Ever seen this graph?

Hey Nomads,

Ever heard of The Valley of Despair?

I stumbled upon this concept while reading about the Dunning-Kruger effect. You know, that graph showing how confidence and competence rarely grow at the same speed. It hit me like a ton of bricks because… I’ve been there.

The idea is simple: when you start something new like learning a skill, starting a business, or diving into the digital nomad life, you quickly climb what’s called Mount Stupid. Your confidence is sky-high because you don’t yet know how much you don’t know. Everything feels exciting, easy even.

But then reality sets in. That’s when you crash into the Valley of Despair, the place where you do know how much you don’t know, and it feels overwhelming.

For me, that valley came when I started indie making. I began my journey thinking, “I’m going to work for myself, travel the world, and create things people love.” Instead, I found myself deep in endless product features, half-finished side projects, months of zero income, and the sinking feeling that maybe I wasn’t cut out for this at all.

Psychologists say this dip is normal. The Valley of Despair isn’t failure, it’s the messy middle between beginner’s optimism and real mastery. You’ve passed the beginner’s illusion but haven’t yet built the deep systems, skills, and experience that bring reliable results. In short, it’s the ugly but necessary stage of growth.

But when you’re there alone, staring at your laptop, it feels like a dead end.

So, how do you climb out?

What helped me was to build something tiny and ship it fast.

When I was in the Valley, one of my biggest mistakes was spending months polishing big, ambitious projects that never saw daylight. That just kept me stuck, working hard but with nothing to show for it.

The shift came when I built something ridiculously small: a simple workspace directory that now lives inside the Freaking Nomads Community Hub.

It wasn’t perfect (not even close) at the time it launched, but it was real. And shipping it gave me something I desperately needed: momentum. That small win reminded me why I started building things in the first place.

Sometimes the fastest way up isn’t working harder on the “big idea.” It’s creating a quick, scrappy win that reminds you: I can do this.

If you’re in the Valley right now, stop waiting for perfect. Make something tiny this week and see what happens. You never know, it might grow into something way bigger than you imagined.

See you out there!

Irene

🗞️ What's new in the nomad world?

• The U.S. passport just hit a record low. It’s now ranked 10th in the world, tied with Iceland and Lithuania, with visa-free access to 182 destinations, seven fewer than a decade ago. Experts blame shifting international relations, but say with the right agreements, it could climb back up again.

U.S. passport falls to record-low 10th place in global ranking

The U.S. passport falls to its lowest ranking ever, now 10th worldwide, reflecting declining mobility and shifting global travel dynamics.

Freaking NomadsLuca Mussari

• Kazakhstan just opened its doors wider. Citizens of 56 countries can now visit visa-free for up to 30 days per trip, as part of a push to boost tourism and attract remote workers. It follows the new Neo Nomad Visa, another sign that Kazakhstan wants more global travelers.

Kazakhstan expands visa-free travel to 56 countries

Kazakhstan expands visa-free travel to 56 countries, boosting tourism and business while supporting its new digital nomad and entrepreneur visas.

Freaking NomadsIrene Wang

🌍 Fresh from our Blog

• It’s not the prettiest VPN out there, but it works. IPVanish gives you unlimited connections, solid privacy, and streaming that won’t freeze mid‑call. We looked past its clunky interface to see why it’s still a quiet favorite for remote workers.

IPVanish VPN Review: Is it Actually Worth Your Money?

IPVanish VPN Review: Honest look at its speed, security, streaming, and pricing. Find out if IPVanish is worth it for your online privacy.

Freaking NomadsJohan Mejia

• Another to‑do app? Yeah, but this one actually sticks. Todoist is simple, fast, and surprisingly motivating. We looked at why it’s become a go‑to for digital nomads and whether it’s worth adding to your daily routine.

Todoist Review: Best To-Do List App for Digital Nomads?

Discover Todoist’s best features, real use cases for digital nomads, freelancers, and remote teams, plus pricing insights.

Freaking NomadsJohan Mejia

💼 100% remote jobs handpicked for you

Who is hiring this week? Here are some top roles to check out:

• Customer Experience and Adoption Specialist at T-Rex Solutions
• Healthcare Equity Research Analyst at CFRA
• Senior Engineer at IFT
• Cybersecurity Specialist at Nusacode Kreativ Studio
• Junior Quality Assurance Analyst at Quinncia Inc

🔌 Nomad Resource of the Week

If you’re tired of packing three different chargers, you’ve got to try this 3‑in‑2 multi‑charging cable I’ve been using while traveling around Crete this summer. It charges your iPhone, Apple Watch, and another USB‑C gadget all at once.

• One cable for three devices (iPhone, Apple Watch, USB‑C)
• 4ft braided cord that won’t fray in your backpack
• Charges multiple devices at the same time
• Compact enough to throw in your bag and forget about it
• Perfect for travel, car trips, or even tiny Airbnb nightstands

Small, simple, and one of those things you don’t realize you need… until you do.

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📚 Want more digital nomad guides? Read our articles on all things nomad, including travel tips, budgeting & finance, legal and taxes, community, productivity and more.

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We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads 👋

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Written by Irene Wang

Digital nomad and co-founder of Freaking Nomads. She shares raw, unfiltered stories and helps nomads find resources to thrive while traveling and working remotely.

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