The Two Things Digital Nomads Actually Miss About Traditional Offices

It’s no secret that many people are trading in office life for the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. A 2022 study found that 16.9 million Americans identified as digital nomads, and that number is only going to grow as remote work continues to transform the workplace. Countries like Croatia, Spain, Portugal, and Barbados offer specific digital nomad visas that allow you to live, work, and travel, usually for up to one year.

That said, although the experiences and memories that come with being a digital nomad are a huge advantage, this type of lifestyle would also take some adjusting to. From working through different time zones to language barriers and less-than-reliable internet connection, it’s important to remember that being a digital nomad isn’t just plain sailing.

CoworkingCafe surveyed over 820 digital nomads to determine what they miss the most about traditional office setups. Many digital nomads are normally working from non-conventional spaces, like coffee shops or hotel lobbies that aren’t created with an office-use type in mind.

Add this to the fact that many other people will be trying to connect to the internet at the same time, 51 percent of respondents said that they miss having a reliable Wi-Fi connection. Printers and scanners were cited as the second most-missed office feature, with 38 percent of people saying that having frequent access to these things would make their jobs easier.

Bearing that in mind, when asked about their satisfaction levels with their current work setup, the vast majority (56 percent) of digital nomads surveyed were neutral. Only 18 percent said that they were happy with their setup, and 26 percent revealed that they were unsatisfied with their work environment. As a result, 38 percent of workers said that they were currently on the lookout for a coworking space to better cater to their work needs.

As for what options would enhance the coworking spaces, schedule flexibility was the most sought-after factor. Coworking spaces that are open late hours — or even a full 24 — are great options for those working on different time zones (for example, a digital nomad working in Spain whose main office is in Los Angeles).