Psychology of being a Digital Nomad

by Mirko Lorenz / Dec 4

Working independently has many benefits. You skip the commute, you have a small share of office politics, etc.

Though, what many people forget, is that being part of a group is very important in getting work done. It is important to share thoughts with colleagues, not only clients.

Working alone can be very productive at times, but be aware that based on work load, work intensity there might be times when there is no energy to work through long to-do lists, tasks and all the needed building blocks for todays work.

My guess is that there is a specific psychology attached to this that should be explored and understood. Such a psychology of digital nomads should provide a holistic view of what is needed to stay motivated and productive over longer periods, including ups and downs of such a work style.

As a checklist such a psychology should be based on a classic Masslow pyramid. The key of this model is that there are human needs that must be fulfilled and that the lower levels must be satisfied before higher levels can be addressed.

It might be a mistake to look at new work styles only by “Self-Actualization”, which is the dream of many and often a misunderstanding about working as a free-lancer and/or a digital nomad. (My source for this: Steve McConnell, Software Project Survival Guide”, 1998, Microsoft Press, ISBN 1-57231-621-7).

What are the hierarchies?
(Turning the pyramide upside down, starting on the low levels…)

Physiological Needs
(food, air, water, etc.)

Safety Needs
(avoid pain, fear, and insecurity)

——–
Social Contats, Belongingness and Love

Self-Esteem

Self-Actualization

………..

It might be a distortion only to look a successful “digital nomads” and think that they have achieved “self-actualization” as the first step. My guess is that you have to go through all stages, starting at the bottom, to reach the higher levels and stay there for a longer time.

This might be obvious to everyone who went through all the cycles of independent, entrepreneurial work. But making newcomers aware that there is a need for a strong base from which you can build such a lifestyle might be important.

This is open for comments, of course.

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