I have a real issue with the ‘beach myth’, and that’s because it’s unrealistic. If you’re wondering what this myth is, it’s the images used by many advertising companies to encourage people into the life of a freelancer, a digital nomad, working while travelling because it’s just oh so glamorous.
We’ve all seen the images. Someone sitting in a hammock at the beach with their laptop and a drink, basking in the sun and enjoying the outdoors. Working in the most stunning locations on Earth. Well, I’m here to tell you that definitely isn’t the case. We don’t take our laptops to the beach ever for so many reasons; sand, sun, glare, sea water, children, noise, plus of course there aren’t any plug points or access to the Internet. It really isn’t practical. No, working from the hotel, looking over at the beach is much more possible.
The beach myth is romanticising a lifestyle in a worrying way. People aspire to leave their ‘9 to 5’ jobs to dive into this world that doesn’t really exist. If this is you then you need to really think about it. Ignore the advertising and the staged Instagram posts and consider how much hard work it’s going to be. Being a freelancer means you don’t ever get a real break from work, you’re always on call, no matter where you are in the world and what you’d rather be doing. You might not miss the ‘9 to 5’ so much after all.
