How to Find Community as a Digital Nomad
Updated: Aug 14, 2023
Here’s a bit of truth: being a digital nomad can make you feel alone. Just think about it; a new county where you don’t speak the language and don’t know a soul–that’s a recipe for loneliness if I’ve ever heard one. But within that solitude, you have the chance to build up a new inner circle of like-minded people. So, let’s look at a few ways to find a digital nomad community in any part of the world and say goodbye to lonely days.
Coworking Spaces
No matter where you land, you’ll have plenty of coworking spaces to choose from. These facilities are places digital nomads can come to work and network with each other. From freelancers to start-up founders, you’re bound to meet all walks of life. What better way to meet fellow remote workers who’ve also got the travel bug, right?
Most coworking spaces offer memberships, and once you sign up, you’re invited to work in any of their buildings. Companies like Coworker and Regus have thousands of locations across the world. If you like to bounce around, don’t worry about finding a network of people because you’ll know exactly where to find them.
Coliving Accommodations
Why live alone when you can rent a room in a home made for digital nomads? Coliving houses take the pressure off finding accommodation and put you right in the middle of a new community of people. Your housemates, who’ve already gotten the lay of the land, can help guide you through those first few weeks of growing pains. No need to stress about where to find groceries, a SIM card, or public transportation because you’ll discover that fellow digital nomads are happy to show you the ropes.
Check out Coliving to get a feel for what these accommodation options have to offer. You won’t regret it!
Digital Nomad Community Groups/Meetups
Whether you’re living in Colombia or Thailand, you can bet on finding online digital nomad groups. Joining these communities is a great way to have questions answered and meet new people. Often times group members will organize meetups at bars and coffee shops where you can make a few friends and kick loneliness out the door.
If you’re off Facebook–I don’t blame you–there are a ton of other great websites like WiFi Tribe and Remote Year that have members who are living around the world looking to expand their networks!
Language Classes
Once you’ve built up a digital nomad community, you should branch out and connect with the locals. The best way to do that is to dive into learning the language. Signing up for classes at a school will introduce you to other foreigners and get you more comfortable speaking to strangers. When you feel ready, you can offer language exchanges to practice speaking and meet people from the area. Your school will likely be able to connect you with interested individuals.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let the fear of being alone prevent you from packing up your laptop and moving abroad. Finding a digital nomad community has never been easier thanks to coworking spaces, online groups, and coliving houses. Not to mention, if you make an effort to learn the local language, a whole new world and network of people will open up to you. Try out a few of these recommendations, and loneliness will be a long-forgotten memory.
Connect your Community with Overlap
With Overlap, keeping track of your friends' travel plans has never been easier. Never miss a chance to continue traveling with your network of nomads, and check off bucket-list destinations together.
