I’m too old to start publishing ‘on camera’ videos on TikTok.
I’m 52.
It’s not true of course. There are plenty of very successful older people on TikTok, it’s just my belief systems kicking in.
I look in the mirror and think ‘who wants to see my wrinkly face and sagging jowls?‘
The chances are my face isn’t as wrinkly as I think it is, nor do my jowls sag to my chest (yet), but our own worst enemy is always ourselves.
And as we get older, far from embracing the confidence we thought life experience would bring, we often start shrinking to fit outdated narratives of what being 50+ should look like.
Let’s face it, once you pass 60, society kind of expects you to vanish quietly into the background. Not launch a business, don a backpack, or dance around a beach in Bali filming reels for Instagram.
But that invisibility that comes with age is actually a superpower, because no one’s watching. And that means you can do whatever the hell you want.
So, if you’ve ever caught yourself thinking “I’m too old for this nomadic thing,” here are…
8 Truthful Reasons It’s Never Too Late to Start Living Like a Nomad
1. No One Cares What You’re Doing
Honestly, the older I get, the more I realise how little attention people are paying. And that’s not a bad thing. It means you’re free. Free to experiment, to post cringey videos, to pivot your entire life at 53 and start again without needing anyone’s approval.
No one’s keeping score. If anything, they’re too busy worrying about their own stuff. Once you realise that, the fear of looking silly starts to fade. The shame around starting late starts to fade. And suddenly, the path feels wide open.
2. You’re Wiser, (and Way Less Likely to End Up in a Hostel with 6 Drunk Backpackers)
There’s a big difference between gap-year chaos and grown-up adventure. You’re not setting out to “find yourself” or rack up passport stamps for social clout. You’re travelling with intention. You know what kind of bed you like, what kind of people drain you, and how to avoid dodgy cab drivers and dodgier seafood.
That life experience saves time, money, and sanity. It also means your travels are richer. Not just scenic, but layered with meaning and self-trust.
3. Your Skills Are Your Secret Weapon
You might not think you’ve got a “digital business” skill set, but if you’ve worked, raised kids, organised events, led teams, or dealt with bureaucracies, you’re more qualified than you realise. Those skills translate.
- Project management? That’s course creation.
- Handling tough clients? That’s consulting.
- Writing long emails to explain something clearly? Welcome to newsletter land.
You don’t need to start from scratch, you just need to repackage what you already know in a way that works online. That’s what gives you an edge.
4. You’re Not Chasing Status. You’re Choosing Freedom
This one’s big. When you’re younger, it’s easy to get caught in the loop of proving yourself. Career titles, salary goals, looking successful on LinkedIn. But once you’ve ticked all those boxes (or thrown the list out entirely), you start making decisions from a different place.
Not “how will this look?” but “how will this feel?” And that’s where freedom lives. You care less about what’s impressive and more about what’s fulfilling. You don’t need external permission anymore. You’re finally building something for you. 🥳
5. Tech Is Easier Than You Think (and You Don’t Need to Do It All Yourself)
One of the biggest blockers I hear is “I’m not good with tech.” And I get it. Learning new tools can feel like being dropped into a foreign country with no map.
But the truth is, most platforms today are designed for ease. You can drag-and-drop a website together. You can record a video on your phone. You can hire someone for twenty bucks to help with the bits that fry your brain.
And once you’ve done it once, it’s never as hard again. You don’t have to master everything, just enough to get moving.
6. Midlife Confidence > Youthful Hustle
There’s a quiet confidence that comes from having lived through a few things. You know your strengths, you know your limits, and you’ve made peace with the fact that things won’t always go to plan.
That takes the pressure off. You don’t have to hustle like a twenty-something trying to climb a ladder they don’t even want to be on. You can focus your energy on the stuff that actually matters. And you’ll probably move faster because of it. Less dithering (and Instagram selfies), more doing.
7. You Have Priceless Perspective
As we age we place so much more value on meaning rather than just ticking off a list of places.
The way you see the world now is completely different to how you saw it in your twenties. You notice things. You appreciate slow mornings and good conversations and little wins. You bring a depth to your work and your travel that only time can give.
And when you share what you’re doing, whether through a blog, a podcast, a business, you’re not just sharing content. You’re sharing rare and much needed wisdom!
8. Because Why the Hell Not?
At some point, you just stop needing a “reason” and start realising the clock’s ticking either way. You can spend the next five years wondering what could’ve been… or you can just go. Try. Learn. Mess it up a bit. Find your rhythm. Live.
Because the truth is, if you’re here, reading this, dreaming about something more, you’re already halfway there. And nothing about age, or timing, or tech, or fear, needs to stop you.
A Few Stats to Quiet the Doubt
Still not convinced? Let the numbers talk:
- In the UK, the average age of business founders is 46, with 35% over 50 (Enterprise Nation, 2023).
- In the US, 60% of entrepreneurs are over 40 (Statista).
- Nearly half of 50+ business owners say they started for better work/life balance, and many just wanted to give back and share their knowledge.
Translation: You’re not an outlier. You’re part of a wave.
Final Thoughts (From Someone Who’s Living It)
I started building online businesses in my 30s, but it’s only now, in my 50s, that I’m going full time nomad.
Not the expat life, not the occasional digital trip. I mean perpetual, portable, everything-in-the-backpack kind of living. And sure, it feels a bit scarier doing this now. But I’ve never felt so alive!
At our age, we’re not trying to build the next unicorn startup. We’re building something that gives us freedom. Work that fits around our lives, not the other way round. For a lot of us, that means creating something purposeful that funds our travels, uses our skills, and gives us more time to do what we actually care about.
And it’s not a pipe dream, it’s a very real option. But it does take a shift in mindset.
If you’ve spent years believing that you’ve missed the boat, or that tech is too hard, or that people your age aren’t “supposed” to be doing this… it’s time to challenge that. None of those stories are true.
Start by getting curious. Read about people in their 50s, 60s, and beyond who are freelancing, house sitting, launching courses, or travelling full-time. Look at the skills you already have. There’s a good chance they translate beautifully into the online world. And if there’s a gap, hire someone, or learn one small thing at a time. You don’t need to master everything. You just need to start.
Tech doesn’t have to be your enemy. There are more tools than ever designed to help you get online without losing your mind. And you don’t have to do any of this alone. There’s a whole global community of people doing life differently, and they’re only a few clicks away.
So if something in you is stirring, some mix of excitement and fear, and truly being honest about what you want from life, follow it. Whether you want to run an online shop from a campervan, start a blog from a beachside café, or just see if you can make $500 a month from something you enjoy, it’s all valid.
You’re not behind. You’re just arriving at a new beginning with your eyes wide open.
And you’ve never been more ready.
Get started today in my free 50+ Nomad group! Come and chat with a bunch of very lovely and very welcoming like-minded people, and share tips and strategies for boosting your income on the go, exploring new destinations, chasing dreams, and living your best life!
