•
Jan. 10, 2023
Are Digital Nomads the New-Age Hippies? A Philosophical Perspective
•
Jan. 10, 2023
A digital nomad is someone who is always on the move, with no fixed address, and uses telecommunications technologies to earn a living and conduct their life. Digital nomads typically travel to different locations, often working from coworking spaces or coffee shops, and may stay in one place for a few weeks or months before moving on to the next destination.
Digital nomads are often associated with telecommuting and freelancing, as well as a variety of other occupations that can be performed remotely. They may work in a variety of fields, such as computer programming, writing, marketing, and design, and often use the internet and social media to find and communicate with clients. The digital nomad lifestyle is attractive to many people because it offers the freedom to work from anywhere and the opportunity to experience new cultures and ways of life.
A hippie is a member of a counterculture, originally a youth movement that began in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The hippie subculture rejected mainstream values and advocated for peace, love, and personal freedom.
Hippies were known for their liberal attitudes, experimentation with drugs, and participation in the environmental and civil rights movements. They were also associated with nonconformity, alternative lifestyles, and a casual, relaxed fashion sense characterized by tie-dyed and batik clothing, sandals, and beads.
Hippie culture was popular in the times when the internet was not available. With remote working, work from anywhere and gig working becoming the new norm, will we see a new hippie revolution minus the controversial aspects?
There are some similarities between the lifestyles of digital nomads and hippies, in that both groups value personal freedom and alternative lifestyles. Digital nomads are often attracted to the nomadic lifestyle because it allows them to work from anywhere, while hippies were known for rejecting mainstream values and rejecting a traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle.
Digital nomads are generally more focused on using technology and telecommunications to earn a living, using their income to fund their travels, and may not necessarily prioritize environmental or social issues.
Barring political interests, and social & cultural inclinations, this new digital nomad movement is almost the same as the hippie movement in many ways. They do not like any ownership assets, like freedom, love all cultures, and are always on the move. Indeed, this new movement might pave way for a whole new human evolution that will erase borders, bring in new universal culture, true global citizenship, and planet lovers.
In human evolution, in Life 1.0, humans lived in caves, and atop trees, and predominantly survived hunting. It was a simple life, getting up in the morning, hunting, eating, and sleeping.
In Life 2.0, humans moved near water bodies, relied mostly on agriculture, grew crops, ate cooked food, slept, and also stored grains for the days to come. This was also when small industries came up. People lived in houses, mostly in small settlements and villages.
In Life 3.0, the industrial revolution took shape. People moved wherever jobs existed, big companies came up, manufacturing, and services grew rapidly, and cities thrived. Then IT and the Internet came along, taking the evolution to a whole new level.
What next? What’s in store in Life 4.0?
If we connect the dots well, extrapolate the information, look back and look forward, and take all the new evolutions into account, we get a picture of how Life 4.0 is going to be. People will be on the move, without permanent settlement, live in different places, and roam around the globe. They work on the move and study on the move.
Borders will be erased, current Nation-State concepts will die, and Global Citizenship will emerge. This will be the era of Online Communities, a real internet revolution. Borderless Nation-States will emerge, and true democracy will take shape where leaders from anywhere and any background rule their respective communities located everywhere in the world. The convergence of physical and digital lives will happen, and Social and Work will also be converged.
Existing models of jobs, work, house ownership, and car ownership will die. New platforms will emerge, that will enable a digital workforce ecosystem, global citizenship, house subscription, car subscription, and making the whole world a true Digital Global Village.
Being a digital nomad can be a fulfilling and exciting way to live and work. It is a personal choice that involves adopting a certain set of values and lifestyle practices.
Here are some steps you can take to become a digital nomad, the new-age hippie:
Adopt a free-spirited, non-conformist attitude. Hippies value independence, creativity, and self-expression, so try to cultivate these qualities in your own life.
Identify a career or business that can be done remotely. Many digital nomads work in fields such as writing, editing, design, programming, consulting, or online teaching.
Dress and groom yourself in a way that reflects your personal style and values. Seek out like-minded individuals and communities.
Build up your skills and experience in your chosen field. This will make it easier to find clients or employers who are willing to hire you to work remotely.
Create a strong online presence. A website or blog can be a great way to showcase your skills and experience, and social media can help you connect with potential clients or employers.
Make sure you have the right technology and equipment to work remotely. This may include a laptop, smartphone, and other tools and software that you need to do your job effectively.
Start networking and building relationships with other digital nomads. You can find these individuals through social media, online forums, or in-person events and gatherings.
Plan your travels and accommodations. Nomadic life involves travelling frequently and stay in a variety of different locations, so it's important to have a plan for where you will go and how you will live while you are there.
Remember, being a digital nomad requires a lot of planning and preparation, but it can also be a very rewarding and exciting way to live and work. The best way to start off is signup on a gig, future of work platform such as AiDOOS which makes it easier to keep receiving work and allows you to travel freely.
The rise of digital nomads has challenged conventional work norms, and Virtual Delivery Centers (VDCs) are instrumental in making this lifestyle viable and productive. Here's how VDCs align with and empower the digital nomad ethos:
Freedom to Work from Anywhere:
VDCs provide the infrastructure for remote work, allowing professionals to contribute to projects from any corner of the globe without compromising on quality or efficiency.
Collaboration Without Borders:
With integrated communication tools and cloud-based platforms, VDCs ensure seamless collaboration across time zones and locations, enabling digital nomads to stay connected with their teams.
Diverse Opportunities:
VDCs connect nomads with diverse, high-quality projects that align with their skills, ensuring they are not restricted by geographical or organizational boundaries.
Flexibility in Task Selection:
Digital nomads value autonomy, and VDCs allow them to choose tasks or projects that match their interests and expertise, promoting both professional satisfaction and creativity.
Secure Operations:
VDCs incorporate robust security measures to protect sensitive data, ensuring that nomads can work safely from public networks or shared co-working spaces.
Sustainability in Lifestyle:
By facilitating remote work, VDCs reduce the need for daily commutes, promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle that aligns with the values of many digital nomads.
Skill Enhancement:
Continuous learning is key for digital nomads, and VDCs provide access to training resources and development opportunities, helping them stay competitive in an evolving market.
A Bridge Between Philosophy and Productivity:
The digital nomad lifestyle resonates with a deeper quest for freedom and purpose. VDCs bridge this philosophical pursuit with the practical needs of consistent income and meaningful work.
In essence, Virtual Delivery Centers serve as the backbone for the digital nomad movement, enabling professionals to harmonize their wanderlust and career aspirations. By embracing this model, the future of work can be both liberating and impactful.
