Age is just a number: Why you can be a digital nomad at any age
This blog post has been written by our students Fernanda and Edin! If you want to learn more about them, check out their Instagram @mauka.travels and their travel blog www.maukatravels.com
Digital nomad has become a hype term across all social media and the faces that lead the movement are always those of young people, mostly in their early 20s. But there is another audience out there who is also interested in the same concepts and is thinking to themselves “Am I too old to be a digital nomad?”
Regardless of which phase of life you are on, if you ever caught yourself wondering if you are too old to try digital nomadism, then this post is for you. We will break some of the most common myths about age and digital nomads, and give you tips for success with this lifestyle that are applicable to any age!
Common myths about age and digital nomadism
These are some of the most common misconceptions we hear people say when talking about the age of digital nomads:
Myth Nr. 1: Digital nomads are always on vacation
This is one of the myths that we are asked about all the time.
Digital nomads are not always on vacation. If they want this to be a sustainable lifestyle, they need to build a sustainable income, which comes through hard work. The only difference is that this work is typically done online instead of in a 9-5 office job.
In order to succeed in this lifestyle, you have to be proactive and determined. In many cases, you won’t have a boss to tell you what to do, it will be up to you to set deadlines, be responsible, and find a work routine that works well for you.
Older people who have already had office job experience usually have the great advantage of knowing how to keep themselves disciplined when it comes to work.
Myth Nr. 2: It’s easier to find digital nomad jobs when you are fresh out of college
This is one of the most common myths about becoming a digital nomad. Most people tend to think that there simply aren’t job offers for older digital nomads and this couldn’t be further away from the truth. Younger people tend to be more flexible and agree to work with all types of jobs, which is why people believe it is easier. But having experience in a certain industry or field can also be a superpower.
The older you are, the more experience you most likely had. Any work you have done in the past, whether it is in your own industry, doing volunteer work, or a student job – all of it counts as experiences that you can use to sell your own skills.
Older digital nomads who have more experience in their industry actually have the advantage of not having to reinvent the wheel. You can take your past expertise and turn it into an online business – either by applying to remote jobs in your field or by creating a digital product. You are already an expert in what you do – the only thing missing is to learn how to sell it online.
Myth Nr. 3: You have to risk everything to become a digital nomad
Risk is very often associated with those who give up a normal career path to travel and work on the road. Yes, you have to be comfortable with a certain amount of risk to be willing to take chances and create a new path for you. But you don’t have to risk everything.
Older people who decide to become digital nomads typically have more understanding of making money, investing, taxes, etc. This is a big advantage when you have to deal with everything by yourself.
Another point is that older people typically have more savings that they can use for going on the road for a year or two. This gives them some flexible time as a starting point that they can use to figure things out until they have a sustainable digital income.
What is the average age of a digital nomad?
Now that you know that you can become a digital nomad at any age, you may be wondering what is the average age of fellow nomads you will find on the road.
In today’s world, you may find people from all walks of life. A 2023 online study determined that the average age of digital nomads is 32 years old. However, we often see stories from people who are 18, fresh out of school, and of older nomads who are in their 50s and 60s and thriving. There is space for everyone.
3 Tips for becoming a successful digital nomad at an older age
We could write an entire book with tips on how to become a digital nomad, but here we have put together our 3 best pieces of advice for those of you who are worried about being too old for it:
Keep a strong mindset
Don’t let your progress and your dreams be affected by other people’s judgment. Everyone is on their own individual journey and you are the only one that can determine what is good or bad for you. If you are unhappy with your current situation and believe that becoming a digital nomad is the right path forward, don’t let anyone else stop you.
Find some tips on how to uplevel your mindset to help you more on this topic here!
Connect with people with similar interests as yours
It can get lonely and challenging to figure everything out on your own. We strongly recommend building yourself a community and getting surrounded by people who have similar interests as yours. One of the best things about the internet is that it allows us to connect with people from many different places. Use that to your advantage and create your own nomad network that will support and motivate you.
Make health your non-negotiable top priority
Being conscious of your health is something we recommend to everyone – but it is especially important for older digital nomads who decide to start this lifestyle in their 40s or more. Living your life on the road does not mean you have to be reckless. Make sure you have good health insurance and always make health your #1 priority. This is what will keep you going in the long run.
We hope you can now see that there is no such thing as being too old to become a digital nomad. Age should never be a barrier to doing something you really want. So, whether you're in your 20s or 60s, don't let anything hold you back from pursuing your dreams of location independence and adventure.
