The digital nomad lifestyle is exhilarating, offering unparalleled freedom with the ability to work from anywhere in the world. Colombia especially has become a popular destination for digital nomads with its diverse landscapes, vibrant culture, and growing traveler community. However, even here in paradise the nomadic lifestyle isn't without its challenges, and burnout is an increasingly common issue among these long term travelers.
Even as a digital nomad myself, it pains me to admit that during my travels in Latin America, there were times I couldn’t fully appreciate destinations because my curiosity was stifled, I was exhausted. I wanted to continue enjoying adventures, but I never felt recharged enough because I had failed to create systems and spaces within my lifestyle to sustain it.
And I’m not the only one. I’ve met countless travelers who have taken their remote jobs abroad, and nearly every single one has shared the same sentiment: there’s nothing like the freedom to live and work from anywhere, but damn, it’s exhausting.
Understanding Burnout as a Digital Nomad
This kind of burnout among digital nomads stems from several causes.
The first being the lack of a lasting community. Moving too quickly through destinations makes it extremely difficult to cultivate relationships. And in the wrong settings, surrounded by backpackers and vacationers, acquaintances amongst the travel community are often fleeting.
Any digital nomad can also tell you that this lifestyle is no vacation, and yet most haven’t updated their habits to reflect this. Eating out and drinking too frequently without prioritizing exercise, overtime leaves digital nomads feeling languid and lethargic. But this isn’t always because of lack of desire, there’s a huge learning curve to finding a movement routine that can function anywhere and sticking to a regular, nutritious diet on-the-go can be challenging.
Finding the discipline to be productive in a beautiful new destination, digital nomads may also feel a constant feeling of FOMO. A feeling that pushes them to keep moving and exploring, creating an uneven schedule and blurred lines between work and play as they’re caught in between two worlds without clear boundaries.
All of these factors then lead to burnout. Which is so much more than just feeling tired; it encompasses emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, and a sense of disconnection from one’s own life.
But how can you feel so bad when you’re living ‘the dream’? Maybe this lifestyle isn’t all it's cracked up to be. Maybe it’s time to throw in the towel and just move back home…
Sound familiar? If you’ve felt this way it may not be time to quit just yet. But it is time to implement habits and make choices that keep you grounded, healthy, and energized to keep exploring.
Strategies to Prevent Digital Nomad Burnout and Feel Recharged
Find a Sustainable Pace for You
One of the first steps to avoiding burnout is to find a travel pace that works for you. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of exploring new places, but constantly being on the move can drain your energy before you even realize it. Instead, consider slowing down and spending more time in each location. This gives you the chance to truly immerse yourself in the culture, create routines, and recharge between adventures.
Take Breaks in Nature Rich Areas
Nature is an incredibly powerful antidote to burnout. Taking breaks in nature-rich environments helps restore energy, improve mood, and foster a deeper connection with yourself. At Casa Kandamy, this is what draws in most of our guests who are digital nomads looking for a setting to pause and recharge. Our coliving house is surrounded by lush landscapes and the calming presence of rivers and mountains. Whether it’s taking a walk along a nature trail, practicing yoga under the palm trees, or just sitting by the river, being immersed in nature can help you find balance amidst the demands of remote work.
Choose Destinations That Fit Your Needs
When planning where to go next and where to stay, consider what you need to thrive. Is there access to a gym or spaces where you can maintain your movement routine? Are there healthy food options available? Beyond the sights, think about your day-to-day needs and how the destination and accommodation you choose aligns with your needs. This is key to avoiding burnout and maintaining a sustainable digital nomad lifestyle.
Stay in a Co-living Space That Inspires and Supports You
One of the major contributors to burnout is the lack of community. When you’re constantly moving, it can be hard to form deep connections, leaving you feeling isolated. This is why staying in a coliving space can be so powerful. Casa Kandamy provides not only a beautiful, inspiring environment to move your body and eat well, but also a community of like-minded people who share similar values of health, movement, and sustainability. Together we enjoy family dinners, group movement, cultural workshops, outdoor excursions and more. Being surrounded by others who understand the digital nomad lifestyle can help you feel more connected, supported, and less alone.
Create a Balanced Schedule
Blurred boundaries between work and play can quickly lead to burnout. It’s important to create a balanced schedule, where you clearly set aside time for work, rest, and exploration. Staying in a coliving space like Casa Kandamy can help in this regard, as the community respects each other's work time and encourages both productivity and relaxation. We have a consistent weekly schedule that involves a morning movement and meditation routine as well designated days for adventures and play. Having a consistent routine like this that includes breaks and downtime will allow you to enjoy the lifestyle without feeling overwhelmed.
Stick to a Movement Routine That Works for You
Physical movement is key to maintaining energy levels, reducing stress, and feeling good. But as a digital nomad, access to a gym isn’t always guaranteed. This is why it’s important to develop a movement routine to supplement location dependent physical activity (like going to the gym) that works anywhere, whether it's calisthenics, yoga, or bodyweight exercises.
For example, at Casa Kandamy, we start each day with a morning walk and a simple spinal movement routine—practices that can be done anywhere to keep your body moving and feeling alive. Our host Sebastian is also a movement teacher who specializes in movement training like locomotion and the use of gymnastic rings. Included in guests stay* is a personalized training program by Sebastian, tailored to your individual goals whether it be to establish a routine, build strength, improve mobility or become more efficient in your activities like hiking, surfing, mountain biking and more.
*Personalized training programs are included in stays of 6 weeks or more, however training is still available otherwise as an addition. Learn more here.
Eat Fresh, Local Produce and Maintain a Nutritious Diet
Food is fuel, and eating well is essential to feeling energized. As a digital nomad, it can be challenging to keep a consistent diet with changing access to ingredients in various locations. Instead of striving for perfection, try sticking to a few basic guidelines: choose fresh, unprocessed foods, and have some go-to meals that you can make with local produce.
At Casa Kandamy, the family permaculture farm provides fresh, local ingredients, ensuring that all housemates have access to healthy, nourishing food. By deciding to slow down your travels here, you’ll be replenishing your body with the rich organic fruits and vegetables of Colombia.
A balanced path forward
Burnout doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of the digital nomad journey. Just because you’ve felt exhausted or disconnected doesn’t mean it’s time to give up the lifestyle you’ve worked so hard to create. Instead, it’s an opportunity to make choices that nurture your well-being. By finding a sustainable pace, taking breaks in nature, choosing supportive environments, building routines, and prioritizing movement and nutrition, you can create a lifestyle that keeps you energized and inspired.
Trust me. Not long ago, the constant movement of travel had left me feeling disconnected and indifferent. But when I first arrived at Casa Kandamy as a. burnt out digital nomad, I felt a deep sense of relief—like I had finally found the place my body and soul had been searching for. Here I found the space to slow down, to breathe, and to rebuild. Living there for several months, I committed to a movement training program that restored my strength for all my adventures while rebalancing my body through nourishing daily practices and wholesome foods. Surrounded by Colombia’s abundant nature and a supportive community, I reconnected with myself, found joy in my work, and rekindled my passion for this lifestyle. Slowing down at Casa Kandamy ultimately allowed me to feel inspired and balanced once more.
So if you’re feeling burnt out, remember that living the dream isn’t about constant exploration—it’s about creating a balanced, fulfilling journey that allows you to keep thriving as you explore the world. Taking steps to nurture yourself, whether at Casa Kandamy or elsewhere, can make all the difference.
