In an era marked by growing individualism and the loosening of traditional life trajectories, people increasingly design their own paths rather than follow conventional sequences of education, work, and family formation. Digital nomadism has emerged as a distinct form of lifestyle mobility within this context. Digital nomads are remote-working professionals who travel while working, often driven by values such as freedom, personal growth, and cost-of-living advantages. Despite its rising popularity, the role of this lifestyle within the broader human life course remains unclear: Is digital nomadism a temporary phase typical of early adulthood, or does it represent a new, lasting mode of living and migrating?
To better understand how digital nomads situate their lifestyle within the broader arc of their lives, Juul Henkens (Erasmus University Rotterdam) examined how factors such as timing, agency, previous mobility experiences, and social context shape individual trajectories from a life course perspective. She conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with a demographically diverse sample of 27 digital nomads in Bali, between September and November 2023.
The findings reveal that participants entered digital nomadism through various pathways. Some had little prior international mobility and approached the lifestyle as an experiment—motivated by ideals of freedom, self-exploration, and flexibility. Others had long-standing experiences with mobility, often beginning in childhood, and had accumulated what is known as migration capital: the skills and attitudes necessary to navigate and adapt to new environments.
Most participants described the lifestyle as deeply fulfilling in the short term, appreciating its flexibility, sense of adventure, opportunities for personal growth, and the ability to connect with like-minded peers. At the same time, they reported notable downsides, including emotional exhaustion, insecurity, and difficulty forming deep and lasting relationships. As a result, all participants expressed a desire for greater stability in the future, often linked to aspirations of starting a family and the psychological toll of continuous movement. While some envisioned a more grounded nomadic existence—by reducing travel frequency or rotating between a few familiar bases—others aimed for a fully settled life.
In conclusion, digital nomadism was widely perceived as a transitional phase rather than a permanent lifestyle. The study highlights how personal histories, present motivations, and imagined futures intersect to shape mobility decisions. It also underscores the diversity of digital nomad trajectories and the importance of considering both individual agency and structural factors—such as the availability of remote work and global inequalities—when analysing this emerging form of mobility. These insights contribute to a more nuanced understanding of digital nomadism and its role within contemporary life courses.