After Six Years Of Being A Digital Nomad, I’m Ready To Go Home

I’ve lived as a <a href="https://hbr.org/2023/02/how-to-become-a-digital-nomad" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">digital nomad</a> for six years. And during that time, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of visiting dozens of countries while working remotely. I make my own hours, spend all day writing, and earn enough money to pay my bills. But, I’m starting to realize that the digital nomad lifestyle isn’t sustainable long-term. Why? I’m exhausted and feel like a perpetual tourist. Whenever someone asks where I’m from, I don’t know how to respond. Is it where I feel happiest? Is it the country listed on the front of my passport? Or is “home” the place where my friends and family reside? I naturally assumed moving back to my hometown in southern England would solve my problems. However, it didn’t take long for me to experience a psychological phenomenon known as <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/reverse-culture-shock.asp" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">reverse culture shock</a>. Everyone’s life in my hometown was the same as when I left. But travel molded me into a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/countries-offering-digital-nomad-visas-5190861" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">global citizen</a> — because I adopted various habits from cultures around the world. So, when I tried to readjust to life in the UK, it felt like I had arrived in a foreign country. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/reverse-culture-shock#:~:text=When%20you%20travel%20overseas%2C%20the,see%20the%20locals%20as%20foreigners.&text=It%20is%20dangerous%20to%20abandon,a%20knife%20into%20your%20heart." rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Robert Black</a>’s explanation of reverse culture shock therefore sent chills down my spine as it spoke to me on a deeply personal level: <a href="https://medium.com/publishous/after-six-years-of-being-a-digital-nomad-im-ready-to-go-home-cc2717fdcdf5">Visit Now</a>