🖋️Feature: Hey Nomads working from Beach Hammocks - this one is dedicated to you!
Busting some stock image myths and getting some learnings
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Edition #97 is coming from the Spanish Pyrenees, around Canfranc.
⛰️ Hey from the Majestic Mountains!
Coming up to finishing up my month here over the coming days, with more updates and stories to follow soon.
You may have missed my article on how I am keeping a tight budget on this trip, around €50 lodging and food per day in the Spanish Pyrenees - read about it below:
Plus, my phone is full of photos now, which I have to organise and catalogue, so stay tuned for updates!
You can check out my regular photos and notes, on
Yesterday was the year anniversary of my long form article in the Harvard Business Review - which you can read here - I heard from the editor recently that the article was one of the most popular of 2023, which was nice to hear.
Nomadism has a (stock) image problem
Reflecting on the article got me a thinking about the cliches around Nomadism, especially some of the photos that are regularly used when promoting and featuring Nomads.
You know what I mean, the Nomad on the beach, in a hammock, on a mountain side, by a cocktail bar in a pool….
All of which involve some serious balancing of laptops, precarious postural positions and risks of both personal and equipment related damage.
TLDR: 🫱🏽🫲🏾 In case you don’t know me already, I am Ro, I am based in Zaragoza, Spain with my Location Independent, somewhat Nomadic (4-6 months a years of nomading) family. For work, I am a Remote Work and Digital Nomad Expert, Advisor and Writer, oh and a Linkedin Top Voice.
All my web and FREE resource links are here and you can book a 1:1 here.
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Let me show you a prime stock image example below, in fairness this is not too bad as photos-of-nomads-on-beaches go, as at least this person is partially in the shade and is using some sort of ledge to prop up her laptop.
Okay, you say, but this is so obviously a staged photo, right?
It is not meant to be a real representation of Nomad life, where you know, you work from whatever tropical location you find yourself in, no matter how remote and beautiful.
Whilst there, adopting a:
“Hey-I-am-so-darn-relaxed-here-yet-focused-on-this-AI-app-shipping-hack-making-millions-without-really-trying-whilst-paying-no-taxes-travelling-best-life-vibes”
type pose, once said laptop has been flipped opened.
After 5 mins saying:
“Pass me a Pina Colada will you, it must be time for break…”
I jest, of course, but it could feel pretty close to the bone, right?
For my own amusement and yours, I kept searching for downright silly stock photos of Nomads, taking there cliches and using them as a learning opportunity.
Enjoy the four best I found and yes, some of them did really make me laugh out loud!
A sun lounger was never designed for this!
The photo above is a super example of how ridiculous some of these images are.
The mother in me wants to rush over to that young lad and chastise him for being in the direct sunlight with no shade.
Then furnishing him with some factor 50. Pronto.
The Remote Work expert in me wants to ask:
how (really, how?) can he see his screen at all?
has he got a back-up device, as the risk of sand wrecking his laptop is high?
does he know a good masseuse? Because he will need one later with that posture…
surely (surely!?) work could wait, given that jaw-dropping view?
Some people really do have their priorities messed up, if they choose to work rather than enjoy that stunning view.
Other than the obvious learnings about ergonomics, posture, equipment care and general sun-care awareness, what we can also learn from the above photo is that some views are really worth NOT working from.
Also, for me, a view like this would mean I get as much work done in the shade or inside, with focus first, so that I can later go outside and relish that view.
Lesson: Sometimes work can wait!
Nope, sNOw is not a good place to work either
Okay, okay, this one is probably just for fun! But still….
Please, stop taking the “piste” and go and enjoy the piste, with no distractions.
Lesson: A snowboard is not a good desk.
Not all Nomads are young!
As I searched the free photo stock libraries of Pexels and Unsplash, I did also notice so many other cliches reflected back at me.
Nomads were mainly young, working alone, hardly ever sat a real desk or had a full setup - meaning only a laptop was visible - and they were all coffee addicts!
I did manage to find one Nomadic photo with someone potentially of a similar age to myself, shown above - which was nice and more representative of the real age diversity of nomads.
In our Nomad stories, we feature a wide range of ages and demographics, like Kristie below:
🔎 Feature: More experienced and mature Nomads, show you can start to explore the world at any age!
Lesson: Nomads are all ages and diverse!
Most Nomads travel with more than a slim shiny laptop
Don’t believe the image hype of simply a flip open slim laptop and nothing else.
In reality, most nomads travel with a full mobile office, some have recording, podcasting and/or content creation equipment.
Others carry a second portable screen.
Very rarely, as per most photos, is someone simply opening one slim laptop to do any real work.
Also, very rarely do any photos show the baggage needed to carry said mobile office kit, illustrating truly the size or weight needed to ensure a safe transit of precious and often very expensive kit.
This one image above I discovered, had a decent-ish representation of the type of bag a content creator nomad might be seen carrying.
In case you want to check it out, I have written extensively about my Nomad Office kit previously:
Lesson: Decent mobile office kit luggage is essential gear for Nomads.
QU: Have any of the common Nomad photos made you smile?
If so share why below in the comments!
May the road rise to meet you,
love n light,
💚 Ro