Digital Nomads Can Learn A Thing Or Two From Mongolians

Mongolia is a country that conjures up images of a mysterious, barren land of people riding on horseback, living in tents and moving across the vast steppe, the last remnants of Ghengis Khan’s fearsome world-conquering empire. It can feel like the edge of the world when looking into their culture, but actually, digital nomads have quite a lot in common with Mongolians!

You’ve probably seen their tents (called yurts), which are home to around some 1m nomadic Mongolians, who subsist on a diet of milk and meat from their animals (vegetarianism is not a concept known here!)

Despite this apparently unchanged, deeply traditional way of life, there are a few things that a smart nomad can learn from these people – who still enjoy mobile phones (albeit with a spotty reception), electricity from solar LED panels and batteries which can even power TVs with satellite dish!

That doesn’t mean that you need to lug about a satellite dish, but what is truly impressive is how these people can move their home about leaving barely a footprint behind. The key is leveraging the environment – and we can all manage this.

For instance, you don’t need to carry around a huge sack of tools. Once you’ve finished using many items, you can simply discard it, picking it up again when you need it again. Consider a future where companies like Airbnb might offer a selection of clothes in each room, removing the need to lug around clothing. Consider only having to carry a phone because it has everything you need.

Consider a world where you will literally move around, armed with only the bare basics, unencumbered by the junk of modern day life as you explore the world. Doesn’t it make you feel free? Doesn’t it make you feel the world is one giant steppe, ready to conquer?