Mark Greene
Digital nomads have that kind of lifestyle everyone is jealous of: after all, isn’t it great to be able to work from anywhere and explore the world? Well, yes, but this freedom comes at a cost: maintaining relationships with loved ones can be tricky when you’re always traveling, and it is common for digital nomads to experience loneliness to such an extent that they may want to give up this way of living altogether.
But fear not; this doesn’t have to be the case! You can learn to navigate the challenges of staying connected with friends and family and make the most of your nomad life. Keep reading to discover our top tips on doing so.
Prioritize communication
When you’re always on the go, maintaining your relationships is no longer as easy as when living in the same city as your loved ones. Thus, it is essential to find creative solutions to stay in touch with your friends and family, such as getting an eSIM, which ensures connectivity while on the go. If you don’t know what is eSIM, let us clarify it for you. Simply put, it is a digital form of the physical SIM card, having the same function but providing many advantages over the latter. When trying to stay in touch with your loved ones, communication is key, so check in regularly to see how they are doing. While sending updates via messaging is okay, you also want to schedule video calls, as face-to-face chats are essential in feeling more connected with them.
Now, this doesn’t mean you should always be organized when it comes to communicating with loved ones – you can also make room for some spontaneity, as this will show those at home that they are always on your mind. For instance, you can give your friend a surprise call on their birthday or send them a picture if you see something amusing in the street on a regular day. Simple things like these can go a long way in maintaining relationships with your loved ones.
Take advantage of social media
As a digital nomad, maintaining social media can seem like another task you need to cross off your to-do list, but it can, in fact, be an excellent tool that you can use to connect with the people who matter to you. No matter how demanding your job is, you must ensure your favorite people have updates on your life – otherwise, it is less likely that you will succeed in staying connected.
You don’t have to overcomplicate maintaining your relationships, and with social media, there are some effective ways to do so. For instance, you can use WhatsApp groups to catch up with several people at the same time and send voice messages instead of writing long texts. Make sure to install google fi eSIM to have Wi-Fi wherever needed. This will help you avoid using cellular data, allowing you to stay connected easily and saving you money.
Invite loved ones to meet you abroad
Another great way to stay connected is by inviting your family and friends to meet you abroad. This will not only allow you to catch up with one another but also provide you with an excellent opportunity to make memories together. You can show them some of the best attractions in the place, teach them about the culture of the location, and do activities that are enjoyable for all of you, such as hiking or going to a dance party.
It’s a good idea to ask them to visit you for Christmas, New Year or another holiday, as this is the perfect time to be with your loved ones. If you want your family to come abroad, consider booking the flight for them – it is a meaningful thing you can do for them, which will undoubtedly be appreciated.
Plan a visit home
While there are ways to maintain close relationships from away, no video call can replace the feeling of being physically close to your loved ones. So, consider planning a visit home and spend some quality time with friends and family. Set the goal to book a flight to your country at least once a year; for instance, you can visit home annually during Christmas. Since everyone gathers for the holiday, it is the best occasion to see the people you love in one place.
However, remember that you have limited time when visiting home, and with so many people you want to see, you’ll have to get organized and come up with the right solution. One idea is to choose a location, tell your friends the date and time you’ll be there, and ask them to come if they have some free time. This can be a great way to meet several people at once instead of trying to meet them individually.
Remember to take care of yourself
It may seem like this has nothing to do with maintaining your relationships, but self-care is essential to ensure you will thrive in all areas of your life – including the social one. While being a digital nomad comes with tremendous benefits, it also brings challenges, and you need to build a self-care routine to navigate this kind of lifestyle successfully. Things like healthy eating, exercise, and meditation will go a long way in maintaining your well-being, allowing you to communicate more effectively in your relationships.
As a popular saying goes,” You can’t heal from an empty cup.” If you don’t tune into your needs and see what your mind, heart and body need, you won’t be able to show up in your relationships either. So, remember to take care of your physical and mental health and develop a self-care practice that is unique to you. By taking care of yourself, it will be easier to be more understanding with those in your life, ultimately strengthening your relationships with them.
Nurturing Connections as a Nomad
Maintaining relationships with those at home may seem complicated when you’re a digital nomad, making you fear that you will grow apart as time goes by. That’s a legitimate fear, but it doesn’t have to come true – if you make an effort to nurture your relationships regularly, distance and time won’t break the bond you have.
