Pro tip: I tried working from a beach in Bali for a month, then a quiet town in Portugal. Portugal won.

Bali was all hype. Constant noise, spotty internet that dropped during client calls, and pressure to always be 'out'. In Lagos, Portugal, I paid $600 for a clean apartment with fiber internet. My focus tripled. I got more done by 10 AM than I did all day in Bali. Anyone else find that chasing the 'instagram' nomad spot is a trap?

4 comments

4 Comments

ryan9473mo ago

Hard disagree on the "instagram nomad spot is a trap" thing. You just did Bali wrong. The whole point is to embrace the chaos and find a rhythm in it. I got a local SIM with great data, worked from co-working spaces built for that, and the energy kept me from burning out. If you want a silent apartment, why even leave home? The buzz is the feature, not the bug.

the_susan3mo ago

Yeah, I read a blog post that said the same thing. The quiet towns are where you actually get your work done. The hype spots are just for vacation photos.

riverh492mo ago

Ever try to focus with a rooster crowing outside your window at 5 am?

caseythompson3mo ago

You're both right about the rhythm, but you're missing the tax angle. Portugal has that sweet NHR tax scheme for new residents. That quiet apartment's low rent looks even better when you're keeping more of what you earn. Bali's chaos is fun, but Portugal's quiet helped my bank account, not just my focus.