This month marked a major milestone: my 10-year anniversary as a digital nomad. This year, I celebrated in South Korea, having just arrived a few days prior. Normally, I work on Sundays, but I made an exception to mark the occasion. Instead of conducting counselling calls with clients or answering emails, I spent the day relaxing at a beautiful beach, followed by a dinner at a local restaurant.
When I first started this journey ten years ago, I had no idea where it would lead me. But now, looking back on a decade of exploring new places, working from anywhere, and growing both personally and professionally, it’s clear that every twist and turn on the way has left its mark. To celebrate, I’m sharing some of the standout moments that have shaped my nomadic lifestyle and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Photo taken by my assistant Charlotte on a visit to Montreal in 2022
1. You Need Internet to Work Online
One of the more obvious things I had to learn the hard way early on as a digital nomad is that you quite literally need internet to work online. Sounds simple enough, right? But, as I quickly found out, things can get tricky when you’re staying in remote locations where the internet is more of a luxury than a given.
I was renting a hut on a beautiful Thai island with stunning views of the sea and the village below – the perfect digital nomad setup… or so I thought. But every time a storm rolled in, the island became isolated – no ferries, and more importantly for me, no internet. And just like that, I was completely cut off from the outside world, with no way of conducting any counselling calls or even sending emails. What I learned during this time is that if you’re planning to work online, you shouldn’t do it in a place so remote that you lose connection at the first sign of bad weather. While I still love to stay in remote locations, these days, I make sure to only do so when I’m taking time off.
2. Learning When Not to Mention My Job
During my time in Thailand, I decided to take the plunge, quite literally, and learn to scuba dive. After getting certified, I joined a liveaboard trip, where we’d spend days diving in crystal-clear waters and evenings sharing meals and stories on the boat.
Naturally, the question of what everyone does for a living came up, and I casually mentioned that I’m a psychologist. Well, that turned out to be a mistake. One guy avoided me for the rest of the trip, as if he feared I was going to uncover his deepest, darkest secrets during our dive briefings. His sudden need to stand on the opposite end of the boat from me definitely raised a few eyebrows. A few others, on the other hand, took my job revelation as an open invitation to unload their life stories. I found myself fielding impromptu therapy sessions between dives, listening to tales of relationship woes and childhood traumas, while I was trying to squeeze into my wetsuit.
By the end of the trip, I had learned an important lesson: sometimes it’s better to be a bit vague about what you do for a living, especially when you’re trapped on a boat for several days with no escape.
Home for a few months: Koh Tao in Thailand
3. Detour to Cambodia
Travelling with a friend from Germany, we were making our way from Thailand to Cambodia. After purchasing our tickets (which we weren’t able to read) from a local travel agent, we got into a minivan, thinking it was taking us to the Northern border. It didn’t take long for us to realise we were in the wrong vehicle. Conversations with the other passengers soon revealed that everyone else was headed to a completely different border, almost exactly in the opposite direction of where we were planning to go. It was long before eSIMs and constant internet access on the go were the norm, so we were navigating without any real guidance.
We ultimately decided to jump out at the next village and ended up paying for a private taxi to take us all the way to the correct border. It was stressful, not to mention expensive by Thai standards, but looking back now, it’s become one of many funny travel memories.
Nowadays, with eSIMs, GPS, and instant internet access, travel has become much easier, and I’m definitely grateful for that. But those little challenges also often provided a sense of adventure, and it’s often exactly those mishaps that led to the most memorable moments I love to look back on.
4. Realising That Digital Nomads Need Holidays, Too
One of the most common misconceptions about being a digital nomad is that we’re always on holiday. The truth couldn’t be more different. Constantly moving from place to place, with different time zones, different local customs, all while managing work and everyday chores, can be as draining as any traditional lifestyle, if not more so. For many of us, work becomes so central to our identity that it’s easy to lose sight of the need to actually take time off.
Early in my digital nomad journey, I realised I wasn’t making space for real downtime. Sure, I was travelling to incredible places, but I was always plugged into work and juggling many different tasks at the same time. That’s when I made a decision: I needed to schedule proper holidays, just like anyone else.
For the past few years, I’ve taken an entire month off every Christmas, completely unplugging from work, turning off notifications, and allowing myself to just be. In addition to that, I regularly take extended breaks throughout the year. And this, for me, is one of the major advantages of running my own business – I can shape my schedule in a way that supports both my work and my well-being. Learning to prioritise rest has not only improved my productivity but has also helped me appreciate the travel experience more deeply. After all, living the digital nomad life isn’t just about constant movement, it’s about finding a rhythm that works for you.
5. When Everyday Tasks Become a Challenge
One of the things you quickly realise as a digital nomad is how everyday tasks can become surprisingly complicated when you’re in a different country. Simple things like crossing the street, figuring out how to order at a restaurant, or even opening doors can be surprisingly confusing when local customs and systems differ from what you’re used to – you can read more about that in my blogpost “The Everyday Challenges of a Digital Nomad”.
Naturally, when you don’t speak the local language, these tasks are even more challenging. In South Korea, I encountered quite a few of these everyday challenges and language barriers, but perhaps the most puzzling task was figuring out the garbage disposal. Korea has a strong focus on recycling and minimising food waste, which is understandable given that every meal comes with at least half a dozen little side dishes. To encourage people to waste less, food waste disposal is something you have to pay for. Next to the regular rubbish bins, there was a special machine for food waste disposal that looked much more like an ATM than a trash can. After a fair bit of trial and error (and, of course, the help of more than one translation app!), I eventually figured out how to use the prepaid card that opened the bin and even which button to press for the bin to close again and for the card to be released.
While tricky at first, I also felt quite proud when I finally figured it out. It’s a reminder that even small, everyday tasks can offer a sense of accomplishment when you’re navigating life in a new culture.
Mission accomplished: mastering garbage disposal in South Korea
6. One Home, Two Homes, No Home?
Over the years, I’ve had a number of home bases, as well as times without any physical home at all. As much as I love discovering new places, I do enjoy having a physical space to return to in a city I love, especially with the added comforts of a well-equipped kitchen and a comfortable bed.
The question of “where is home?” has not only followed me throughout my digital nomad journey. Growing up with two cultures, I’ve been asking myself this question long before I became a digital nomad! I’ve learned that for me, home isn’t tied to a physical place or to the address where I’m registered for tax purposes. My home bases offer stability, but they feel more like a grounding point than a traditional home. For me, home has become something much more fluid – it’s wherever I happen to be. I’ve discovered that it’s possible to feel at home in many places, whether that’s because of the people I meet, the familiar streets and cafés of a neighbourhood, or the memories I’ve created there. “Home” is no longer just one place for me – it’s a combination of experiences, people, and moments, scattered across the world.
7. Immigration Hiccups and a Surprise Trip to Japan
There’s a common misconception that digital nomads are such frequent travellers that we no longer stress about flying. While I’ve definitely gained a lot of experience over the years, I can tell you that mishaps and stressful travel situations still happen.
The key is preparation. I’ve developed strategies to manage travel planning, such as keeping detailed checklists on my phone for what needs to go in which bag, what documents to prepare, and any tasks and research to complete before the trip.
And I recently added a new item to my list – due to what you might call a rookie mistake, but it hadn’t been an issue in any of my more recent travels: Securing proof of an outbound flight before entering a country. This lesson came the hard way while passing through Bangkok on my way to South Korea, as the airline wouldn’t let me check in without one! I knew that South Korea would grant me a 90-day visa and didn’t officially require the outbound flight (in fact, immigration never asked for it). But there was no way to get onto that flight without one, so late at night, with only 20 minutes until check-in in Bangkok would close, I found myself scrambling to buy an outbound ticket right there in the airport. Fortunately, after some rushed searching on my phone (and two failed payment attempts), I bought the cheapest flight I could: Osaka.
What was a stressful situation at the time actually turned into a happy accident. I not only lucked out and found a fairly affordable ticket, but it also ended up leading me back to Japan, one of those places I’m always happy to revisit. It’s a good reminder that even when things don’t go as planned, they can sometimes work out better than expected.
Photo taken by Kai Nagayama in Kyoto
8. Finding Community
When I was based in Germany, working in a clinic or private practice, I always had colleagues around me, people to exchange ideas with, share experiences, or just have a casual chat. But once I transitioned to an online practice and started travelling full-time, I missed that regular interaction.
So, early on in my digital nomad life, I started surrounding myself with like-minded colleagues, joining and creating a mastermind group, a book club, supervision groups and more. In 2020, my colleague Melissa Parks and I decided we needed more. We launched the Location Independent Therapists (LIT) Community, a space dedicated to mental health professionals working online. What started as informal accountability check-ins and a mastermind group with a few like-minded colleagues, turned into a thriving, global network of therapists supporting each other in building location-independent practices. Through LIT, I’ve been able to connect with even more colleagues, and it’s become a place where we all share our experiences, challenges, and successes.
For me, the community represents the best of both worlds: I can maintain my nomadic lifestyle while still enjoying the camaraderie of a professional network. Looking back, creating LIT was not just a business decision, but also one of the most rewarding personal achievements of my journey. It’s taught me that while the digital nomad life can sometimes feel solitary, it doesn’t have to be – and meaningful, supportive connections can be built from anywhere.
9. When Values Conflict
A recurring topic in my online counselling sessions is what to do when there’s a conflict between different values and things that are important to us. How do we decide what to prioritise, or how can we compromise? One of the value conflicts I often struggle with is my desire to reduce my environmental footprint with the need to stay connected to loved ones around the world. Frequent flying, of course, has a significant carbon footprint, and while staying in one place for longer is undoubtedly better for the environment, it’s not always feasible. While better for the environment, travelling less can also mean missing important life events like birthdays, weddings and family reunions – things I’m not always willing to compromise on.
Although it can be challenging, I believe it’s possible to live in a more eco-friendly way, despite being a digital nomad, by making choices that align with my values. For me, this means buying second-hand items and local produce, choosing which companies I buy from and support (like, using a sustainable bank for my business bank account), reducing plastic usage, and opting for public transport or walking over cars and taxis whenever possible. I also try to make mindful travel decisions, like taking a 9-hour train from Paris to Berlin instead of flying. When flights are necessary, I prioritise direct routes and pay for carbon offsetting to reduce my impact.
Ultimately, it’s about awareness – understanding the effects of my choices, educating myself, and finding a balance that feels right. I’ve come to accept that sustainability isn’t about being perfect, but rather about making an effort.
10. Maintaining Social Connections on the Move
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a digital nomad – and something that also frequently comes up with my expat clients in counselling sessions – is maintaining meaningful social connections when you’re constantly travelling. Keeping in touch with friends from “back home” becomes a lot more complicated when you’re on the other side of the world. Time zones, different daily rhythms, and the inability to just hop on a train for a weekend catch-up can sometimes make it feel like our lives are moving in completely different directions.
As the one who’s away, you often need to put in more effort to stay connected, especially since not everyone is great at keeping in touch. But those friendships that endure, even across years and continents, are the ones that truly stand the test of time. And, as a bonus, many of my friends also love to travel, so we’ve had the chance to meet up in some incredible places around the globe.
Making new friends while living this transient lifestyle also has its challenges. Unlike backpackers or tourists who meet people in hostels or on group tours, I typically rent apartments and still have a regular work schedule while travelling, so opportunities to meet people naturally are more limited. But I’ve found that actively seeking out connections with others who live similar lifestyles, whether through online communities, meetups, or conferences, has made a big difference. These like-minded connections, whether formed at a yoga class in Croatia, a workshop in Colombia, or over coffee in Adelaide, have been some of the most rewarding parts of this journey.
Balancing old and new friendships, as well as online and offline contacts, is key. But by putting in the effort and seeking out people with shared experiences, I’ve been able to create a sense of connection and community wherever I go. And thankfully nowadays, it’s very easy to keep in touch remotely, making those relationships much more manageable to maintain.
A Decade as a Digital Nomad
As I look back on these past 10 years, I’m reminded of how far I’ve come – not just in the miles I’ve travelled, but in the personal growth, lessons learned, and the incredible connections made along the way. The digital nomad life isn’t always easy. It comes with its fair share of challenges, unexpected twists, and moments of uncertainty. But every adventure, every surprise, and even the setbacks have shaped me into who I am today, both professionally and personally. And I can’t wait to see where the next ten years will take me!
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Whether you’re already living this lifestyle or just dreaming about it, I’d love to hear from you. What’s your biggest takeaway from your own travels or work experiences? Or do you have any questions about this lifestyle for me? Leave your questions and comments below.
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