The Pros and Cons of Working from Anywhere

If you've ever followed any location independent blog or Instagram account, you've seen those glorious photos of the freelancer happily working away while sitting by the Caribbean blue waters on a white sandy beach with an adult beverage in hand. #LifeIsGood 💕

What most people don't realize is a freedom lifestyle business rarely ends up like the fairytale stories sold by these content creators.

Sure, we get to work from anywhere while playing by our own rules. And yes, there are some days when building a digital business by the beach is possible. But most of the time you're grinding it all out in your travel van or RV, in a motel, or by hanging out at coffee shops. #TheRealLife 💁

Don't get me wrong. It's still an awesome way to live and work! I'd rather do that than spend hours in traffic going to a "real" job. It's just that so many of the digital nomads sharing their lifestyle are really marketing a fantasy in exchange for your hard earned dollars.

So I won't bullshit you. Here's the truth about it all.

The Pros of Working from Anywhere

The best aspect of running a digital business is the ability to travel and see the world at your own pace. But there are other benefits like better mental wellness and the ability to discover more freedom in your daily life.

These are some of the biggest reasons people choose to become digital nomads.

1. You can move to new locations each day or stay in place for weeks.
2. You can experience different cultures, foods, drinks, and geography.
3. You can build your life around new adventures or interests.
4. You can spend more time doing what you love and work less.
5. You can meet people and build relationships no matter where you go.
6. You can enjoy the great outdoors and be more active physically.

As you can see these are some really good points for being location independent. It can certainly offer you an amazing future of happiness.

The Cons of Working from Anywhere

Of course anything in life has ups and downs. The worst aspect of becoming a digital entrepreneur is embracing the fear of the unknown. There will be times when things don't work out as planned and you have to adapt.

Here are some of the most common negative aspects of working from the road.

1. You can't get dependable WiFi everywhere, which will affect your work.
2. You can't predict the flow of business, so it can be feast or famine.
3. You can't budget every travel expense because rates change constantly.
4. You can't trust there will always be hotels rooms or RV spots available.
5. You can't play ALL the time AND expect to make a living.
6. You can't expect everything to go the way you envisioned.

These problems will force you to be flexible with your daily life of working from the road. It can be mentally draining at times and stressful.

Is it all worth it in the end?

These are only the most common pros and cons for working from anywhere; you'll likely encounter more on your own. The experience will depend on a variety of factors including how you travel, what your current financial situation is, where you will be staying, or when you choose to go.

For example, my wife and I travel full-time while primarily living from resorts and hotels. In the last two years, room rates have fluctuated all over the place. Sometimes we get a nice hotel for a great price and other times we pay exorbitant rates for a dump. Touristy places cost more and can often be sold out depending on the time of the year. Not only is this frustrating, it can destroy the budget. You have to have a give and take attitude for a life on the road!

Do we have any regrets? Not a single one.

Even though being a digital nomad and running online businesses has its own unique challenges, we wouldn't have it any other way. I can't imagine going back to a "normal life" in the foreseeable future.

Besides, no matter if you work from a traditional business, from home, or from anywhere with a WiFi connection, there will always be pros and cons for each. Nothing is ever perfect.

The biggest question is what do you believe will make you the happiest? You might not know until you try, and it's always possible you will hate it or fail, but it's the pain of regret that will always hurt the most.

Take a step forward.