In 2024, I got interviewed by a journalist (HU), about working as a mental coach (for expats, etc.) and traveling as a digital nomad.
Read the whole interview about my life as a mental coach and digital nomad below
“Carolien, tell me about your journey of becoming a digital nomad. What inspired you to take this path?”
Carolien: “I remember as a kid watching my father return home from his 9-5 office job, five days a week, and thinking, that is NOT going to be me. That was the first seed planted in my mind. At 25 years old, while traveling solo in Asia in 2018, I saw people working remotely from their laptops. That’s when I realized—a digital nomad lifestyle is actually possible. I had always known I wanted to live and work abroad, at least for a while, so it all made perfect sense to me.
The digital nomad lifestyle became more than just a dream—it was something I actively pursued. The more time I spent abroad by myself, the more I met people who had broken free from traditional work structures. I found myself longing more for the same. Seeing people sitting in cafés with their laptops, balancing work with travel, made me realize that this was the type of freedom I wanted.
I was already a (certified) mental coach since 2017, back home in the Netherlands. Fortunately for me, this is a job you can do online. Though, it took a lot of courage to become self-employed. In March 2022, I decided to give it a serious go and focus on the people I truly relate to: expats, digital nomads, international students, solo travelers, and other foreigners.
Now I work a few months per year (during Dutch winter) abroad.”
"What does your typical workday look like?”
Carolien: “My productivity is best in the morning, so I prefer to start working around 8:00 AM and finish around 2:00 or 3:00 PM. I like to be in warm and sunny places. After the hottest hours of the day, I go for a workout or straight to the beach.
Evenings are for socializing—I love dancing (Latin style) and connecting with locals to truly understand their culture, daily life, and struggles. I like to look beyond the touristic and commercial images of places. And when I get the chance to hang out with locals, I feel like I’m sitting front row, watching the world through their eyes. Moments like these make me feel so full and lucky.
Of course, all this doesn’t happen daily, but when it does, my life feels pretty much perfect.”
With great freedom comes great responsibility
“The digital nomad lifestyle has exploded in popularity in recent years. What do you think has contributed to this trend?”
Carolien: “During lockdowns, remote work got boosted. Companies started adopting hybrid or fully remote models. Many people ‘woke up’ and realized they disliked their corporate jobs.
At the same time, social media algorithms on TikTok and Instagram now flood users with digital nomad content. Once you search for ‘digital nomad,’ you’re bombarded with ads and posts. Influencers sharing their work locations around the world make this lifestyle look picture-perfect.
But as with anything on social media, it’s not always what it seems. Many people imagine the digital nomad lifestyle as sitting on a beach with a cocktail in one hand and a laptop in the other. Obviously, Wi-Fi, 35-degree heat, sand blowing in your face, and local vendors trying to sell you caipirinhas will not make you able to work productively. I like to keep things real 😉 Everyone who chooses this lifestyle eventually encounters its downsides.”
“Speaking of that, what are the pros and cons of being self-employed and a digital nomad?”
Carolien: “The best part is the freedom and flexibility to design my life according to my needs. I decide daily what works best for me—whether I’m coaching clients across different time zones or working on my content and website. This digital nomad lifestyle is incredible, yet…
With great freedom comes great responsibility. I have to manage everything myself—not just while traveling, but also while ensuring I work consistently. Ironically, once you have this freedom, you start longing for structure and stability again. Discipline is just as crucial as flexibility. It’s easy to assume you can work anytime and anywhere, but no. Without focus, a comfortable workspace, good sleep, and stable internet, stress increases as productivity suffers. And when productivity goes down, so does your income, making it harder to sustain this digital nomad lifestyle.
Loneliness is another challenge many digital nomads face, and I’ve been no exception. I’ve stayed in over 100 hostels in my life, but they can become overwhelming and distracting. That’s why I usually book private rooms with air conditioning, an ergonomic workspace, and, preferably, in a local’s home via Airbnb. This way, I get my peace, I’m not completely alone, and I get to experience local life.
Don’t get me wrong, being alone is fine (and a necessary skill to have) but feeling lonely can only last for so long before it becomes unhealthy. At the same time, constantly having to start over and make new friends can be exhausting. So there’s always some (inner) battles going on there.
In the end, it’s all about balance—just like it is back home: staying disciplined, maintaining a structured, healthy, and comfortable life while also nurturing social connections and – in this case- trying to embrace all new surroundings.”
“Some critics argue that digital nomads contribute to gentrification and environmental issues. What’s your take on that?”
Carolien: “I’ve thought about this a lot over the past years. Regarding the environment, I’ve felt guilty about taking flights. After my very first trip to Asia, I went vegan for three years to reduce my own carbon footprint. Looking back at it, that was also a bit delusional and ego-driven, trying to “save the world”. It’s big corporations that make the biggest environmental impact.
However, I do try to stay in one place longer rather than constantly hopping around. Firstly to let me experience the local culture as much as possible and, simultaneously, it reduces my environmental footprint.
When it comes to gentrification, it’s a double-edged sword. Travel brings cultures together, but it also dilutes local traditions. There’s a global housing crisis, and in cities that attract lots of tourists, digital nomads, and remote workers, costs increase because wealthier foreigners can afford to pay more. This makes it harder—sometimes impossible—for locals to stay in their own cities. While digital nomads also contribute to this, I believe the real issue lies with overseas investors and governments that fail to regulate and protect their citizens. The same goes for people who travel for business purposes. They tend fly across the globe, just for a few days or weeks max.”
“Back to you. Do you see yourself being a digital nomad forever?”
Carolien: “In my teens and twenties, I thought I would always crave freedom and exploration. But now that I’m 32, I feel more drawn to having a stable base and meaningful relationships. I think many digital nomads, expats, and long-term travelers experience the same shift. No matter how different our paths may be with the homestayers, we are all human. And human needs evolve. Besides, who knows how long we can still travel this easily? I guess the answer now is a 'no'.”
"What advice would you give to someone considering the digital nomad lifestyle?”
Carolien: “Chase that dream, but don’t romanticize it. Again, it’s not all beaches and cocktails and everything in life becomes normal over time. Of course, it depends on your background. Maybe you come from a poor family, maybe you experienced forms of violence.
I come from a (Northern) European, middle-class lifestyle. So, speaking from this POV: being a digital nomad is a beautiful lifestyle, but not the easiest one. You need discipline, focus, be flexible, be comfortable alone and finally, it requires constant self-management."
What are your thoughts after this interview?
Have you considered becoming a digital nomad, but don’t know where to start? Or are you already a digital nomad and feel like you could use some guidance?
