In the digital age, more and more people are embracing the freedom and flexibility of the digital nomad lifestyle. While this lifestyle offers countless benefits, it also presents unique challenges — particularly when it comes to building and maintaining relationships. For this very reason, in this episode, Eli delves into the realm of relationship advice for digital nomads.
And who better to shed light on the subject than Aline Dahmen, the founder of Nomad Soulmates? This insightful episode provides valuable perspectives and guidance for those navigating the complex terrain of love and connection while leading a nomadic lifestyle.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the key takeaways and valuable advice discussed in the podcast, while exploring the nuances of digital nomad dating & relationships.
Listen to the full pod here! Dating & Relationship Advice for Digital Nomads
Aline’s Journey Into The Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Like many people, Aline’s time as a nomad started with backpacking.
This was over eight years ago now, so there were even more difficulties than there are now because there was less information. Also, remote work wasn’t as popular and common as it is now, and not a lot of people had the possibility of finding a livelihood that allowed them to switch time zones so often.
Despite all these obstacles, during her time as a backpacker, she realized she was quickly falling in love with this adventurous life and wanted to make it permanent, so she went to a conference to get some clarity on what exactly meant to be a digital nomad.
Lots of things about this new world surprised her, but what really caught her attention was the staggering amount of single people who opted for this lifestyle and felt they had to give up on the hope of finding a long-term life partner. The idea of never fostering a meaningful, lasting relationship didn’t sit right with her, as she’s personally not too fond of the hook-up culture… Although it might work for some people and it certainly seems like the easy solution.
She Took Digital Nomad Dating Into Her Own Hands
Determined to have it all, Aline decided to pursue this nomadic lifestyle without abandoning her desire to find a partner to share it with. After all, if there were so many out there who wanted to live this adventurous life, then it’s only natural other people will want the same thing.
She began her search for like-minded people on Facebook groups (which she calls the core of nomadic social life). Through those groups, she met Sebastian and Kimberly, who are now good friends and her business partners. They too shared her mindset that not leading a traditional life shouldn’t deprive you of a serious relationship if that’s what you wanted. And together they came to the conclusion that they needed to find a way to bring all the romantic nomads together.
That’s how Nomad Soulmates started. Obviously, it’s not easy to get attached to people when you know you’ll only have a few weeks, maybe months if you’re lucky, to spend with them. But what if you know that they’re willing, and most importantly, able, to drop everything and follow you?
That’s the mission of Nomad Soulmates. Everyone involved is a digital nomad, so everyone who joins will be sure that they will be presented with like-minded people.
Nomad Soulmates started as a website for digital nomad dating, but it’s now a fully-functioning app where people can get notifications of their matches, can learn about the different ways of enjoying and experiencing this lifestyle, and more importantly, be sure that, no matter what, they will be understood.
After all, no matter our differences, we’re all in the same boat.
The Challenges Of Digital Nomad Dating
As Aline so eloquently put it: “happiness doubles when you share it.”
Unfortunately, sharing can be a big challenge when you have built an entire life on your own for so long. It can be difficult to let go of your independence, even when you might want to because it’s easy for independence to turn into loneliness.
But like anything, it’s a process, and nomads entering a relationship need to be mindful of the fact that there are now two people involved. They need to plan around someone else’s schedule as well, which can be an emotional as well as a logistic challenge.
At the same time, though, it’s important not to completely let go of your plans, or expect your partner to do so. At this point in the conversation, Eli interjected saying that a partnership should be something that adds to your happiness, not the deciding factor.
After all, a nomadic lifestyle is all about finding yourself, and while it’s beautiful to do that with someone else, everyone has their own individual journey that can’t be rushed or slowed down. A good nomadic partner will understand that and want to be a companion in that journey of self-discovery instead of wanting to lead it, and the process should absolutely be mutual.
There Are Many Ways To Be A Nomadic Couple – And They’re All Valid
A great point Eli brought up at the end of the conversation is that he used to think relationships between digital nomads have to look a certain way. He used to believe that, in order for a relationship to work, they needed to be 100{1eea65b97f16eaff88b6449ec4bd61d0a337087596df763590ffb883bdd967ce} on the same page, travel to the same places, and spend all their time together.
But Aline opened the door for him to think about all the different possibilities. Flexibility is maybe the most important thing in these kinds of relationships.
She used her own relationship as an example. Her partner, who lives in Bali, is not a digital nomad, but he’s a business owner who can manage his own schedule. So, Aline has a base in Bali with him, but that doesn’t stop her from traveling and keeping up with her nomadic lifestyle for a big part of the year. Their bond is strong enough for both of them to understand and accept that there are parts of each other’s lives that are separate.
Then, when Aline goes back to Bali, she spends her time with him and enjoys the calm and peacefulness of having a home. In the same way, when her partner can get away from his job for a while, he joins her on her travel plans and lives his adventurous side to the fullest.
If there’s something to be learned from this episode is that just because you chose an unusual lifestyle it doesn’t mean you need to give up everything that is considered conventional. Love and companionship are not limited to those who want to settle down and built their life in one place.
Everyone has a right to experience digital nomad dating, and there are lots of people out there looking for the same thing. If you keep your mind open and are willing to accept that love comes in many different forms, you will find your partner-in-crime, your nomad soulmate, and will share your journey through this amazing world together.
Start now, on nomadsoulmates.com/
