing tomorrow you could wake up and decide to stay another month or move on to the next adventure. That level of autonomy is addictive.

But then, as we know, life isn't simple or easy, specially a meaningful one. Cracks start to appear. You start to think long term. Where will I be in five years? What am I building toward? Friends keep moving on, settling down, buying homes, starting families. You realize you're always the one visiting, never being visited.

You get burnt out researching places, where to live, where to work, what gym to join, which neighborhood is safe, which SIM card to buy, how the local transport works. The mental load of constantly being new somewhere becomes exhausting.

Life is simple, yet you miss the simple things: a home with your own furniture, a car that's actually yours, regular friend catch-ups where you pick up conversations from last week, a regular gym routine where the staff knows your name. And most importantly, in-person connections. Because most digital nomads are just on their laptops all day, believe it or not. The irony of traveling the world while staring at a screen isn't lost on me.

I started to crave depth over breadth. Roots over wings. The richness that comes from really knowing a place, being part of a community, building relationships that extend beyond "where are you headed next?" I wanted to be someone's regular, not just a passing face.

This year, I'm slowing down. Just the UK and the US. I want to build in-person relationships. I want to get back to some sort of structure, to see what happens when I commit to staying somewhere long enough to actually belong. Let's see how I adapt to more of my old life, though I know it won't be exactly the same. I'm not the same person who left two years ago.

I'm excited to see the growth, because that's what life is all about: growing and seeing what has changed, what your journey looks like now. The nomad chapter taught me what I need. Now it's time to discover what I want.

If you've read this far, maybe there's something here for you too. You don't need to become a digital nomad to experiment with your life. Maybe it's trying a new hobby, changing your routine, having conversations with people outside your usual circle, or simply questioning whether the path you're on is still the right one for you. Growth happens when we're willing to step outside our comfort zones, even just a little. This year, I hope you discover something about yourself that improves your life, whatever that looks like for you.

If you want to chat, I’m always here, I’d personally love to.

Billy Hudspith

Your Mindset & Habit Creator