I Work Remotely In Bali – It’s Full Of Fake People And It’s Ruining My Career Too

I’m in my early thirties, working remotely from a villa in Bali with a swimming pool, and everyone on social media thinks I’m living the dream… except it has turned into a nightmare.  

Last year London got too much for me – it was too expensive, the commute was too busy, and office life depressed me – and I started to put a plan into action so I could move away. I quit my job, started freelancing (successfully) and booked a one-way flight to my dream destination. But since I’ve gotten here I hate it.

It’s full of fake people and phone-wielding influencers with bikini bodies and rippling abs – it doesn’t feel like real life. I’ve been here eight months and I haven’t made a single friend as everyone moves on within a year.

I work from smoothie bars or co-working spaces with postcard views but can’t connect with anyone. I feel isolated and miss having an office and colleagues. I also feel like my career has stalled – because of the time difference it’s really tricky with clients.

What should I do?

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Hannah Salton is a qualified executive coach, career consultant, and former corporate recruitment manager. She spent eight years leading recruitment and talent initiatives for global organisations including BT and Allen & Overy, before launching her own coaching business in 2017. She has coached everyone from graduates to senior leaders, and has worked with MBA and MSc students at Imperial College Business School to secure roles in finance, consulting, and technology. Here’s her advice.

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First of all, I’m really sorry you’re having such a tough time. What you’re describing is far more common than people admit. As you’ve mentioned, many people might see a glamorous photo dump on Instagram of tree-lined villas, swimming pools and beach life, or life updates on LinkedIn about the unbeatable freedom of nomadic working, and they will assume you’re living the perfect life. But our highlight reels are not real life. It can often be very far from the truth.

I see this a lot with my coaching clients. On paper, they have brilliant jobs with impressive titles, but internally they feel misaligned with their role or company, and end up feeling miserable or burned out.

If Bali isn’t what you pictured, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It might just be time to pause, reflect, and think about what might work better for you. 

Remote work can be isolating

Remote work and digital nomadism sound incredibly appealing, especially if you’ve felt worn down by long commutes, high living costs, and office culture in city life. But something I’ve noticed, both personally and through my work, is how destabilising it can feel when you remove routines, colleagues, and long-term relationships all at once. It might feel exciting at first, but then it can feel very lonely.

I’ve worked mostly remotely for nearly nine years now, and I’ve experienced plenty of highs and lows. Motivation can dip, procrastination can creep in, and the lack of structure doesn’t suit everyone. 

Incorporate real connection into your routine

What’s helped me most is making sure I have people I see regularly in real life. Those connections don’t have to be work-related, and they don’t all need to be deep, meaningful friendships. 

For me, it’s been enough to have regular in-person contact, even if that’s through an exercise class or hobby, alongside deeper connections elsewhere, like phone calls with close friends or family back home.

If you’re able to, it’s worth exploring how you can deepen the connections around you. From what you describe, the environment sounds very transient, which can make it hard to feel settled. 

That doesn’t mean more meaningful connections aren’t there, but they may take more intention to find. In my experience, things like book clubs, language classes, volunteering, or interest-based groups can sometimes lead to more natural connections than co-working spaces alone.

Be vulnerable and reach out to former colleagues

Work wellbeing and looking after yourself in general is incredibly important. Feeling connected during the working day can make a big difference, especially when you’re remote. 

I know it might be tempting to not want to destroy the facade you’ve built of a happy and glamorous life, but being vulnerable and honest can be freeing. Some people find it helpful to stay in touch with former colleagues, or to build relationships with other digital nomads working in other places who are open to regular check-ins. 

I’ve also seen how useful peer mentors or accountability partners can be. Not someone to fix things, but someone consistent to share goals with and reflect alongside.

Reshuffle and fortify your daily routine

It’s also worth checking in on the basics. When structure disappears, things like eating well, moving regularly, and doing things purely for enjoyment often slip. I’ve found that creating a simple routine helps. A morning walk, a proper lunch break, or a clear end to the working day can all help create a sense of rhythm again.

Speak to loved ones

Staying connected to home can be especially important too. The time difference makes this harder, but small, regular touchpoints can help. Even a short weekly call with someone you love can make things feel less isolating. Remember that it’s okay to be honest about how you’re feeling. You can recognise that you’re lucky in many ways while still acknowledging that this is hard.

Coming home doesn’t equal failure

Something clearly needs to change, but that doesn’t mean you need to make a rushed or dramatic decision. You always have options. You could try adjusting how you live and work where you are, explore whether another location in Indonesia might suit you better, or ultimately decide that coming home is the right next step. None of those choices mean you’ve failed. They just mean you’re paying attention to your changing needs.

The most important thing to know is that you’re not alone in feeling this way, even if it looks very different on social media. Try to build connections where you can, locally, online, and back home, but remember that you’re allowed to choose what actually works for you, not what looks good from the outside.