Healthy competition or peer pressure?
Hey Freaking Nomads,
This week, I want to talk about something that's been on my mind lately: the fine line between healthy competition and soul-crushing peer pressure we might something feel as digital nomads.
Personally, I've never seen myself as the competitive type. I wasn't ever the kid in school with trophies lining the shelf (in fact, I don't think I ever won one lol!). And even when I ended up at a place like Oxford University— something society could see as ambitious or competitive— that to me wasn't about being the smartest person in the room, but rather a chance to talk to and learn from them.
Fast forward a couple of years ago, I transitioned from a freelancing career (where I wasn't exactly setting the world on fire) and co-founded Freaking Nomads alongside my amazing partner. It started as a passion project, a chance to embrace my non-ambitious generalist nature. I could tap into copywriting, web design, social media – without needing to be the absolute master of any one thing. We built it together, learning and growing at our own pace, free from the pressure to constantly compete.
But in parallel to that, becoming a digital nomad changed something for me. Digital nomads are, in my experience, some of the most dedicated, talented, and driven people on the planet. They work hard to maintain their freedom to travel and work from anywhere in the world. It’s easy to see why people might feel or even need to be ambitious and competitive to keep this lifestyle.
The problem? Sometimes, when I connect with other nomads, I can't help but feel a twinge of insecurity. "Am I doing enough? Am I on the right track? Why does it seem so effortless for everyone else?"
It's easy to fall into the comparison trap, to let the achievements of others turn into suffocating (and most of the time self-imposed) peer pressure.
But here's the one that keeps me optimistic. If I look back, becoming a digital nomad has objectively pushed me way outside my comfort zone in ways I never thought possible. Seeing other nomads out there chasing their dreams, exploring new places, and building amazing things has been a constant source of inspiration. And the key has been remembering to push ourselves with a spirit of camaraderie, not competition.
So, fellow Freaking Nomads, keep on inspiring each other! Let's celebrate our wins (big and small), and see each other as those who are not afraid to forge their own path, following their own rules. After all, isn't that what digital nomadism is all about?
With love,
Irene
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