Overcoming Social Anxiety Through the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Posted Wednesday 15 January 2025 by
Travelling and the digital nomad lifestyle are exciting. They offer a chance to escape the mundane and start fresh.
You may think this is going to be the best thing that could happen to you. And, of course, it is. But it can also get lonely very quickly. This is especially true if you’re anything like I used to be. I sought only sun, sea, and a peaceful life on a remote island to escape my problems and people. Trust me, that can get boring pretty fast.
As human beings, we crave companionship. Staying connected is essential for both our survival and growth. However, we don’t always prioritize it, especially if we are naturally introverted or socially anxious. We often avoid speaking to new people. This was definitely the case for me. Avoiding people altogether felt much easier than confronting my fear and finding a community.
The digital nomad lifestyle has a way of pushing you outside your comfort zone. Over the last two and a half years, it transformed me into a social creature I never thought I could be. I had to let go of old structures and ways of thinking to adapt to the ever-present uncertainty. I couldn’t always rely on the people back home for emergencies or emotional support. Distance and time zone differences often made it difficult. The digital nomad lifestyle taught me to seek connections with others in new places to feel physically safe and emotionally supported.
If we think back to caveman times, people gathered in groups to ensure survival. This primal instinct is still with us today. Staying connected isn’t just about survival, though. It’s also about growth and happiness. Personally, I need people to expand my horizons. They help me create a richer internal world, something I couldn’t do on my own. It took me about nine months of living the digital nomad lifestyle to figure this out.
When I started spending time with other digital nomads, I felt a real shift in myself. I became less anxious, gained new perspectives, and found more joy in life overall. The digital nomad lifestyle helped me confront my social anxiety by giving me opportunities to meet people with shared interests and experiences. I realized how important connection is, no matter where I go. It’s why I started prioritizing community over chasing the most scenic locations.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about where you are—it’s about who you’re with. The digital nomad lifestyle can help you overcome social anxiety by fostering connections that enrich your life. After all, it’s the relationships you build that make the journey truly unforgettable.
Traveling and embracing the digital nomad lifestyle is exciting; it’s a great way to escape the mundane and leave everything behind to start fresh.
Fast forward to now: I live in Bali, surrounded by incredible people who not only share similar values but also inspire me to grow into the best version of myself.
So, how did I build these connections? Growing up, I was never a confident child. My social anxiety was so severe that I would shake when someone spoke to me, my heart racing as I struggled to feel safe. The turning point came when I started focusing on my self-worth and let go of the need for validation from others.
That’s the short version, but how did I make this shift? Here are a few insights that might help you on your own journey:
Show Up as You Are
We’re often taught to hide parts of ourselves to fit in, whether it’s to gain acceptance from a certain group or avoid criticism from our parents. This is especially true if you grew up in a small town where standing out felt risky. Historically, in tribal times, being considered an outcast wasn’t safe—it meant survival was literally impossible. (I dive deeper into this in my latest ebook, Silence the Inner Critic: A Guide to Overcoming Fear of Judgment and Rejection.)
While we face less physical danger now, that conditioning is still deeply ingrained. Being different from your immediate circle can push us into dark places, evoking shame. The more we shame ourselves, the more we reject who we are. But rejecting ourselves means cutting ourselves off from joy, and there’s so much joy to be found. Life doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time.
You might wonder, Who am I now that nobody is influencing me? What do I even like? Start by identifying what you dislike; it’ll bring you closer to what you do like. The more you lean into what feels good to you, the more your identity begins to take shape. And with a solid sense of identity, confidence grows naturally. It’s okay to embrace what you love, to stand out, and to be unapologetically yourself.
One of the beautiful things about the digital nomad lifestyle is that it allows you to reshape your identity one destination at a time. Every new person, place, or experience adds a new layer to who you are. Along the way, you will start realizing that your social anxiety stems from living by others’ values instead of your own. The digital nomad lifestyle gives you the space to rewrite that story and figure out who you truly are.
Start showing up as the authentic self you’ve kept hidden all these years; there will always be someone who resonates with your values and interests. Your circle may become smaller as a result, but it’s far more fulfilling to connect with people who genuinely share your passions and speak to your heart than to settle for companionship that doesn’t truly align with you.
Put Yourself Out There
No one’s going to show up at your door and invite you into their world—you have to take the initiative and meet them halfway. Thankfully, nomad and expat communities are great at organizing opportunities to connect, as they’ve all experienced loneliness at some point in their journeys. It’s comforting to realize that, even when we feel like no one understands us, so many of us share similar experiences.
By showing up, you’ll start to experience different groups and see how you fit into them. Will you feel confident at your first meetup? Probably not, and that’s okay. Start small, find a space where you feel safe, and build from there. The more you put yourself out there, the easier it becomes. So, why not attend as many events as possible? What’s the worst that could happen?
Be Discerning About Who You Spend Time With
Your environment has a profound impact on you—it shapes how you feel, how you grow, and how you see yourself. When you’re surrounded by people who make you feel safe, loved, and accepted, you naturally thrive. But if you’re around people who don’t align with your values or energy, growth becomes harder, and you might find yourself withdrawing.
This can happen during your travels, too. It doesn’t mean those people are bad; they just might not be the right energetic match for you—and that’s okay. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, give yourself permission to walk away. Over time, as you become more confident in who you are, you’ll naturally say no to things that don’t serve you and gravitate toward people and environments that truly support your growth.
Travel gives you a chance to start fresh and discover who you really are. Away from the people and routines you’re used to, you can let go of old expectations and figure out what truly matters to you. Once you’ve embraced your true self, you can take that version of you anywhere.
When you know who you are, you stop needing approval from others. You make decisions based on what feels right for you—not what others think you should do. This confidence helps you attract people and experiences that match your values, and it also gives you the strength to say no to anything that doesn’t.
That’s real freedom: living a life that’s true to you, without trying to fit in or make everyone else happy. Travel doesn’t just show you the world; it helps you grow into the person you’re meant to be.