There’s a particular kind of tired that comes from always being “on.” 

The steady ping of Teams notifications, work trips, long commutes from the affordable apartment to the office, and endless networking invites can lead to burnout. If you’re just one “quick question” notification away from a meltdown, this probably sounds way too familiar. But as the digital nomad and remote work cultures grow, these expectations are beginning to shift. 

Remote workers choose Portugal because of the sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and welcoming people, but what surprises most people is the slower pace of life. Sure, Lisbon and Porto still offer city-dwellers a vivid nightlife and nonstop cultural events, but for nomads looking for downtime, Portugal offers plenty of coastal and rural options that are just as culturally alive. 

Just under an hour from Lisbon, you’ll find a digital nomad and surf hub that draws in remote workers looking for real community and a break from fast-paced city life: Ericeira. 

Here’s how you can slow down, stay balanced, and find community as a digital nomad or remote worker in Portugal—outside of Lisbon’s busy streets.

WHY SO MANY REMOTE WORKERS BURN OUT (EVEN IN “DREAM” LOCATIONS)

The location-independent lifestyle promises freedom. But often that comes at a price. Not putting down roots means you have to be very intentional about finding community in each new place you land. Breaking into a new social circle is the biggest challenge for anyone moving to a new country, but for digital nomads, that challenge is made even harder by how often they’re on the move. 

We know that a sense of belonging is important for our well-being and that feeling disconnected from a larger community can lead to burnout and anxiety. For remote workers who spend lots of time alone, finding a new group of friends is especially important.

Many nomads fall into common, but unhealthy, remote work patterns like:

• Constant relocation

• Surface-level social circles

• Isolation during heavier workloads

• Productivity spikes followed by crashes

• Working late into evenings and weekends

If you’ve been location-independent for a while, you’ve probably experienced most, if not all, of these drawbacks. That’s why slow living (in Portugal and beyond) is becoming more than just a trend. It’s a mindful way to avoid burning out.

But what’s slow living, anyway?

WHAT SLOW LIVING ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN PORTUGAL

Does “slow living” conjure up visions of rural village life with minimal socializing, baking bread from scratch, and living off the land? Well, it’s not quite so extreme. 

In reality, slow living is a movement that encourages a mindful, unhurried lifestyle. It means doing things at the right pace, not the record-breaking one. Sometimes that means doing less and making sure you prioritize spending time not just on tasks that are traditionally seen as “productive,” like deep work, meetings, trainings, and networking, but also on fun activities, just because. 

The slow living movement started with Carl Honoré, author of the book In Praise of Slowness. In it, Honoré says that as technology advances, our pace of life has been constantly increasing. To push back against the downsides of our faster-paced lifestyles, Honoré encourages his readers to slow down, choose quality over quantity, and not downplay our human need for connection and fun.

In practice, slow living can mean making small choices like:

• Walking instead of commuting

• Choosing to have coffee or tea while with a friend, instead of alone

• Letting seabreezes replace highway traffic fumes

• Unhurried meals shared at a table, instead of eaten over a keyboard

• A weekly rhythm that includes time for fun

So yeah, occasionally slow living does include baking a loaf of bread from scratch. (But it’s not mandatory!)

Slow Living at Wild Souls Coliving

At Wild Souls, a coliving and coworking space in Ericeira, Portugal, slow living and community are the focus by design. Owners Carolyn and Nick saw this growing need to center community and mindful living, and it shows in the care they have put into creating experiences for their residents that make it easier for people to connect. 

They even bake homemade sourdough bread to share with the residents multiple times a week. And since they’ve also given starter babies as souvenirs, guests can now bake sourdough loaves around the world.

WHAT MAKES ERICEIRA THE IDEAL PLACE FOR SLOW LIVING IN PORTUGAL?

Lisbon is vibrant and global. Porto is magnetic and romantic. Madeira’s landscapes are striking. 

But Ericeira, a coastal town just 45 minutes north of Lisbon, gives you a chance to find balance. 

As Europe’s only World Surfing Reserve, the people of Ericeira have a deep respect for the ocean and the environment. Surf culture here isn’t just about the adrenaline of riding the waves. It’s a way of life that emphasizes living in harmony with natural rhythms. 

Although Ericeira is a known digital nomad hub, the town itself resists the nomad urge to optimize every minute at the expense of having fun. Life here consists of morning walks by the cliffsides, sunset surf sessions, and evenings sharing stories by the fire pit. Unlike in a big city like Lisbon or Porto, in Ericeira, you can walk by the same faces every day, strike up a friendly conversation, and suddenly find yourself with a new friend. 

It’s easy to find your people here. When everyone is close by and genuinely open, connections form fast.

COLIVING IN ERICEIRA: BUILT-IN BELONGING

Coliving tackles many of the common issues faced by remote workers arriving in a new country. There are other housing setups available throughout Portugal. Hostels, AirBnBs, and locally operated “Alojamentos Locais” offer nomads plenty of options for where to stay. But, while hostels and AirBnBs solve the problem of where to stay, they aren’t frequently built with your social well-being in mind.

That’s where coliving spaces, which often also include coworking setups, can make a big difference. There are dozens of Ericeira guesthouses available, but to find the right one for you, make sure it provides the following:

• Fast, reliable Wi-Fi

• Dedicated coworking spaces in Ericeira or on-site

• Shared kitchens and common spaces

• Fun, curated social activities

• Residents staying long enough to form bonds

At a great coliving, you won’t just get a room and a desk. You’ll get messy with ceramics, strike a new pose in yoga, and make memories with your new friends. For location-independent workers, that kind of setup can completely change your experience—for the better!

WORK AND SURF IN PORTUGAL: THE RHYTHM THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

There’s something about being seaside, putting your feet in the sand, and watching the waves that instantly puts the mind at ease. In Ericeira, that feeling isn’t reserved for vacations—it’s just everyday reality. 

For digital nomads used to the hustle and bustle of city life, the slower pace can take some adjusting to. But once you settle into a weekly and daily rhythm that supports your productivity and your well-being, everything falls into place. The surf culture in Ericeira also encourages slowing down, living in the moment, and finding work-life balance.

If you’re a newbie and looking to get started surfing, don’t worry. There are beaches near Ericeira recommended for all levels of surfers. Experienced surfers and dedicated sun bathers can head to Praia do São Lourenço, just north of Ericeira. 

If you’re staying at Wild Souls Coliving, that’s a three-minute walk!

Surfers of all levels will find plenty of reliable breaks a bit further south at Praia Foz do Lizandro, Praia São Julião, and Ribeira d’Ilhas.

Regardless of your level of experience, spending time in the local surf culture is a powerful reset for remote workers looking to get back in touch with nature and remember that there’s life outside of Zoom.

How do you know if coliving in Ericeira is right for you?

It’s not for everyone. Living in Ericeira means committing to a calmer pace of life, even if it’s just for a few weeks or a few months. It means shifting your priorities so that joy is just as important as work.

Ericeira still has a few gems where you can find live music, dancing, and a good glass of Portuguese wine. But if you’re looking for an up-until-dawn party scene, it’s probably not for you. That being said, if you’re a remote worker looking to decompress from a packed schedule, a creative looking for inspiration while working on a long-term project, or just someone looking to build genuine connections and friendships over the course of several weeks or months, you’ll feel right at home.

Ready to take the plunge? Check out Wild Souls Coliving’s Ericeira guesthouse and community.