10 Awesome Reasons to Become an Anywhereist

Guest Post by Michael Gibbs

I’ve been extremely attracted to the idea of working from anywhere ever since I first heard about it. The freedom that comes with such a lifestyle really appeals to me. Now, it’s not merely an attractive idea, but I’ve decided to proactively pursue the life of an Anywhereist.

To be honest, I’ve never been interested in lounging on the beach with my laptop, an image often used to portray the life of a digital nomad. One, I have no interest in staring at a computer screen while surrounded by such a beautiful environment. Two, I wouldn’t want to chance the possibility of ruining my laptop by getting sand inside it. . .

. . . Working at the beach may be your ideal, but here are ten awesome reasons why I want to become an Anywhereist . . .

#1. Work from anywhere

As an Anywhereist, you can work from anywhere.

Locate your office wherever your laptop can login to Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot. For instance, you can set up your workspace at home, the local coffee shop, or even the beach (if the idea of working at the beach is your jam).

This gives you the flexibility to move around and not be tied down to one locale.

#2. Be your own boss

You have more control of your day when you work remotely.

If you are the owner of an online business, you are literally the boss and get to call all the shots. But even if you answer to a manager, working remotely gives you more command over your work, which means less micromanagement and more focus on what you need to get done.

Plus, you don’t have to explain to others that you’re going to the bathroom every time nature calls.

#3. Create your own work schedule

Anywhereists create their own schedules.

But even if you’re an employee at a company, many employers are becoming more flexible and allow their remote workers to manage their own time as long as the job gets done. No more running around like a mad person and shoving too much food in your mouth at once for those 30-minute mandatory lunch breaks.

Managing your own schedule will also expand your personal leisure or free time.

#4. No more work commutes

Another time-saving benefit to working remotely is no more commutes to work.

According to the US Census Bureau, the average one-way commute from one’s home to the workplace takes 27.6 minutes. Driving for that long twice a day is 55.2 minutes, which means the average time people spend driving to their jobs each year is approximately 336 hours.

That’s a lot of time saved, as well as gas money.

#5. Reduce office politics

One of the things I despise the most about the traditional office space is all the petty politics that goes on.

The power structures of an office job often creates a status-seeking, dog-eat-dog competitive atmosphere that feels like you constantly must watch your back and every word you say like you’re a player on the show Big Brother. But when you work remotely, you don’t have to deal with your cubicle neighbor plotting a secret attack against you.

Freedom from such psychological warfare means less stress, a healthier mental state, and a nice boost in your creativity, which translates into better work results.

#6. Fewer distractions

I become easily distracted in the office environment with all the chatter, interruptions, noises, and, especially for a highly sensitive empath like me, difficult energy.

Unfortunately, workplaces often bring out the worst in people, including bad moods and negative energies that come with such moods. These types of distractions practically make it impossible for me to do my job and do it well.

Choosing my own remote office space will allow me to have fewer distractions and grant me the ability to focus on deep work.

#7. Mobility in the face of climate change

Unless you’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid served up by climate deniers and big oil propagandists, you’re most likely aware of the devastating impact of climate change, and may have even been personally impacted by it in some way.

Mass forest fires burning entire neighborhoods to the ground. . . Rising sea levels flooding coastal areas. . . Category 5 hurricanes destroying homes and businesses across multiple states. . .

These major shifts due to climate change make many cities and towns unstable places to live. With such rapidly fluctuating environmental changes, it’s now more important than ever that you and your family have the mobility to relocate if need be. As an Anywhereist, you’ll have that flexibility.

#8. Declutter your life

Many digital nomads choose to live a minimalist lifestyle. They don’t want to be burdened with a bunch of stuff to haul around with them as they move wherever they please.

This Lifehack article shows there’s scientific evidence that decluttering your life leads to less stress, more productivity, and better sleep.

Purging unnecessary material things and keeping only what Mari Kondo would say “sparks joy” will improve your life and make digital nomading much less of a hassle.

#9. Financial stability

Being an Anywhereist will give you financial stability.

How so?

You’ll have the freedom to relocate to areas with lower costs of living, save on gas money, be more productive, and buy fewer material things that would otherwise weigh you down with clutter. With your head above water, you won’t have the worry of debt and bills stressing you out constantly. Plus, the increased productivity of being stress-free will cause your income level to rise even further.

(Just remember that your happiness won’t increase once you bring in more than $75,000/year, according to this Princeton University study.)

#10. Travel the world

Traveling is one of the most popular reasons people become digital nomads.

In this tweet, Steph Smith, Director of Marketing at Hubspot, shares the various places she has traveled and lived as a remote worker. Many people can’t travel as much as they’d like, because they’re tied down by their traditional jobs and get an average of two weeks of vacation per year. (If they’re lucky — the US is the only western, industrialized country where workers don’t have a right to paid time off.)

If you love to travel, you may want to become a digital nomad so you can work from anywhere, like Steph.

Now are you interested in becoming an Anywhereist? I know I am.

My personal plan is to first land a remote job and use that income to bootstrap an online business (maybe even two) on the side.

As I take my first steps on this exciting new path, I’ll be reading every bi-weekly issue of the Anywhereist Newsletter for the latest handpicked tools and tips to help guide me on my journey.

And if the life of a digital nomad sounds appealing to you too, I highly recommend you do the same. (Scroll down to sign up!)

Michael Gibbs

Freelance Writer

Michael Gibbs is a writer who aspires to be a digital entrepreneur and Anywhereist. When he is not playing with words on the page, he likes to dissolve into a good story, acquire new knowledge and skills, cook delicious plant-based dishes, meditate like a mind scientist, and play disc golf with his nephew and friends. Follow him on Twitter.