How to Thrive in Unpredictability

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After 2 years living as a digital nomad, there are some solid lessons in here that can apply to managing the uncertainties of life on the go, or of business—give it a watch and drop me a comment with your thoughts!

I put this together for those of us in business, or in working remotely anywhere in the world. I hope you get some value from it 🙂

What resonates with your experiences?
Do these nomadic life reflections ring true to your business experience too?

In a lifestyle of unpredictability, the last thing you want to worry about is managing your passwords or data getting in the wrong hands.

One of the biggest draws to the digital nomad lifestyle and entrepreneurship is that it isn't your typical 9-to-5 gig — it’s breaking you out of the matrix of sameness.

But moving away from these structures can really throw new nomads and entrepreneurs for a loop.

By better understanding these challenges and how they show up for us, we can better create strategies to overcome them — all while embracing the beauty of the unexpected.

After climbing a volcano last weekend here in Guatemala, these lessons seem even more relevant as we all climb our proverbial mountains on our business journeys.

Here are just a few of my personal insights into the unexpected challenges (and perks) of my own unpredictable digital nomad and self-employed experience.

First, you really have to throw away any preconceived notions of a structured routine.

Or at least a pre-defined routine that someone else sets for you…

In business and in living a location-independent lifestyle, each day brings a new challenge, a new adventure.

Wake up in Bali, and your morning routine might involve surfing; wake up in Tokyo, and you might find yourself visiting a traditional tea house.

In business, you might take a day mid-week for personal errands, and find yourself getting into flow on a Saturday night working on your strategy.

It's all about rolling with the unpredictability, and really finding what works best for you.

Time zones are another reason you shouldn’t get too comfortable with your schedule.

When I worked in Southeast Asia with clients in the Americas, there were tons of challenges I had to work through concerning time zone overlap issues.

If you’re working with clients across the globe, you may find yourself doing more work earlier or later in the day, or making business calls in the evening while your clients are just getting their day started.

Asynchronous tools are key here - using Slack, Loom, Vimeo, or other tools that allow you to collaborate at different times really helps manage these differences.

Another constantly shifting aspect of the digital nomad lifestyle is your social circle.

Used to the same group of friends in the city?

As a digital nomad, every new destination brings the opportunity to connect with someone new.

You may encounter your fellow nomads again, or even find time to collaborate on a new project.

The nomad life is about embracing the constant shuffle of friendships and connections.

You might find your circles have shifted since getting into business for yourself as well — and I think it’s a natural part of the journey that we find ourselves connecting to more likeminded entrepreneurs who get the challenges you’re experiencing, and it’s great that we can support each other as such.

In nomadic life and business alike, weather, surprisingly, can also play a role in how you work.

As we head into summer and I head back to Canada, I know I’ll want to be soaking up lots of sun on the dock at the cottage, and my work schedule can adapt to that.

Rainy days may have you hunkered down, laser-focused on projects.

On the flip side, sunny days could beckon you to explore.

Navigating work around weather patterns is essential – a stormy week might be perfect for grinding on deadlines, leaving room for extra adventures when the sun returns.

This strategy allows you to match your work to the weather, optimizing productivity and maintaining a harmonious work-life balance that adapts to the vibe of your location.

We chose to be in business for ourselves to enjoy this very freedom — and it’s a beautiful thing that creates its own whirlwind of challenges, but I’d say they’re pretty worthwhile, wouldn’t you?

Until next week friends,

Trevor “Embracing Instability” Davis