Imagine working from the 35 th floor of a high-rise with an impressive view of Bangkok. Picture drinking milk bubble tea in one hand and pushing code for testimonial with the other. Imagine existing under hand trees on a white beach in Phuket, your laptop computer open on a bamboo table, toes in the sand, ears paying attention to the noise of waves.
You’ve seen it on Instagram, you watched it on YouTube, you read blog posts concerning it– right?. The electronic wanderer dream. Work from anywhere. Life-changing, inspiring, perfect. Well, that’s specifically what I believed, also.
As a remote software program engineer, I seemed like I really did not utilize a lot of what remote job had to provide. So I chose to transform it, attempt it and … I reserved a two-month solo journey to Thailand — Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket– thinking I ‘d ultimately endure the “digital nomad dream.”
It ended up being every little thing I thought of– and likewise, not at all what I expected.;-RRB-
The Days: High-rise Buildings, Rooftops, Food, and Bubble Tea
My initial days in Bangkok really felt surreal. The city was buzzing with life– neon indications, street food that scented scrumptious, damp air, and blazing sunlight. It was late October, and for the very first time in my life, I had actually left the moody, grey, stormy Polish fall. I was delighted, delighted, dewy-eyed, stimulated, and deeply curious.
Working from a high-rise coworking space with a breathtaking view of the horizon had constantly been my dream. And finally– I was living it.
I had an apartment or condo on the 35 th flooring, with a sensational city see right from my bed. My coworking space was just a couple of steps away, on the same flooring. There was a roof pool– hardly ever crowded– that I commonly had all to myself.
Next to my building was a little neighborhood market, loaded with unique fruits, crackling road food, and pleasant, milky bubble teas. I would certainly wander through it, tasting strange-looking snacks, soaking up the structures of everyday life.
In images, it all looked like a desire.
I could eat mango sticky rice for breakfast, sip fresh coconut water at lunch, explore temples or uncover covert cafés every afternoon, and also jump into the roof pool in between job meetings.
And some days, I did.
Yet many days? I really did not.
I kept posting fanciful stories with dreamy pictures, captioned: “I’m ultimately doing it. I’m living the dream.” And component of me truly thought it.
However an additional component had already begun to really feel another thing entirely.
The Nights: Due Dates, Work Phone Calls, and the Freezing Cold Aircon
I had not been vacationing. I had to function.
The time difference with Europe meant late working hours and even later conferences. My mid-days came to be nights. Dinner replaced lunch breaks. I often shut my laptop computer around midnight.
I’ve constantly been an evening owl– but it hits in a different way when remaining sharp at 10 PM isn’t your choice, it’s your task I bear in mind a three-hour function screening session that began at 7 PM and ended after 10 I remember waiting on a coworker to sync for a debugging session at 11 PM– trying to make sense of some code I would certainly never ever touched prior to.
My initial Airbnb in Bangkok was close to the MRT, which sounded convenient initially. However in reality, it was far from a lot of work-friendly cafés and coworking spaces. Getting anywhere implied long adventures– often 40 minutes on the subway or over an hour by Bolt.
Bangkok website traffic made short ranges really feel endless. (I was as well worried to try scooters, despite the fact that they weaved via the mayhem much faster.)
Later, in Phuket, I had my first “working from a coastline bar” minute. And while it looked dreamy, the temperature there was also intense, the moisture expensive, and the sun made it virtually impossible to see my screen. Sure– you can work like that for an hour or two. However a full time job change because setting? Not realistic.
The Thailand sun really felt excellent when I was by the pool or sea– yet harsh when it concerned day-to-day life. I ‘d sweat via my garments just strolling to the MRT station or a beach coffee shop– just to ice up the moment I entered the metro or sat under a strongly cool a/c unit.
Some days, I didn’t feel like functioning from yet an additional coffee shop. I really did not intend to search for the “excellent spot,” strategy my course, determine the moment, take care of the crowds, spend an hour commuting, request Wi-Fi passwords, or search for power outlets.
And that’s when the FOMO kicked in– anxiety of not checking out much more, pity for staying with the exact same secure, familiar cafés, and shame when my coworkers maintained asking, “So, what have you seen already?
The Mental Shift
We romanticize versatility– however it costs energy.
Switching atmospheres. Planning logistics. Determining where to eat, where to work, and just how to navigate. Learning the rhythm of brand-new neighborhoods. Adapting once again, once more, and again.
It all builds up.
I functioned from crowded airports, utilizing my travel suitcase as a workdesk. From cafés that were as well noisy– or means also cold. From Airbnb spaces without a correct desk or chair.
I still did great work. I appeared, provided, and remained liable– also when the configuration was far from suitable.
But the whole time, I stressed over my conference history, the illumination, the microphone, the power outlet, the Wi-Fi connection, and whatever in between.
Gradually, I began to miss out on the little things.
A routine. Experience. A work area that felt mine.
I missed out on having a gym I knew. A quiet corner. A comfy chair. My external screen. A warm cup of tea with lemon. Also the sidewalks I could in fact stroll on, or rollerblade. The assurance that features not having to think about … well, everything
That’s when I began to recognize something: Constant modification is lovely– however it’s additionally tiring. Job and traveling may seem like a dream. But in reality, it’s not. You’re never ever totally resolved. Constantly half-packing, half-planning.
So … Was It Well worth It?
Yes. Undoubtedly.
Trying it was absolutely worth it– and I do not regret it momentarily.
Because below’s what I learned:
The only method to understand if something is for you … is to attempt it and find out.
That lesson alone deserves everything.
I still assume anybody interested concerning functioning from another location while traveling should try it at least when.
It can be wonderful– energizing, inspiring, memorable.
But it can likewise be lonesome, frustrating, and psychologically draining pipes. So be prepared.
It’s not better than working from home. It’s just … different.
And for me, it assisted me see my daily life with brand-new eyes.
The regimens I when discovered uninteresting instantly felt calming.
The room I called “mine” now seemed like a benefit.
Also something as easy as a hot mug of tea or recognizing where to obtain your preferred lunch felt like a present.
So yes– I chased my desire and I lived it. Yet in the long run, I returned with a much deeper admiration for what I currently had.
Often, one of the most inspiring location to function from … is the one you already have. ✨