Being a digital nomad definitely looks and sounds appealing—working from exotic locations, maybe even overlooking the coast, drinking coffee in cool cafes, while traversing the world on your breaks. Who can argue with that? But the reality behind those perfectly 'instagrammable' pictures is that it’s all a little more nuanced than meets the untrained eye. I’m not saying it’s awful, but it’s not necessarily what you’re seeing on those globe trotter blogs you're following. And I prefer the unbiased appraisal, so I'm offering you one.
After more than a few years of living outside my home of England, travelling several countries across 3 continents with my son and our backpacks, I’ve discovered that the café workspace isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. While I wrote most of my children’s book in Croatia from my rented apartment, I illustrated most of the final manuscript in several cafés (and one pretty terrible hostel) in Vietnam. And I can tell you, it isn’t always productive for the nomads seeking the perfect spot for a remote setup if they can even have that. Many can't. I could.
The Café Ambiance: A Mixed Bag
First up: logistics. Cafés obviously offer an enticing mix: the rich smell of coffee, the background hum of conversations, some light jazz you’d never play at home but works, and the cosy décor. They can be perfect for a spark—or a total productivity killer. Here’s why:
1. Noise Levels: That gentle hum can soon twist into a cacophony. From the blender crushing the ice cubes to the couple next to you having a heated debate about avocado toast while their kid hurtles around in circles to get parental attention, makes it hard to concentrate on anything besides how loud people can chew.
2. Unstable Wi-Fi: It’s a gamble. Some days the Wi-Fi is lightning-fast, other days it’s as if you’re trying to connect with a plastic cup and string. I mostly freelance as an illustrator and when you’re trying to upload an artwork on a deadline, that “free Wi-Fi” sign on the door can quickly feel like a cruel joke.
3. Physical Comfort: After slipping a disc in my lower back, I’ve realised not all seating is created equal. And many cafes favour aesthetics over ergonomics, leaving my back basically pleading for mercy. My lumbar cushion is as essential as my iPad at this point. Without it, I’d soon find myself back in a wheelie hospital bed eating hospital ‘food’. Again.
Small side note: I’ll say very little of the nomads draped across white sand in the sun, pretending they can even see their screen in that light, and that their back isn’t in agony while their device is on the verge of combustion. I can’t tolerate the nonsense. They're posting pictures that fail to offer anything that even remotely resembles reality. Instead, I shall stick to reporting back on café spaces, which are at least a little reasonable as options go, and without the depositing of sand in places sand shouldn’t be found, especially when you’re in a zoom meeting. I meant the charging port, of course.
Case in point:
I digress...
The Practical Challenges
Working from cafés also means navigating a few practical issues:
1. Security: Leaving your equipment unattended, even for a quick bathroom break, is like playing Russian roulette. Pack it all up, and you might lose your coveted spot. Leave it, and you could be on an unintended detox from necessary technology.
2. Limited Space: Café tables are often as small as the portion sizes in French hotel restaurants. Trying to spread out your work materials can feel like playing Tetris with your laptop, coffee cup, and the inevitable stack of napkins if you’re me.
The Social Element: The Good, the Bad, and the Necessary
Despite all that, cafés offer something hard to find when working alone. Like other humans. After spending hours deep in the solitary trenches of writing or creating something, a little social interaction can be the antidote to those feelings of isolation. Even if it’s just eavesdropping on someone else’s conversation (purely for character inspiration, of course). Being surrounded by people, even if you don’t interact or even like them, can be oddly comforting. It’s a reminder that there’s life outside Procreate or whatever software you’re sucked into. And sometimes, the best ideas come from simply people-watching.
A Global Creative Community
Creating my children’s book has been an adventure in itself. And it’s amazing what a change in scenery can do for the creative process and your pace in getting that done and out there—and how many types of coffee you can consume across various countries. Which was possibly the biggest upside for me as a die hard coffee and Gilmore fan. (I highly recommend the salted or egg coffees in Hanoi, Vietnam. I particularly liked the prices.)
Conclusion: Finding Balance
Like with anything, right? It's about balance. Living the digital nomad life is basically finding that sweet spot between fantasy and reality. It’s not always easy, especially with back issues and a love for café vibes and humans I can be near, but not actually have to talk to. Yes, I know—I’m a self-confessed introvert/extrovert walking contradiction. But with some planning, it’s at least possible to enjoy the best parts of that lifestyle. My advice: I always check the Wi-Fi before buying a drink. That’s standard. Check the table for that shorter leg so you don’t have to wedge your napkins under it, and try to find spaces with nooks and crannies to get a little privacy. Also, take something you can reserve your table with that you don’t mind never seeing again, and always pack the expensive equipment and take it with you for loo breaks.
Might all seem obvious, but when you’re new to that life, you’re gonna mess up and get frustrated. Just plan well and hang in there—the digital nomad dream isn’t all sunshine and perfectly ground beans shat from the intestines of Asian Palm Civets, but it still has its perks.
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