The Truth About: Location Independence

Simply put: You don't need to be a digital nomad to live "location-independently".

Being location independent is being able (and allowed) to work from anywhere.

In other words, it means doing your work without the expectation of going into an office, ever.

This does not mean you have to be self-employed or a freelancer.

Some employers offer a fully remote environment where there is no head office. Others offer hybrid work environments where some people will be in and out of the office while others won't, depending on personal preferences and/or individual roles and responsibilities.

While it might seem easier to live location-independently whilst being some sort of entrepreneur, working for an employer can provide the stability and financial security that some people choose to prioritize. It can also be a good stepping stone if exploring this lifestyle is new to you.

This does not mean you work alone.

You might be alone in your office/living room/café/etc. but it doesn't mean you don't have a team and colleagues working with you.

As per the previous point, it is possible to still work for an employer. When that's the case, you will most likely have teammates to share tasks and projects with, grow a connection with, etc. They might be in the same area as you, or even all around the globe! Either way, other humans are always only a phone call, zoom call, or chat message away.

As a freelancer, your clients and your clients' teams become your team(s). And it is possible to get to know them as well as you would a regular coworker. I always interchange the terms boss-client as in the end, it's all the same really.

Also, if you work from a co-working space, you have the opportunity to make fellow co-space-workers somewhat of a team. Simply because you're not working on the same projects or with the same company, doesn't mean you don't share the same objectives: that of a holistic life balance.

In other words, you don't have to be alone, unless that's what you're after, of course.

This does not necessarily mean you can work any hours you please.

You might be free to work from anywhere, yet you might still need to adhere to a specific timezone or workday. Being location independent isn't an automatic ticket out of the 9-5.

This is even more true when working for an employer. The expectation might be to be available online between specific hours. And if not dictated by an employer or company, you might still end up committing to pre-defined hours to comply with a required consistency. Although this last option can provide very decent flexibility, it is still much different from working a fluid schedule.

It's important to differentiate flexible location from flexible schedule.

This does not mean you cannot be stable and live in one place.

As mentioned in the opening of this post, being location-independent doesn't make you a digital nomad (although being a digital nomad pretty much requires being location-independent).

It is possible to set up a home office and work from the same place every work day of the year, and still be location independent.

In this case, this could mean living in an area that would otherwise be impossible. For example, living out in the country without being a farmer... Living in the mountains without worrying about dangerous winter commutes... Or simply being there for the kids to have lunch at home or when they finish school.

There are many ways and reasons for being location-independent. And all are valid. Exploring the possibilities and different options is part of the exciting journey!