Digital Teaching Nomad

Digital Teaching Nomad – Diary

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Digital Teaching Nomad – Diary

In this series we are asking digital teaching Nomad’s to share their stories about being a digital nomad and teaching English online. Below follow Sarah Davies journey – she has been an online English teacher for the last four years and she is currently in Bali Indonesia.

January 5th, 2025

It’s 6:45 AM, and I’m already sipping on my second cup of coffee for the day. The sun’s just starting to poke through the mist here in Ubud, Bali. The humidity is a constant companion, but there’s something about the soft sound of the early morning rain—mixed with the occasional bird call—that makes it feel almost magical. I’m not sure if I’ve become more in tune with the rhythm of this place or if I’m just getting used to the constant shuffle of different time zones, but here I am, beginning another day of digital nomad life.

Let me backtrack a bit: I’m a digital teaching nomad. I teach English as a second language online, and my clients come from all over the world. I could be speaking to a business exec in Tokyo one hour and a stay-at-home mom in Brazil the next. My job allows me to be location-independent, and trust me, the allure of that has not faded. Every time I log into my virtual classroom, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to be able to live and work from places that others visit on vacation. A few months ago, I was teaching while sitting on a beach in Greece; before that, I was in a remote cabin in the Swiss Alps. Today, I’m here in Bali.

7:00 AM – Morning Routine

I get up, stretch a little (because, let’s face it, those Zoom sessions can leave you stiff), and walk over to my little balcony. I love mornings like this—when it’s quiet and all I hear are the sounds of nature. There’s something deeply soothing about starting the day in a place that isn’t just a place but an experience.

I take out my phone, scroll through my calendar, and mentally prepare for the day. Today’s schedule is relatively light: three lessons, a couple of admin tasks, and some prep for a new course I’m rolling out next week. The beauty of being a digital nomad is that I have the flexibility to structure my day however I want. If I were living in a fixed location, it’s possible I’d be stuck in some rigid office routine. Here, I get to decide if I want to work in the morning or the evening, and if I want to take the afternoon off to explore.

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I’ll get to the cons in a bit.

8:00 AM – The First Class of the Day

Okay, here’s the thing: teaching online is an odd mix of the familiar and the unpredictable. I’m used to talking to students from all over the world, so I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with the “virtual classroom” dynamic. I’ve also become a pro at having those awkward silences when there’s a technical glitch or when the Wi-Fi decides to randomly cut out (it happens more often than I care to admit). But today, everything’s running smoothly.

My first student is a middle-aged entrepreneur from China. He’s working on his English to expand his international business, so he’s highly motivated. We’ve built a solid rapport over the past few months, and today’s lesson is a focused one: business vocabulary. He’s always a little stiff at first, but after about 10 minutes, we’re talking about international trade and emerging markets as if we’re old pals. That’s one of the perks of being a digital nomad teacher—you get to dive deep into some fascinating subjects.

But, and here’s the kicker, as we discuss the intricacies of supply chain logistics, I can’t help but think about the irony. I’m in Bali, a place known for spiritual retreats and beachside relaxation, yet here I am, immersed in talks of trade routes and business jargon. You’d think I’d be teaching some meditation course, but nope. That’s the thing about this job—it can be surprisingly global and pragmatic.

10:00 AM – Break Time

After the class, I take a break to stretch my legs and grab another cup of coffee. The Wi-Fi here at my guesthouse is generally reliable, but I always have to be prepared for the occasional hiccup. I keep my phone handy in case I need to switch to mobile data or hotspot my laptop, but so far, today’s been smooth sailing. The last thing I want is to have a session cut short because the connection drops. That’s one of the hidden challenges of being a digital nomad—reliable internet. You take it for granted until you don’t have it, and when you’re relying on it for work, it’s one of those things you learn to check with the precision of a clockmaker.

The other downside is the time zone juggling. My students are spread across various continents, which means I often find myself teaching early mornings or late nights. Right now, I’m operating on a bit of a hybrid schedule. I’ve had to adapt to a mix of early starts for my Asian clients and late nights for those in North and South America. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a permanent state of jetlag, but hey, it’s all part of the adventure, right?

11:00 AM – Class with a Brazilian Student

Next, I’m teaching a student from Brazil—let’s call her Carla. She’s been learning English for a few years, but now she’s looking to get her accent more polished. We work on pronunciation, intonation, and a bit of listening comprehension. The thing with pronunciation is that it’s not just about saying words correctly; it’s about feeling the rhythm and flow of the language, and that’s where the fun begins.

The session goes well, and afterward, we chat a little bit about life in Brazil. She tells me about the weather there (it’s summer, and she’s in a city on the coast) and how she’s planning to visit Europe soon. Honestly, sometimes I feel like the whole world is just one big conversation, and I get to eavesdrop on the most interesting bits.

And yet, I wonder: Is this really “work”? Sure, it’s work, but it feels more like a friendly exchange, a shared moment. That’s one of the perks of being a digital nomad teacher—you get paid to have conversations with people who are all striving for something better in their lives, whether it’s a new language skill, a business goal, or personal growth.

But—there’s always a “but”—there’s the constant hustle. It’s not a traditional 9-to-5 job. And while I can structure my time however I like, I sometimes feel like I’m always “on.” There’s this pressure to always be available, to make sure I’m responsive, and to stay in touch with the growing community of students I’m building. The work-life balance, though often touted as one of the benefits of the nomadic lifestyle, isn’t always as perfect as it sounds.

1:00 PM – Admin Time

After my teaching sessions, I dive into some admin work. I always set aside time for it, because if you let it pile up, it’s a nightmare. Email responses, scheduling future sessions, updating lesson plans, checking payment status for my courses—it all adds up. Running your own teaching business requires a lot of behind-the-scenes work. A lot of people think being a digital nomad means just doing a couple of hours of teaching, then hanging out by the pool for the rest of the day. While that might be true for some, it’s not the full picture.

I’ll be honest: admin days aren’t glamorous. Sometimes, they feel like busywork. But I’ve come to terms with it. It’s part of the package. And honestly, if I didn’t do it, there wouldn’t be any teaching to do in the first place. So I suck it up, organize my schedule, send out a few invoices, and prep some materials for a workshop I’m planning for next month.

3:00 PM – A Quick Break to Explore

Okay, confession time: I’m not always super disciplined with my time. I get distracted easily, and when you’re living in a place like Bali, distractions come in the form of lush rice terraces, art markets, and the promise of an afternoon smoothie bowl. So after the admin grind, I decide to take a quick stroll to the local market. The hustle of the place is intoxicating—vendors selling everything from fresh fruit to intricate handmade jewelry.

I don’t linger long—just enough to feel that pulse of life around me. One of the great things about being a teaching nomad is that you get to explore new places on your own terms. And sure, sometimes that means stepping away from work when you probably should be focused. But for me, those little moments of exploration make all the difference. They’re what keep me inspired. Otherwise, burnout is a real risk.

5:00 PM – Evening Class and Reflection

Back to work for my final class of the day. This one’s with a young man from Japan. His English is conversational, but he’s preparing for a big international interview, so we’re doing mock interviews. The nerves are palpable, and I can feel the weight of the situation in his voice. After the session, I give him some feedback, and we schedule another one for later in the week.

Now that I’m done teaching, I sit back and reflect on the day. It’s strange to think about how different this lifestyle is from the more traditional jobs I’ve had in the past. The freedom is intoxicating, but so is the responsibility. I can go anywhere, but I also have to stay on top of everything—technology, students, finances, time zones. It’s a balancing act. Sometimes, I feel like I’ve mastered it. Other times, I feel like I’m just barely holding it

together.

The pros are huge—the ability to live and work from exotic places, the autonomy, the chance to meet people from all over the world. The cons? Well, they’re there, too. The unpredictability of internet connections, the sometimes overwhelming admin work, and the mental load of constantly being on call. But when it all comes together? There’s no better feeling.

For now, though, I think I’ll log off and take the evening to relax. Tomorrow’s another day, and who knows where I’ll be then?

Thanks Sarah for sharing your Digital Teaching Nomad Experience with us and our users. For any of you interested in becoming a digital Nomad teacher then please continue to follow our stories or book yourself onto our Digital Nomad TEFL Course – Online.

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