I met Niv a little while ago and have been following his adventures on his Instagram and Twitter. He is a solo traveler and digital nomad, sharing his experiences that embrace his taste and point of view.
When not bouncing back and forth between India and Canada, you’ll probably find him somewhere cool and fascinating. I decided to interview Niv because I wanted to learn more about what motivates him, keeps him going, and what advice he has for others thinking of jumping into solo travel and becoming a digital nomad. Here is my interview with Niv.
Hey Niv, go ahead and introduce yourself
Hey, I’m Niv! I’m a solo traveller and a digital nomad who runs a remote design business. I’ve been travelling almost full-time since September 2021 and I’ve visited 18 countries since.
What inspired you to become a solo traveller?
Shortly after graduating from university, I met two inspiring people who introduced me to the concept of solo travelling. I always thought people who travelled solo did so for work. I never knew there were people out there who did it because they enjoyed it. It didn’t even make sense to me – why would anyone even want to travel solo? What did they see in it? I was curious.
On my 23rd birthday, I decided I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try something new. I went ahead and booked a 5-day solo trip to Bogotá, Colombia.
Though my first solo trip was iconic, I didn’t particularly love it — but I didn’t hate it either. It was different. It was meaningful. Travelling solo for the first time was nerve-wracking and I didn’t feel completely comfortable — but that’s okay. That’s the same feeling I later fell in love with.
My motivation to completely adopt the solo travel lifestyle comes from embracing my taste, independence, and discomfort.
What inspired you to become a digital nomad?
I had two main reasons that motivated me to become a digital nomad: First, my obvious love for travel and second, family.
I was born and raised in India. Growing up, my family and I would try and go on at least one international trip a year. That’s where my love for travelling came from.
When I was 18, I moved alone to Canada for my bachelor’s degree. I’d visit my family back in India between semesters and we’d still manage to get our annual family trip to an international destination.
When I finished my studies, I started working in my first full-time job which only gave me 10 days of paid vacation. That’s insanely low in my opinion, especially as a first-generation immigrant who loves to travel. With 10 free days a year, it was impossible to visit my family back home in India and travel the world. I did not want to live a life like that.
The solution was pretty simple. Becoming a digital nomad would give me the freedom to work from anywhere. It would allow me to travel the world and visit my family and friends back home.
Also, it’s no secret that the Canadian winters are frigid. By being able to work remotely, I could skip out on the cold and dark winters of Canada and spend time in a country with better weather.
How do you choose your travel destinations, and what factors do you consider?
I’m currently a Canadian resident and an Indian passport holder. Unfortunately, India does not have a strong passport so it limits my options for visa-free travel. However, holding a Canadian residency and a US visa opens up visa-free travel to a good amount of countries for me. This is one big factor I keep in mind which helps me select countries I’d like to visit.
Another factor is location. If I’m spending time in Canada, I have convenient access to the Americas. If I’m spending time in India, I have convenient access to Asia. And if I’m travelling between India and Canada, I’ll try to visit countries on the way as I have with Morocco, Turkey, Greece, UAE, England, and Qatar.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a solo traveller and digital nomad, and how have you overcome them?
On my first solo trip, there were times I felt lonely and lost – and that’s totally okay and normal. However, over time, I’ve learnt to embrace being “alone” without feeling “lonely”. Do I still feel lost at times? Hell yeah, but now I love that healthy feeling of mystery and surprise that comes with feeling lost.
Timezone is a typical challenge for digital nomads working across timezones, but fortunately, I’m a night owl so it’s not a big issue for me. I do see that being a problem for people who might need to take meetings at 2 am.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering becoming a digital nomad?
There’s no right way to travel & work. You need to see what works for you and roll with it. Try it out and see how you feel! Book a 2-week stay in one destination where you’re working remotely to get a feeler. If you think you’re up for it, do it again!
You don’t need to be travelling 24×7 if it doesn’t suit you. You could just be travelling for 3 months of the year if you please.
I’ve met nomads who work full-time demanding jobs and switch cities every 3-4 days. I’ve also met ‘slowmads’ who work part-time and spend 3 months in one location before hopping over to the next. Work and travel at a pace and frequency that suits you.
How do you balance work and travel while on the road?
Before I kicked off my digital nomad journey, I quit my job and started a remote tech design studio called Supercharged. Owning my business surely helps me manage my time better. It’s not a compulsion for digital nomads to be business owners, however, I feel this helped me get a better grasp on managing my time, schedule, flexibility, and workload.
When I travel, I try to spend at least one week in each city I visit. I also make sure my work schedule is between 15-30 hours a week, not more. This gives me ample time to generate income and view the city through the eyes of a traveller.
To stay disciplined and focused, I dedicate 3 days a week to work up to 8 hours. I make sure all my meetings are scheduled on these 3 days. This leaves me with 4 days a week to explore the city and see it through the eyes of a traveller.
In case I have remaining work, I sporadically put in a few hours here or there as needed – perhaps an hour before bed or with a midday coffee.
How do you stay motivated and productive while working remotely?
Booking a coworking space helps maintain some discipline.
I find success through people, and I try to maintain accountability through that.
I have weekly meetings booked with clients and teammates to help maintain a schedule. At the end of each meeting, we discuss action items we plan to complete by the following week. This keeps me accountable to all those I’m working with.
Also, working in all these exotic locations gives me strong doses of creativity and inspiration to keep my work fresh!
What are some of the benefits of being a digital nomad, and how has it changed your life?
Experiencing new cultures and meeting new people on the regular changes your perspective on life. It surely makes you more open-minded and challenges any limiting beliefs you may hold.
Being a digital nomad has made me feel like my life is a move. One day I could be riding a dune buggy in the desert and the next day I could be skiing in the snow. I could be feeding an elephant in Thailand one week, and the next week I could be riding a horse in Turkey.
Additionally, depending on where you are, there are financial benefits to being a digital nomad. For instance, I live downtown in Toronto – which is a majorly expensive city compared to global standards. I could be living in countries like Portugal, Thailand, and Colombia at half the cost of Toronto whilst maintaining a similar, if not better, quality of life.
What are some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring places you’ve visited as a solo traveller, and why?
Guatape, Colombia, was an absolute gem! You need to climb up Piedra El Peñol, a huge monolith, to witness the stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Chefchaouen, Morocco, is another must-visit destination, with its captivating blue-hued old town, vibrant markets, and welcoming locals.
Ireland, with its rugged coastline, charming villages, and captivating landscapes, is an ideal destination for solo travellers seeking an adventure. From the Cliffs of Moher to the Giant’s Causeway, The Isle of Ireland is home to countless awe-inspiring landmarks that offer breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences.
What are some of the craziest or most unexpected adventures you’ve had while travelling solo as a digital nomad?
There have been so many! I’d say my favourite was galloping horseback on a beach in Morocco. That was one of the wildest experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Paragliding in Antalya Turkey and learning how to surf in Portugal were great experiences as well!
How do you maintain a sense of community and connection with other digital nomads and solo travellers while travelling?
It’s kinda funny how solo travellers love to travel solo, but they’re always hanging out with other travellers. If you’re travelling solo, it is challenging at first to make friends, but it gets easier and easier with time.
Hostels are extremely welcoming communities to meet other solo travellers. I often book experiences through GetYourGuide and Airbnb experiences and that’s an amazing way to meet others. Pub Crawls are another way to meet others, especially if you enjoy nightlife!
Coliving and coworking spaces are the perfect places to meet other remote workers and digital nomads.
Apps like Couchsurfing or any of the major dating apps are also other great ways to meet other travellers and locals.
Where to next?
Not sure! I’m currently in Vietnam for the next 3 weeks. I think I might hop across to Albania, Jordan, or Georgia after. My plans keep changing every couple of weeks so honestly I have no clue! But yeah, to stay updated with my travels, you can follow me on Instagram at @nivzk and my blog at https://www.niv.travel/.