Digital nomad and coliving, the perfect experience for overcoming nomadic loneliness
As many people who have been on the move for some time will tell you: loneliness sets in quickly and can be hard to overcome.
Most of the time, we’re surrounded by people, yet we don’t form real relationships. Or on the contrary, it’s hard to meet other people, we’re often alone in our Airbnb.
These issues are common to many nomads, and are sometimes at the root of their lifestyle.
But fortunately, a new form of accommodation, specially adapted to nomads, is on the rise: coliving.
What is coliving?
If you’re familiar with the world of nomadism, you’ve probably already come across this concept. Since 2020, more and more colivings have been springing up. Halfway between an airbnb and a youth hostel, these are accommodations created and designed for nomads. These places are designed for long stays, averaging a month or more. There are private rooms and dormitories to suit all budgets.
The common areas are more like what you’d expect from a youth hostel, only better. In principle, there’s a large, fully-equipped kitchen, with cupboards for everyone to store their belongings. There’s also a communal living area to facilitate connection between guests, who are not actually considered guests, but rather members of a beautiful family.
A shared living space that meets our needs
Coliving spaces address the problem of isolation faced by many nomads. David is one of the co-founders of Co.404, a coliving/coworking space in San Cristobal, southern Mexico. He and two friends set up the place in early 2021. As travelers and digital nomads themselves, they have experienced the problem. “Loneliness is one of the main reasons why digital nomads stop this lifestyle. We’ve all experienced it at least once when arriving in a new city. It’s hard to socialize, have a good time and work at the same time.”
On the other hand, comfort is also an essential factor when you’re on the move. A youth hostel may be enough for a backpacker, but it’s clearly not enough for the long term. A bad night’s sleep can have an impact on the next day’s work.
Comfort is essential for full-time nomads. The three co-founders of Co.404 understand this. “We focused on the quality of the internet connection, the kitchen, storage space in the rooms… But also a dedicated coworking space with private booths for callers, for example.”
Any nomad who has passed through Co.404 will tell you: there’s a family atmosphere here, and you feel right at home. That’s the promise of the place: “we wanted to create a community, a family with like-minded people who want to share experiences together when they travel, but also be focused on their work.”
Tested and approved by nomads
Places like this are growing fast in Mexico, but also in Europe. Alexandre has been a nomad for over two years and has lived in five countries. He divides his time between coliving and living alone in an Airbnb. For him, coliving means “meeting like-minded people, with whom you can forge bonds that can last”. He met Marie-Lou at a coliving in Spain, and they’ve been close friends ever since. She, too, emphasizes the community aspect of the experience. “As a nomad, we clearly need to get together with people who are like us (belonging to a group), people who are in the same vibe (travel, discovery, entrepreneurship)”.
Coliving seems to be a good alternative to combat the loneliness that can take hold of our nomadic lives. These are also places that can create professional opportunities, great friendships and out of the ordinary experiences. So, what are you waiting for to book your room in a coliving facility?
Want to try coliving in Mexico? Qiti guarantees your freedom. Whether in the coworking space or on a weekly outing with your colivers, you can rest easy!
Some coliving sites to try:
Mexico: Co.404
Norway: The Lodge
Spain: Cactus Coliving
In the Azores: Novovento
Article written by Tifany Clemenceau