What’s The Difference Between Digital Nomad And Remote Worker, And You Name It? Terms Explained

What is a remote worker?

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Let’s start with the basics: a remote worker is someone who can work online. In theory, that could be from home, a coffee shop, a co-working space, or anywhere else with an internet connection.

• You can work remotely as an employee, freelancer, or as business owner.
• If you don’t run your own business, the flexibility for remote work can vary. This is especially important to keep in mind in case you’re looking for a “remote” job.
• There are different levels of remoteness. Some businesses require you to come to the office once in a while. A role like this isn’t 100 % remote then, but a job that allows you to work remotely sometimes. This naturally creates some limitations. You won’t be able to travel whenever you want and probably have to stick to places that are rather close to your office location.
• There are jobs where an office doesn’t even exist. These are remote-only jobs.
• Some remote workers can work 100 % remotely and are allowed to travel but have to stay in their region or country (often to simplify tax management for the business) and/or work during a specific time zone.
• Even if some remote workers in theory could travel, some prefer not to. Then the only difference between a remote worker and a digital nomad is their choice of lifestyle.
• Some remote workers might travel sometimes, more as extended business trips/vacations/work-actions.
• Some remote workers have a home office, the security of an ongoing employment contract, and “regular” working hours.

What is a digital nomad?

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While the definition of “remote worker” is pretty broad, there is one key distinction: digital nomads are remote workers who travel. We see “digital nomad” more as a lifestyle.

There are lots of different subgroups within the digital nomad category. Such as:

• Full-time travelers: People traveling non-stop without a fixed base. The travel style might still vary. You might prefer longer or shorter stops or a combination.
• People nomading parts of the year: They have a base to which they regularly return.
• People basing themselves longer in different countries/cities: They might not have a fixed base, but stay for months in the same place. Sometimes they might also keep on rotating between the same places. This then becomes similar to an expat lifestyle, apart from that nomads in theory can move whenever they want.

Their job is not dependent on their location.

You could also divide the group of digital nomads further based on for example travel style (traveling alone, with groups, family, etc.), interests (adventurer, foodies, culture/history/art), and work style (entrepreneurs, employees, etc).

If you ask 10 different digital nomads about how they live, you will likely get 10 different answers. I’ve been traveling full-time for more than 6+ years now and tweaked my lifestyle a lot over the years. The flexibility to be able to do so is what I enjoy most! Here are answers to the most common questions I get about it.

What is location independence?

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Location independence is the ability to be based anywhere in the world whenever you want.

With that freedom, you can then choose to travel the world, be home with your family, dance every day, or whatever else makes you happy.

Location independence could mean work and travel, or it could mean having a home base while traveling whenever you feel like it.

There are a few key things that make you location independent:

• The ability to work from anywhere (no limitations from clients, employers, etc)
• Financially stable enough to allow you to choose where to live. While one could argue that a digital nomad and location independent is the same thing, 100 % location-independent means you can choose freely where to live. You’re not limited to affordable locations but could rent a place in Stockholm or New York if you feel like it.
• You have more flexibility when it comes to time zones and work hours. Usually, location-independent people are entrepreneurs who set their own schedules.
• Some people who are location independent have built up several income streams that allow them to earn passive income. Some are financially independent.

For both digital nomads and location-independent people, the main thing is not being tied to a specific, geographic location.

Do terms like digital nomad, remote worker, etc. even matter?

We don’t care much about what term people use. The important thing to note is to not assume everyone is the same when you hear someone referring to themselves as a digital nomad or whatever. Instead, be curious and open to learning more about their take on it.

I’ve met people who don’t travel and still call themselves digital nomad. It makes me wonder what a nomad is then… but who am I to decide for them? You do you! 😉

If you represent a destination or a brand that wants to attract remote workers, it’s important to be clear on who your target group is. Most importantly, understand how they look at themselves.

Still confused about the difference between digital nomad and remote worker?

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If you’re still confused about the difference between digital nomads, remote workers, and all the other terms out there, don’t worry.

The best part about the future of work is that there are so many opportunities to live a location-independent lifestyle and work from anywhere in the world. So whether you’re a digital nomad, working from home, or something else, embrace the freedom and flexibility that comes with it.

So what label should you use? It doesn’t really matter, whatever resonates with you. As long as you’re happy and productive, that’s all that counts.

Do you care about labels? Did we forget any term?