Our customers buy travel insurance for digital nomads because they know they need support when heading out into the great wide world. Depending on the right policy, you may be covered for delayed or cancelled flights, lost or damaged luggage, remote medical needs and compromised electronics. It may be a perfect support for some of your needs.

That said, successful digital nomads also find their tribe. There is no substitute for the support a set of solid relationships with people who get you can provide.

Where do you find them, though? Yes, there are social media groups, message boards, and conferences. One of the best ways you can meet new people as a remote professional traveling the world is by setting yourself up in digital nomad coworking spaces. If you’re new to the idea, this article will help you understand why they’re great, and how to navigate them so you can find your people and build a strong, international, nomadic network.

Digital Nomad Coworking Spaces Are Great for Building Relationships

You might be wondering why coworking spaces are so great for building your community abroad. Can’t you meet people just as easily in a bookstore, a café, or in the park? As spaces structured around specific interests or relaxation, they could work.

What they don’t provide by default, though, is a structure that naturally brings professionals like digital nomads together, people like you who have shared goals of living and working freely, with a shared experience of building lives for themselves abroad. When you opt for coworking spaces over those other spots, you can benefit from:

• Collaborative environments: You may not be working on the same project, or even for the same employer, but everyone sitting around you in a coworking space is there for the same reason: to get stuff done. Each of your neighbors is also a little like you in that they’re used to a more freeform work environment, and more fluid ideas of what teamwork means. That means you could have a digital marketing expert sitting next to you who you can ask for advice when tasked with setting up a campaign and return the favor when they need help in your area of expertise.
• Diverse perspectives: Digital nomad coworking spaces are good for more than giving your day job a fixed location while you’re abroad. They can also expand your mind. When surrounded by other nomads from different backgrounds, cultures, and skillsets, you can learn a practical ability that could make your own work better, or form relationships that help you understand the world around you in new ways.

Digital Nomad Coworking Spaces Can Feel a Little Awkward, Too

While a shared space can be a natural fit for building your community abroad, don’t feel bad if you find the environment a little weird at first. Anything unfamiliar can be uncomfortable at the start. In that regard, digital nomad coworking spaces are a little like dorms: you set yourself up, meet new people, and suddenly have to acclimate to their habits, mannerisms, and the little (sometimes annoying) noises they make while they work. At the same time, you might also notice details about them that create opportunities for conversation (think small, like a sticker on their laptop).

But back to those noises for a second. They might be small, but when you’re in a coworking space with lots of people, tiny sounds can add up. When you’re still getting used to them, you might be tempted to put your headphones on. he natural tension between wanting to get work done and wanting to socialize can also make some nomads a little uneasy, and as a result, less comfortable striking up conversations. Practice balance, though. Spend some focus time with your headphones on and the world blocked out. At the same time, make sure you set a reminder to put your work down and listen to the commotion around you. Planning your time will help you stay productive and give you the freedom to make meaningful connections without letting either suffer.

There are all sorts of reasons why digital nomad coworking spaces can be awkward. However, when you take—or plan—the time to strike up a conversation, the results can be rewarding. Meeting the right person could connect you with an entire group. Swapping notes on your experience in a destination could help you get useful advice (or great restaurant suggestions). Reflecting on what it’s like to be a digital nomad with a group could also help you glean knowledge from peers who have been in the game longer—they could be willing to share their pro tips on the best tech, travel insurance for digital nomads, how to find good housing, and more.

How to Create Your Tribe by Taking Advantage of Shared Workspaces

All that is great in theory, but if you’re new to digital nomad coworking spaces, how can you actually start finding your tribe? Here are some things you can try to jumpstart your coworking community:

• Take the first step: If nobody else has piped up yet, try making the first move. It can be as simple as saying, “Hi! How are you?” to someone in the kitchen. You can also pose a question to the group in your space. Even “Does anyone have advice about digital nomad insurance coverage? I’m not sure what to get,” could do the trick.
• Be online: When you join a coworking space, see if it offers an online forum, provides a WhatsApp group, or has member channels on Slack that you can join. You’ll find that many do because it’s an easy way to help members feel involved, even if they’re not in the coworking space on a given day. Once you’re added and logged in, it’s easy to start a thread with someone by liking photos from their latest hike, or become a trusted resource by sharing advice on how to compare digital nomad travel insurance (we’ll help you out with that below).
• RSVP “Yes”: Not everyone wants structured social events, but you may be able to find much more than that on a coworking space’s event calendar. Depending on the coworking space you set up at, they could have gatherings ranging from simple mixers to conferences with speakers that can teach you how to level up your digital nomad career, adjust to living abroad, find the right digital nomad insurance coverage for your needs, and more. Most important, those informational events also offer networking time you can use to build your professional tribe.

Say Hello to SoVenture

Coworking spaces can make finding your tribe easy. Finding and being able to compare digital nomad travel insurance should be easy too. That’s why we created SoVenture specifically for you and the larger digital nomad community. By designing our online tool specifically with your globetrotting lifestyle in mind, SoVenture gives you the ability to build and compare quotes from top providers that may be able to protect your health, flights, baggage, and tech. With help from our support team of licensed professionals, you can also easily find answers to your travel insurance-related questions.

With all that in your corner, you can find the right coverage for your needs with less hassle and spend more time building your digital nomad community abroad.

To start finding your travel insurance for digital nomads, build a quote on our site today.