Digital nomads – a quest for holistic freedom in work and leisure

ABSTRACT

Digital nomads are portrayed as young professionals working solely in an online environment while leading a location independent and often travel reliant lifestyle where the boundaries between work, leisure and travel appear blurred. This paper aims to conceptualize the digital nomad phenomenon by establishing a definition of digital nomads. Further, it explores their motivations for adapting this lifestyle and how these are addressed in practice, and examines how work, leisure and travel are interpreted. Digital nomads aim to create a holistic lifestyle characterized by comprehensive freedom where both areas of life are regarded as equally enjoyable and do so through professional, spatial and personal freedom. Ideally, digital nomads perceive work not as an imposed obligation but regard it – much as their leisure activities – as intrinsically motivated and fulfilling. Although crucial for a positive perception of this lifestyle, travel comes with personal challenges that are considered a different type of work.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital nomads
• leisure
• work
• lifestyle
• location independence
• holism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Ina Reichenberger is a senior lecturer in tourism management at the MCI Management Center Innsbruck, Austria. Her research interests lie in the areas of youth travel and trends in tourist behaviour.

ORCID

Ina Reichenberger http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8921-9177

Notes

1. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428340887415620/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/901887786539278/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/756306204446638/