Work from Bali, lunch in Spain. Digital nomad Tomas is living the Generation Z dream
Two decades ago, it was a lifestyle that few could afford. Today, digital nomadism, a combination of teleworking and travel, is on the rise. It is changing individual lives, but also the shape of cities, markets and consumer expectations. While some celebrate it as an ideal of freedom, others point to its downsides - from gentrification to the depletion of local resources.
From vision to reality
The term digital nomad first appeared in 1997 in the book Digital Nomad by Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners. At the time, they were already predicting the arrival of a mobile workforce that would leave traditional offices thanks to technology. However, the real boom did not come until after 2010 and, in particular, with the advent of the pandemic, which showed that many professions can be performed from anywhere in the world.
According to MBO Partners' 2024report, over 18.1 million people in the United States alone claim to be digital nomads - a 147 percent increase from 2019. Moreover, nomadism is no longer the prerogative of tech professionals or influencers. Entire families, individuals from a variety of industries, and seniors are taking to the movement.
A story from practice: "I don't need a house, I need freedom"
One of the digital nomads is 30-year-old Tomáš, originally from Brno. He works as a freelance UX designer and is in his fourth year of changing cities seasonally. "I started in Lisbon, then came Valencia, I spent two winters in Thailand and this year I tried Buenos Aires. I always rent a small apartment or room, I just need Wi-Fi and a bit of peace," he says.
His decision to leave his stable job at the agency was prompted by the pandemic and a sense of stagnation. "I had a job, a mortgage arranged, everything as it should be. But the more I thought about it, the more it felt like a trap. I wanted to see the world, not buy a new couch," he explains.
But his experience hasn't been all idyllic. "It's not a vacation. You're always having to figure out where you're going to live next month, whether you have insurance or where to get a new card sent. And then there's the loneliness - even though I meet a lot of people, relationships are difficult. Everyone is on the road," Tomáš adds.
Still, he wouldn't change. "I don't want to be entrenched. I feel like the world is more open to me than ever before - and that's worth some discomfort."
Freedom versus burden for locals
For many, digital nomadism is synonymous with freedom, adventure and authentic experiences. It allows you to travel, experience new cultures and make money at the same time. But the more people choose this lifestyle, the more questions arise - especially from the communities that host nomads.
While some countries - such as Estonia, Portugal and Barbados - offer special visas and support for this type of visitor, other places are experiencing resistance from residents. In the Balearic Islands, for example, rents are rising sharply year-on-year, and in some neighbourhoods of Barcelona or Lisbon, locals are being squeezed out by rising prices.
Nomads thus bring both economic opportunities and risks - and the question of their sustainable integration into local communities will become increasingly important.
The end of rootedness, the rise of flexibility
In the traditional world, success in life was measured by stability - a steady job, a home of one's own, material security. But today's generations, especially millennials and members of Generation Z, face a reality where these metrics are losing their reach and appeal.
The nomadic way of life presents an alternative: a 'fluid' model where people emphasise mobility, access rather than ownership and the ability to adapt quickly. This approach is permeating consumer behaviour, with a growing interest in the sharing economy, renting rather than buying, and short-term commitments.
