Living a laptop lifestyle means living life on your terms.

It means freedom. Travel. Great food, new friends, endless opportunities for learning and growth. There are so many things I love about living a laptop lifestyle, I thought I better write them down!

This list covers my top 10 favorite things about living abroad, with a sprinkle of advice for those who are just getting started on their digital nomad journey.

If you’re thinking of becoming a digital nomad and giving this whole freedom lifestyle thing a go, make sure you download the Laptop Lifestyle Blueprint, a free 30 day guide to setting up your online business so you can travel the world full time.

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Keep reading or watch the video below to hear the top 10 things I love about living a laptop lifestyle!

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My top 10 favorite things about living abroad are as follows in no particular order…

1. Feeling alive everyday. 

Living a laptop lifestyle helps keep me in the moment. When we become used to an environment, day to day activities like going to the bank or getting groceries become so ordinary that we do them on autopilot. 

But when you’re living abroad, suddenly those daily activities become an adventure! Even just a trip to the corner store is more exciting than it would be at home.

Related Post: How to Quit Your 9 to 5 and Travel the World Full Time

2. The food!

Being able to travel the world full time definitely comes with its perks. One of the big ones: Getting to try the local cuisine everywhere we go! I’ve had so many amazing meals abroad that I never would have tried if I stayed in America.

Whether I’m wandering a Taiwanese night market or strolling the streets of Vietnam, I find being abroad makes you feel more open to trying new things. That goes for more than just food–I’ve also had the chance to try many different types of coffee and cocktails! Food is a huge part of every culture, and I highly recommend trying the local food wherever you travel.

Related Post: 6 Best Things to do in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

3. The freedom of choice.

One of the primary motivators for living a laptop lifestyle is the freedom. I get to choose where I want to live, and if I’m not happy somewhere, I can pick up and move. I’ve also found that living abroad makes you more aware of your own values. You start to think about the things that are most important to you, and what you really want in a home.

When you’re living a laptop lifestyle, there’s no pressure to find the perfect city or apartment, because you know you don’t have to stay forever. If you feel ready to move on from one destination, you can! You can choose whatever environment best suits your needs.

Related Post: 10 Best Digital Nomad Jobs for Beginners

4. Changed perspectives.

Living abroad for any period of time will change you. You’ll meet people and encounter new cultures and belief systems, and all of that will change how you see the world. Living a laptop lifestyle allows me to embrace those different perspectives and keep an open mind. 

Everywhere you travel, you will learn about a new culture, history, religion and language. As a digital nomad, you have the opportunity to stay somewhere longer than an average tourist, and really immerse yourself in that culture. 

5. You become more relaxed and flexible.

I used to be way more stressed out by minor mishaps and things going wrong. But after years of living on the road, I’ve learned to go with the flow! Whether a bug in my food, a delayed flight, or getting completely lost and not speaking the local language, you learn to enjoy the journey. Travel helps you let go of the little things and focus on what really matters. 

Related Post: How I built my online business from a laptop on the beach 

6. You’ll be better at understanding people.

Living somewhere where you can’t speak the language forces you to work on your communication skills. You’ll learn how to read body language and communicate without words (a smile is universal!). And if you do want to learn a new language, there’s no better way to learn than to fully immerse yourself.

7. Living abroad builds empathy.

We often become so attached to our identity as Americans, Europeans, Austrailians, etc. that we forget we’re all human. But living in a foreign country makes you realize we’re not so different from each other!

When I was living in Da Nang, I had the chance to interview a group of local young women and realized that although we had very different backgrounds, we also had a lot in common. All of them had big dreams and plans for their lives, and it was such a cool experience to hear their stories!

Related Post: Da Nang Digital Nomad Guide

8. Your values and priorities will shift.

If you haven’t already jumped on the minimalism bandwagon, living a laptop lifestyle may change your mind! I mean this spiritually, mentally and literally–your old life won’t all fit in a backpack after all.

As a digital nomad with no permanent home base, I have no choice but to pack light. At first that was hard. But since I started this laptop lifestyle, my priorities have shifted, and now I have almost no attachment to material things. Instead of filling that “void” with stuff, I get to fill it with new experiences. How cool is that?

Related Post: The Ultimate Digital Nomad Packing List for Women

9. Continuous learning.

Curiosity is so important, especially for creative entrepreneurs! Living abroad is a great opportunity to learn new things and ask questions. Everywhere we travel, I try to learn a little bit of the language and the culture. 

10. The day-to-day life.

Rather than living for the weekend or your next vacation, everyday living abroad is stimulating and enjoyable. Some of my favorite memories aren’t the big snorkelling trips or mountain hikes, but the smaller everyday moments. 

One month I get to walk down cobblestone streets in an ancient European city, and the next I could be on a tropical island. This isn’t a vacation; it’s my everyday life. And I love it!

Final thoughts on living a laptop lifestyle

This list only scratches the surface of all the things I love about this lifestyle. Full time travel and entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, but if you’re reading this post and thinking it could be for you, I encourage you to check out Laptop Lifestyle Bootcamp. 

LLB is my signature group coaching program for new entrepreneurs that will help you set up the foundations of a six figure business and make all your digital nomad dreams come true. 

For more free tips on living the laptop lifestyle, make sure you check out my Youtube channel and Instagram!

Keep Reading

The Best Digital Nomad Destinations in 2021

Cost of Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand

​​How to manage your business while traveling full-time

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