Blog — happiness

In the Instagram age, it can seem like digital nomads are living a flawlessly glamorous existence. People in the industry, however, will know that this isn't always the case and no one captures this quite as thoughtfully as Giang Cao. Originally from Vietnam, Giang now lives a location-less existence as an illustrator and graphic designer.Her online comic Very Nomad Problems shines a humorous light on the everyday struggle of choosing this way of life. She releases a new comic every Tuesday, which you can keep up to date with by joining the mailing list on her website or liking the...

Kerouac's On the Road, Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night, Chopin's Winter Wind: all these incredible pieces of art were inspired by travel. Finding inspiration in a creative field can prove difficult, with many experiencing a form of writer's block in their respective field. Often, the solution is as simple as going somewhere new and having new experiences. In these new surroundings, you may experience a renewed inspiration to get you going again. You may even enter a 'flow state,' in which you completely lose yourself in your work and complete a creative project without even trying.Many travelers experience this...

Although 73% of digital nomads choose this lifestyle for the work-life balance, most multi-millionaire business owners believe that you should be working 95 hours a week if you want to succeed. These ideals seem somewhat conflicting. So you quit your office job, where taxes are deducted automatically, health insurance is paid for, and work hours never exceed 40 a week, only to end up having to do everything yourself as a solopreneur. Is the freedom that comes with being a digital nomad entrepreneur nothing more than an illusion?On top of this, digital nomads are having to book flights and hotels,...

New York City born and raised, Olivia Poglianich has always had a strong sense of her own personal values, including admirable ambition and - occasionally to her disadvantage - unwavering honesty. Following graduation, she found herself doing work, which wasn't right for her and knew that the only way out was to take a bold risk and escape her comfort zone.Well, it paid off, and she is now designing her best life as a marketing executive at coworking and coliving space provider, Outpost. I wanted to get an insight into how she maintains such a positive outlook, despite choosing a...

Fitness and traveling aren’t two words you’ll see commonly used alongside each other. If anything, traveling is the perfect excuse to eschew any sort of strenuous exercise, especially if you have different priorities. For digital nomads, however, fitness can play a vital role in establishing some kind of routine. Whether you have ambitions of completing a marathon in an exotic location, or you simply want to stave off weight gain, consider these tips for building sustainable, long-term fitness habits. Set Some Fitness Goals Before you even slip on those fresh new trainers, ask yourself: “What is it that I want...

Instagram is a platform full of inspirational people, who tend to be young and wealthy. 71% of users are under the age of 35, and 21% of millennials turn to the app when planning a trip. 60% of people who earn over $100K a year are on the app, compared to just 40% of those in $30K-$60K income bracket. That’s a lot of stats, but the bottom line is this: Instagrammers are not representative of the broader society. Especially the ones with the most followers.Almost everything you see is put through a filter, making buildings seem brighter, avocados riper, and...

As any seasoned expat will tell you, there comes a time when life abroad begins to lose its charm. The empanadas start to look greasier, the early-morning avocado vendor seems louder than usual, and everything that once felt like an exotic idiosyncrasy begins to feel drab and run-of-the-mill. If you've felt anything along these lines (or anticipate them), fear not -- you're not alone. In fact, "expat burnout" and "expat depression" are well-documented phenomena that make total and complete sense. In our quest to launch ourselves into unknown places, some cultural quirks begin to lose their flare. Here at Arcido,...

For digital nomads, business travelers, and anyone consistently on the move, there seems to be a curious unwritten law: preparedness is next to godliness. Expert travelers -- the thinking goes -- are prepared travelers. Those with the most gadgets, apps, tools, and clothes are supposedly better equipped to handle any and all circumstances, no matter how unlikely they may be. Here at Arcido, we gravitate towards a different mode of thought. While it's important to not just wander into a new country with nothing but Havaianas and an unopened Lonely Planet, there's also a certain degree of satisfaction in being...