Working from home abroad – why I’m not a digital nomad
No, I’m not a digital nomad.
I simply work from home.
And that home just happens to be outside Belgium now.
I don’t work from beach bars, I don’t move every few weeks between cities or countries, and my workday doesn’t start with wondering whether the Wi-Fi will cooperate.
My desk is in a fixed place, my days follow a steady rhythm, and my clients know exactly when and how they can reach me.
The only real change is geographical.
My work setup moved, my way of working did not.
Even when I still lived in Belgium, I already worked from home. Not fulltime, but several days a week, combined with office days. Today, I work from home fulltime, only that home is now abroad.
From the outside, that may look like a radical shift. In reality, it feels like a natural next step.
Working from home abroad is often portrayed as looser, freer, lighter. As if professionalism automatically fades the moment you’re no longer physically present in an office.
My experience is exactly the opposite.
Fulltime remote work requires more structure, more discipline and more ownership.
You can’t hide behind presence anymore. Results are all that count.
That’s also why my clients don’t notice a difference. The inboxes are managed, appointments are respected and their administration runs smoothly. Not because I work “remotely”, but because everything is well organized. Location plays no role in that.
Whether my desk is in Belgium or abroad doesn’t change expectations, deadlines or quality.
I’m not constantly on the move either. I have no desire to reinvent my work environment every month. I deliberately chose a fixed place, stable routines and continuity. Not because I avoid adventure, but because my work thrives on stability.
For me, working from home abroad is not an escape, it’s a form of grounding.
What has changed is the balance. Fulltime working from home brings calm, focus and continuity. Less switching, less noise, more space to concentrate on what actually matters. That calm naturally flows into my work and makes it stronger.
So no, I’m not a digital nomad.
I’m someone who has worked from home for years and simply took it one step further.
My home changed, my view, the light and the surroundings.
My work ethic did not.
And that difference may be less spectacular than people imagine, but it’s exactly right, for me.
Paeme virtual assistant
