Living and working on the move: individual-level insights into digital nomadism

Purpose In the context of the global shift toward remote and mobile work, digital nomadism has emerged as a lifestyle-oriented mode of working that increasingly attracts scholarly attention. While existing research has expanded in recent years, systematic insights into how this lifestyle affects individuals remain limited. This study aims to examine the extent to which digital nomadism influences individuals. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted on publications available in Web of Science and Scopus databases. Relevant peer-reviewed journal articles were identified using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The selected literature was analyzed and structured along four main categories to synthesize individual-level impacts of the digital nomad lifestyle. Findings The findings indicate that digital nomadism entails positive and negative individual-level effects. Positive aspects include increased perceived autonomy, flexibility and opportunities for self-realization, while challenges arise in relation to meta-work, social connectedness and the management of work-life boundaries. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by offering a systematic synthesis of individual-level effects of digital nomadism. By consolidating fragmented research findings into a structured synthesis, this study advances a more holistic understanding of how the emerging work and lifestyle arrangement shapes individual experiences.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Global Mobility The Home of Expatriate Management Research
Published
2026-04-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1108/jgm-12-2025-0140
Primary Topic
Facilities and Workplace Management
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Living and working on the move: individual-level insights into digital nomadism

Olivia Staub
Journal of Global Mobility The Home of Expatriate Management Research
Facilities and Workplace Management
article

Living and working on the move: individual-level insights into digital nomadism

Olivia Staub
article en

Abstract

Purpose In the context of the global shift toward remote and mobile work, digital nomadism has emerged as a lifestyle-oriented mode of working that increasingly attracts scholarly attention. While existing research has expanded in recent years, systematic insights into how this lifestyle affects individuals remain limited. This study aims to examine the extent to which digital nomadism influences individuals. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted on publications available in Web of Science and Scopus databases. Relevant peer-reviewed journal articles were identified using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The selected literature was analyzed and structured along four main categories to synthesize individual-level impacts of the digital nomad lifestyle. Findings The findings indicate that digital nomadism entails positive and negative individual-level effects. Positive aspects include increased perceived autonomy, flexibility and opportunities for self-realization, while challenges arise in relation to meta-work, social connectedness and the management of work-life boundaries. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by offering a systematic synthesis of individual-level effects of digital nomadism. By consolidating fragmented research findings into a structured synthesis, this study advances a more holistic understanding of how the emerging work and lifestyle arrangement shapes individual experiences.

Journal of Global Mobility The Home of Expatriate Management Research
Technische Universität Dresden (DE)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Facilities and Workplace Management
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