Digital Nomads, Community, Well-being: A Career Counselling Perspective

Digital Nomads – Community and Well-Being

As the digital nomad lifestyle grows¹, I find myself reflecting on what “community” and “active citizenship” really mean. Sure, digital nomads often form close-knit groups and support networks among themselves, creating a unique sense of identity and mutual understanding.

But what about solidarity, care and social change in the local societies they move through? Lasting change, whether it’s building urban gardens, protecting natural or cultural heritage, or nurturing social projects, calls for roots, collaboration, and consistent time investment. Scientific research consistently shows that our well-being is deeply connected to living in stable, caring communities and strong social systems.

• Robert Putnam, in “Bowling Alone” (2000), demonstrates how social capital—networks of reciprocity, trust, and engagement—has a direct impact on health, happiness, and resilience.
• Studies summarised by Holt-Lunstad and colleagues (PLOS Medicine, 2010) reveal that having strong social relationships increases survival rates by 50%.
• Keyes (1998) also found that social integration and meaningful community participation significantly boost psychological well-being.
• Societies with robust welfare systems, like those highlighted by Wilkinson and Pickett in “The Spirit Level” (2009), consistently report higher trust, lower stress and greater life satisfaction.

Recent studies show that while digital nomads enjoy greater life satisfaction and autonomy, they also face challenges like loneliness and weak local ties. Well-being tends to improve when nomads join co-living communities or foster virtual support networks². Understanding these dynamics is vital, not only for individual well-being, but also for nurturing positive social change within both nomad and local communities.

Lasting Impact on Local Societies

However, creating lasting social change involves more than individual fulfillment or online connection, it requires rooted, sustained presence in a specific place. Real-world community projects demand time and continuity. For example, planting a community bio garden in August for a winter harvest, and then being present again in June for the spring harvest. Building environmental associations or running local cultural heritage protection initiatives requires months (if not years) of cooperation, trust-building and persistent engagement with both neighbors and local authorities. These are opportunities often out of reach for those living in a place only briefly. While digital nomads may contribute through remote admin or research work, these efforts lack the depth of hands-on participation in community life.

So, I wonder: can digital nomads truly be “active citizens” in the places they temporarily inhabit? Or does this mobile lifestyle limit participation in the slow, locally rooted processes that build lasting social solidarity?

On the other hand, we are seeing new models of mobility emerge, where digital nomads move collectively, often with their families and children, bringing educational structures with them or having organised spaces for collaborative remote working, trying to create new forms of stability and connection³. Yet the question remains: can a mobile community move beyond supporting itself to have a meaningful, long-term impact on local society? 

The Career Counselling Perspective

From a career counselling point of view, it is essential to explore the values and motivations that attract individuals to the digital nomad lifestyle. Research and experience show that digital nomads often prioritise values such as autonomy, flexibility, adventure, learning, and diversity of experience. They may be driven by a desire for greater work-life balance, independence from a single employer or location, and exposure to new cultures.

However, these prevailing values can sometimes be in tension with the needs for stability, belonging, and long-term contribution to community life, elements that scientific studies recognise as beneficial for well-being. For career counsellors, it’s crucial to help clients reflect on which values matter most to them, what trade-offs are involved, and how their choices may impact their well-being and sense of purpose. Supporting clients should include honest discussions about both the exciting opportunities and the potential limitations of the digital nomad lifestyle—particularly when it comes to building meaningful connections, being an active citizen, and contributing to the “social tissue” wherever they are.

Research tells us that community, belonging, and consistent social connection are essential for our individual and collective well-being. For some, digital nomadism is liberating; for others, it may come at a cost. A good career counsellor helps clients navigate these complex questions, matching lifestyle with core values and long-term fulfillment.

1. Forbes. (2023, September 10). Why digital nomad visas are more popular than ever.
   MBO Partners. (2023). Digital Nomads Report 2023.
   Statista. (2023). Number of digital nomads in the United States from 2019 to 2023.
   BBC. (2021, August 12). The rise of digital nomads.
   Exploding Topics. (2024). Digital nomad trends. ↩︎
2. Leurs, B., & Timothy, D. J. (2023). Place attachment and wellbeing among digital nomads living in co-living spaces. Computers in Human Behavior, 147, 107856.
   Thompson, B. Y., & Skjerven, P. H. (2022). I am a citizen of the world: Well-being and adjustment among digital nomads. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1), 2122138.
   Statista. (2023). Digital nomads’ happiness and work satisfaction. ↩︎
3. Boundless Life. (n.d.). Home page.
   Worldly Tribe. (n.d.). Education & childcare for digital nomad families.
   BBC Worklife. (2022, June 15). The rise of digital nomad families.
   CNBC. (2023, March 1). How to be a digital nomad with kids.
   Czeglédi, C., & Formádi, K. (2023). Work–life balance and mental health of digital nomads—An exploratory study. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24, 1355–1372. ↩︎