The research project
Understanding the digital nomad lifestyle from a life course perspective through mixed research methods.
Interview part
This study will include two parts. The first part is the interview part and will take place in Bali, Indonesia. This part includes semi-structured interviews with digital nomads who are staying in Bali between September and October 2023. In these interviews, we will talk about the motivation to be in Bali and the experience as a digital nomad. We will also talk about your experiences with moving in childhood, the desire to feel at home somewhere, and how participants see their futures.
Questionnaire part
The second part is the questionnaire. This part will be open to digital nomads all over the world. This questionnaire includes questions about the motivations to go nomadic, the participant’s background, personality, the moves experienced in childhood, and future aspirations.
What is this study about?
This research project aims to understand the digital nomad lifestyle from a life course perspective. Individuals behave as active agents in the social context they live in, in which historical time, place, and the timing of life events influence their life courses and life decisions. Human lives are linked, so individuals’ life courses are interrelated and interacting. This means that life course decisions, such as choosing a digital nomad lifestyle, are formed in the context of previous life experiences, one’s life phase, attitudes, agency, social networks, and future orientations. Within this framework, I focus on people’s motives for taking the step towards a digital nomad lifestyle, their mental well-being, personality traits, and social relationships.
Why is this research important?
More jobs are going location independent every day. Since COVID in particular, many freelancers and employees have discovered the possibility of working from home, but also the opportunity of working from more exotic and exciting locations. With this lifestyle gaining popularity fast, it is important to understand peoples’ motivations for choosing the digital nomad lifestyle and how this lifestyle affects one’s well-being. Is it a temporary trend, or is it a new way of life that is here to stay? The results of this study help researchers to understand the how and why behind the lifestyle and provide an unbiased resource for those considering digital nomadism. The results also inform employers and governments on how to facilitate remote working and on potential future developments.
Methods and output
The study is based on a qualitative research design, including semi-structured face-to-face interviews and participatory observations. This means that I am immersing myself in the digital nomad community of Bali. I observe and experience the lifestyle, conduct interviews, and distribute questionnaires. The results of this research will be presented at international conferences, published in scientific journals, and discussed with other scientists in the field. Podcast episodes, social media content, and newspaper and magazine articles are also planned.
Participants
Participants should have lived as digital nomads, i.e., traveling whilst working remotely, for at least one year. They should be at least 18 years old, working remotely by choice, either as an employee or as a freelancer. Those who do not work remotely (e.g., seasonal workers or those who work as on-site volunteers) are not seen as eligible for this study. Only people who speak English or Dutch can take part in the study.
How does it affect people's well-being to be permanently on the move?
Juul Henkens
