If you have been paying attention in the last few years, you have likely heard people talking about the trend of nomadic living. What is nomadic living? The following guide will help you learn the answer to what is nomadic living, along with other essential information about this travel and lifestyle trend that is completely changing the way that many people are living their lives.

What Is Nomadic Living?

There is no strict definition of nomadic living, as many people choose to interpret nomadic living in their own highly personal way. However, the general concept behind nomadic living is to live a minimalism and travel based lifestyle rather than a traditional lifestyle where you stay in one place for years or even indefinitely.

Someone who participates in a nomadic living will move from place to place as they see fit–they might stay in one city for 2 months, another for 2 weeks, and so on. They might rent Airbnbs, or hotel rooms, or crash on couches. They might decide to move across the country or stay in campsites. When it comes to answering “what is nomadic living,” the answer is nearly limitless.

Benefits of Nomadic Living

There are many benefits to deciding to take on nomadic living; the following are some of the most significant benefits that you will experience if you embrace a nomadic travel lifestyle.

1. You learn about yourself

Someone who lives a nomadic lifestyle is on their own most of the time, which means they’ll need to face life head-on as it comes. Living like this helps you learn a lot about yourself, as you learn more about what you can accomplish on your own, what your limitations are, and how you can expand outside your own comfort zone when need be. As you go about a nomadic lifestyle, you also learn about what you find truly important in life.

2. You learn about the world

When you live a nomadic lifestyle, you will see much more of the world than you ever would have you stuck with a traditional lifestyle. You will see new cities and even new countries; you’ll meet new people, engage in different cultures, and generally absorb much more about the world around you. You may even learn new languages, depending on where you end up traveling.

3. It’s fun and exciting

There’s something undeniably exciting about living a nomadic travel lifestyle, as you never know what will happen next. You get to be spontaneous and do whatever comes to mind, which means you’ll get plenty of opportunities to do exciting, fun new things that you would have never done before. You might sleep under the stars at a countryside campground or explore the streets of a foreign country. You might meet new people every night and try local cuisines or any number of opportunities that will enrich your life.

4. You have more freedom

When most people think about a nomadic lifestyle, the one word that comes to mind is freedom. Nomadic lifestyles are all about having freedom from the expectations and trappings of traditional life. When you consider all of the things that can figuratively tie you down in a traditional life – from having house payments to needing to stay close to the family to having endless personal items that need to be stored somewhere – it is no wonder that a nomadic lifestyle is a beacon for freedom. You will have no expectations, no contracts, and nothing that ties you down no matter where you go.

Downsides of Nomadic Living

Although there are many benefits to nomadic living, there are some downsides as well. The following are some of the most common downsides of nomadic living that you will want to consider as you are debating whether or not this is the right kind of lifestyle for you.

1. You won’t be around friends and family as much

If you have a deep, emotional connection with family and friends, then you may find nomadic living lonely; you will be away from your friends and family most of the time, and while you can still keep in touch using the phone or internet, it’s not the same as living near them.

2. Money can get tight

You won’t be able to have a traditional 9 to 5 job when you live a nomadic lifestyle, so money can sometimes get tight which could be a stressor if you are planning on living with someone. Odd jobs and freelance work can bring some money in, but it won’t necessarily be a stable or secure source of income.

3. You won’t always have privacy

When you live in a traditional home or apartment, you build up a layer of privacy around yourself that can’t always be achieved in a nomadic lifestyle. You might find yourself staying at a shared hostel or Airbnb, or you simply won’t stay somewhere long enough to make it your “own” in the way you would a regular apartment or home.

How Do I Start with Nomadic Living?

If you believe that nomadic living is right for you, there are a few things you can do to start preparing for a nomadic lifestyle.

1. Start saving up money

You will need to have a good stash of money before you decide to embark on a nomadic lifestyle since you’ll need to pay those “upfront” costs associated with changing the way you live.

2. Decide what to do with your current housing situation

If you have a home, will you sell it or rent it out? If you have an apartment, can you wait until the lease is up and decide not to renew? You will need a solid plan for your current housing situation before you can embark on a nomadic life.

3. Sell everything you don’t need

Perhaps the most intimidating aspect of a nomadic lifestyle is living minimalistically. This means you’ll have to sell everything you don’t need and everything you can’t take with you when you go from place to place. Yes, this means most (if not all) of your books, your collectibles, your large wardrobe, and so on.

If you’re ready to find out more about what is a nomadic lifestyle, consider embarking on a nomadic lifestyle journey today.