Nadia Arandjelovic Laws On Bali Move & More

[Written by Stephen Wright]

Nadia Arandjelovic Laws’ ambition to be the “master of her fate” and take greater control of her life led her to leave Bermuda with her young family two years ago and relocate to Bali, Indonesia.

Ms Arandjelovic Laws had long dreamed of becoming a digital nomad. However, she admits the lifestyle often felt out of reach, especially as a woman of colour.

With the support of her husband, Markez Laws, the couple began making their dream a reality, saving in earnest in mid-2019, but their plans were temporarily delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic – something Ms Arandjelovic Laws describes as a blessing and a curse.

“On one hand, it was a time of financial uncertainty, but on the other hand, my work shifted from in-person to fully remote,” she told Bernews.

“This gave me the confidence I needed, workwise, to eventually make the move overseas.”

A former journalist, Ms Arandjelovic Laws now runs her own PR communications and consulting business, The Media Maven.

She cites several reasons behind her decision to leave Bermuda and seek a new way of life.

“For me, it was mainly for mental health reasons,” she explained.

“While many of my peers seem to be thriving in Bermuda – climbing the corporate ladder, leading active social lives, and enjoying a good quality of life – I didn’t feel the same.

“As two people born and raised in Bermuda, we also felt heavy social pressures and family expectations, which made it feel like our lives and choices weren’t always our own.

“This led to a lot of internal stress, and for over a decade, I struggled with mild depression and social anxiety.”

Having lived overseas with her late father in Canada during her teenage years and completing her university degree in the UK, Ms Arandjelovic Laws had always associated living abroad with freedom.

Her passion for travel was sparked during her first solo trip through Southeast Asia in 2012.

“Through exploring different cultures, I’ve learned so much about myself and others, and I’ve grown as an individual,” she said.

Now a mother of two – Zaccheus, 6, and Zoe, 7 months – she explained how important it was to incorporate travel into her lifestyle.

“I wanted to be the master of my fate, rather than having a boss dictate my vacation days, salary, or the times I could be involved with my family,” she said.

“I craved freedom, flexibility, and the chance to design my work and business around my desired lifestyle.

“After our son was born in 2018, this vision became even more important, and now, with our daughter Zoe, it’s doubly so.”

For the past two years, Ms Arandjelovic Laws and her family have lived in Canggu, Bali – a popular hub for digital nomads, primarily from Europe and Australia.

They have built close friendships with like-minded individuals from diverse places such as Haiti, Trinidad, Malaysia, France, Brazil, England, the United States, and other parts of the African diaspora through a community group called Black in Bali.

“My husband is very sociable and has been instrumental in helping us build a community of friends,” said Ms Arandjelovic Laws, who fell in love with Bali during a visit with her husband, a data analyst, in 2017.

“It’s all these little ingredients that make life here enjoyable.

“Our son’s school is on the same property as a community club – and he gets to play outside everyday afterschool with his friends. It reminds me of growing up in Bermuda in the 1980s.”

Life with two young children, she admits, is a new challenge, but the support of a full-time nanny, which is affordable in Bali, has been a great help.

“As women of colour, as wives and mothers, I truly believe that our mental health impacts not only our own lives but how we show up in the world as partners and as parents,” the 37-year-old said.

“That’s why, in addition to consulting with a few key communications clients, I offer digital nomad coaching, particularly for women aspiring to this lifestyle.”

She offers “pick my brain” sessions for people needing support with the logistics of becoming digital nomads, including overcoming mental blocks or fears around such a life-changing transition.

“In my time in Bali, I’ve learned that there’s no perfect place, but some locations have the ingredients that suit certain individuals better,” Ms Arandjelovic Laws said.

“I wanted a place with a warm, welcoming community that feels like family, a low cost of living, and a high quality of life.

“A peaceful environment where I could create healthier boundaries and prioritise my mental health and self-care. Bali offers all these things.”

Ms Arandjelovic Laws has been sharing her journey as a digital nomad on her social platforms, offering tips and lessons learned along the way.

“I hope people will be honest with themselves about whether their current environment is one where they can thrive or if there might be a place that better meets their needs,” she added.

“This isn’t to say Bermuda isn’t a wonderful place – my mother, sister, and many lifelong friends still live there happily – but if it’s not where someone feels fulfilled or at peace, I hope they don’t stay stuck. We all deserve peace and joy.”

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