Alone Together: How To Fight Isolation as A Digital Nomad

Oct 30

I have to admit that being a digital nomad can get lonely sometimes. Between the constant traveling and the solitary nature of remote work, building genuine connections with other nomads can be challenging.

Thankfully, I’ve experienced time and again that no man is an island.

It is possible to find a tribe, build a community, and ultimately fight isolation even when you’re working remotely.

Here are the things that have helped me fight isolation as a digital nomad:

Join a company that values team engagement

First things first: make sure your company values relationships as much as you do.

Remember, remote work is very different from collaborating in person. Communication gaps are inevitable. Real-time feedback takes longer. And unlike in an office setting, you can’t just tap someone on the shoulder when you need help or want to take a quick coffee break at the pantry.

To combat remote isolation, your company needs to create an environment that fosters genuine relationships among its team members. They need to take the first step in getting everyone together.

Look for a company that:

Matches your personal goals, values, and work style
Regularly checks in with you
Has a culture of inclusivity but sets the right boundaries between work and personal life
Creates space for you to share your thoughts, needs, and ideas

How we do this at Shepherd

As digital nomads ourselves, my co-founder Marshall and I know the challenges of remote work first-hand. The last thing we wanted was for our growing remote team to feel disconnected. To combat isolation, we hired Pammy as Head of People and Engagement to keep everyone engaged despite the physical distance.

Today, Pammy’s is responsible for creating engagement activities like:

Friday Zoom parties
Check-in prompts on Slack
In-person events
And so much more

If you are building a remote-first company, consider hiring someone to take ownership of team engagement early in the process.

Join communities for remote workers and digital nomads

Another way to fight isolation is to proactively find communities for fellow digital nomads.

If you’re tired of doing things on your own and want to learn from others, joining a community will benefit you immensely.

These communities are the perfect places to gain:

New connections
Resources like workshops, courses, and programs
Mentorship
Inspiration —
— and new friends

The best part? They’re mostly free!

You can find lots of free digital nomad groups on Facebook, Slack, Reddit, and Discord. Aside from general digital nomad communities, you can also find groups for specific industries or niches like writing communities, groups for finance specialists, video editors, and more. A quick search on the platform will reveal dozens of choices.

At Shepherd, we created the Career Shepherd Community for people who work from home. Inside, members get first dibs on new jobs, free workshops, and other community activities. You can join for free here.

Level up: create your own community

Can’t find a community that resonates with you? Create one! Start with something simple like a group chat with like-minded folks. Bring everyone together through a Facebook or Slack group. You can also try starting your own newsletter or building an audience on social media. The possibilities are endless!

Carve out time for the people that matter most

Fighting isolation doesn’t just mean making new friends in your organization. Think outside of the “work” box. Now that you have more time in your hands, spend some of it with family and friends.

Here are some things you can try:

Carve out a couple of hours to cook a meal or eat out with your family
Help your kids with their homework
Check-in with your parents or siblings
Go for a short walk or coffee run with your partner
Schedule a monthly meetup with your friends
Hop on a Zoom call with your accountability group members once a week

A little goes a long way, as long as you stay consistent. Spending just an hour a day with your loved ones can help you nurture personal relationships and ultimately fight isolation.

Change the scenery

Feeling bored and unproductive at home? A change of scenery can liven things up…and open your world up to new possibilities.

Try working at a cafe to enjoy good food, coffee, and the opportunity to be around people without taking time away from your work. Treat it like a refreshing break from your usual WFH routine. If you’re a digital nomad traveling abroad, cafes are also a great way to get a glimpse of the local life.

You can also visit a co-working space a couple of times a month. With high-speed internet, free-flowing coffee, and other amenities, co-working spaces are a natural meeting point for other digital nomads.

Expand your network by joining events and mixers

Co-working spaces also host activities like mixers, lunch-and-learns, and other networking sessions. Take advantage of your membership by attending one or two events every quarter. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people while cultivating your interests and learning new things.

Want to challenge yourself even further? Apply to be a speaker at these events. It’s the perfect way to share your experience, attract like-minded folks, and be part of a bigger community.

In the past couple of years, I’ve spoken at events like FeastCon, Career Shepherd’s Lunch and Learn, and at my elementary school’s graduation ceremony. It’s definitely nerve-wracking, but it sure is worth it.

Cultivate a passion project

Spending time cultivating a passion project can also lead to enriching experiences. Think of a project that you’ve put on the back burner. Maybe it’s gardening, hiking, film photography, or creating content for your YouTube channel. Whatever it is, take time to enjoy them again.

Embarking on passion projects helps you fight a deeper kind of isolation: the kind that keeps you from being your true self.

Remember, you can’t share your blessings and be generous with others if you are running on fumes. Replenish your energies by doing the things you love most. Before you know it, you’ll soon find yourself building a community of like-minded and like-hearted folks around this passion.

Don’t be afraid to make the first move

Lastly, come from a place of generosity when it comes to building relationships. Making friends as an adult is hard — and it’s even harder when you are separated by time, distance, and busy schedules.

In this fast-paced world, don’t be afraid to slow down and intentionally build relationships with the people who enrich your life. Don’t be afraid to make the first move.

Admire someone’s work? Leave a thoughtful comment on social media.

Wanna collaborate with a fellow creative? Let them know.

Missing your friends? Invite them for a coffee (and maybe even co-work together.)

Take the first step. Be generous with your time and energy to the people that enrich your life.

Don’t let isolation get in the way of your digital nomad dreams

When you work in a field where anyone can work from anywhere in any time zone, building genuine connections becomes a huge challenge. Still, it’s not impossible to bridge the gap.

You can fight isolation by:

joining organizations that value genuine relationships among their team members
proactively looking for communities
nurturing your personal relationships
building your tribe through events and passion projects
engaging with folks who enrich your life

And if you’re still feeling alone despite applying all the tips above, don’t hesitate to drop me a message on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. I’m building a community of Filipino digital nomads and I’d love for you to join.

Joemer Ernn Embernate