Alter-Nomad: On Work

People are expected to commute for long hours and be flexible with their own time. Individuals adapt to jobs, not the other way around. Liberalism is the nomadism of salariat and profit: companies are getting increasingly mobile to access bigger markets and generate more profit. Neo-nomadism was initiated by sedentaries for sedentaries, to ensure a flow of goods and services resulting in economic growth. Companies are compelled to adapt to the quest for profit and the strong competition resulting from globalization. It’s an amoral race for productivity where the most efficient organizations survive. Contracts trump laws: delocalization is a striking example of a quest for profit ignoring basic human rights. Services are getting increasingly mobile and exportable. Middlemen are removed (uberization) to put individuals and professionals in contact directly. Taylorism, Fordism, and similar work structures lead to more specialization, blocking social traffic among citizens. Modern sedentary work is confinement, an obvious lack of flexibility slowly turning into sclerosis.

Rethinking work is essential. Remote work is an immense opportunity, yet relatively recent, mysterious, and mostly misunderstood. It’s interesting to note that the term “travel” comes from the old French “travail”, which means “work”. The word “travail” originates from the Latin “tripalium”, an instrument of torture. From an etymological point of view, travel is closely related to work, and torture. Work defines the nomad: you need a plan to sustain yourself financially, which is a challenge of digital nomadism in itself.

I spent six months in South-East Asia this year. I experienced new cities and met new people, but I did not live it to the fullest. I was spending most of my time working from my Airbnb studio. Job stability is usually not synonymous of nomadic life, because that’s just not how companies are designed. Digital nomads are mostly freelancers, creatives and/or tech workers. They don’t work from the beach. You can go remote or work locally. Remote work, teaching and wwoofing are among the jobs favored by full-time travelers. The best talent will want to go remote. It’s already part of some company employee benefits packages.

Anyone can become a nomad, but it is not for everyone. This is why the first and most essential step is to assess whether this lifestyle suits your individual aspirations or not. Digital nomadism is demanding in terms of self-knowledge. It takes a lot of self-control to implement the right routine for you to get the work done and to stick to your new habits. Your environment often changes, and if you are not capable to quickly adapt, your work/life balance is impacted. Travel is a double-edged sword that can make or break your productivity. The good news is that it can be learned.

You need a good reason to make the change. Otherwise, you are bound to be crushed by a tough reality. Sedentism is alright too. If nomadism is not for you, it’s okay. Digital nomadism is overhyped at times. There are many reasons to travel, which I already categorized into three profiles: Achilles, Ulysses, and Oedipus. It’s nothing scientific, but those are good indicators to situate you. If you are an Oedipus, moving places can help you run away from realities, but not for long. You can be an Achilles and do it for glory, for the smell of adventure, because it’s what you live for deep down. I am more of a Ulysses: I travel out of necessity. I consider travel not as an end-goal but as a tool for growth. Many resources cover this topic already, but when it comes to nomadism, the 4-Hour Workweek is already a classic. To Ferris, the “New Riches” are those who value time and mobility more than money. It’s a currency on its own. Our generation doesn’t seek job stability but growth, new experiences. Going remote is a way to free yourself from a work routine to leave room for the present. Money as a tool, rather than a master.