Flâneurialism
Embracing Aimlessness in the Digital Age
The concept of the “flâneur,” popularised by 19th-century French poet Charles Baudelaire, involves strolling aimlessly through places, being a detached and curious observer led by chance encounters, not by work or leisure. For Baudelaire, the flâneur represented a new way of engaging with his city of Paris, which was undergoing major transformations at the time.
Baudelaire developed his idea in response to a number of influential factors that included rapid urbanisation, the alluring concept of living in modernity, the romanticism of having a unique perspective on the world, and his own artistic inspiration. “Flâneuring” literally gave Baudelaire creative ideas.
Flâneuring is an intriguing concept, and in today's digital age, it shares similarities with the lifestyle of digital nomads. We travel the world, work remotely, and engage with different cultures. We’re interested in the development of global mobility and the future of work, and we’re always looking for more effective ways to feel part of the places we call home.
Recently, me and Corina read Rolf Potts' brilliant book, "Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel," which advocates for “instinctive travel.” It basically means resisting the urge to plan (don’t even buy your accommodation until you arrive!) and allowing for adventure and chance encounters to find you.
“Vagabonding is like a pilgrimage without a specific destination or goal – not a quest for answers so much as a celebration of the questions, an embrace of the ambiguous, and an openness to anything that comes your way. Indeed, if you set off on down the road with specific agendas and goals, you will at best discover the pleasure of actualizing them. But if you wander with open eyes and simple curiosity, you’ll discover a much richer pleasure – the simple feeling of possibility that hums from every direction as you move from place to place. […] Indeed, what is the adventure in travelling such great distances and achieving such daring acts if (like any workaday consumer) you choose your experiences in advance and approach it with specific expectations?” – Rolf Potts
This approach has led me and Corina to rethink our own travel strategies and consider the benefits and challenges of embracing a flâneur-like mindset. Potts' central message is to travel without planning, relying instead on immediate experiences and instincts. This is a stark contrast to our current approach. So far, we’ve chosen our destinations (Folkestone, Hastings, Sheerness-on-Sea, Seville, Santo Domingo, Samaná, México City, and soon New York), booked transport and accommodations months in advance, and we’ve prioritised cost-effective travel hacking strategies. For example, you can get up to 75% discount if you book Airbnbs for 28+ nights.
But Potts' idea is enticing. It means we could spend less time and energy stuck behind our laptops. And it’s much more adventurous, unpredictable and, ultimately, exciting.
As uncomfortable as landing in a new country without pre-booked accommodation is, it’s a shift in mindset that we think will lead to richer experiences and personal growth, as we embrace spontaneity and let go of our obsession with schedules.
However, instinctive travel has its drawbacks. One significant concern is the potential increase in costs. By not searching for deals or booking tickets in advance, we might face higher expenses in the short term. This dilemma reminded me of something I heard a lot when I worked in construction: that "curves cost more than straight lines.” Irregular choices often come at a higher price.
You could use the flâneurialist approach to engage in interesting ways with pretty much anything. You could take a different route to work each day to explore new areas, or introduce “wandering breaks” into your workday. You could give someone in your office, your family or your significant other the role of “flâneur” where they observe and document the environment and suggest improvements. You could go to cultural events or festivals without doing any prior research, allowing yourself to be immersed and surprised.
For us, embracing the flâneur within means finding a balance between the creative freedom of instinctive travel and the practicalities of planning and budgeting. This shift in approach is daunting, but it promises deeper personal growth, unique experiences, and the chance to create engaging content that reflects the excitement and unpredictability of life on the road.
As we continue our digital nomad journey, we'll be exploring this idea further, wandering aimlessly, letting the journey determine the destination. And in the words of my old art school tutor (the one who introduced me to Baudelaire), learning how to “throw our darts first, then draw targets where they land.”
What about you? How do you currently embrace the flâneur mindset in your own work and life?
Until next time, here’s to sparking curiosity, spontaneity, and creativity by letting go!
Speak soon
– Harrison
Landscape by Charles Baudelaire In order to write my chaste verses I’ll lie like an astrologer near to the sky and, by the bell-towers, listen in dream to their solemn hymns on the air-stream. Hands on chin, from my attic’s height I’ll see the workshops of song and light, the gutters, the belfries those masts of the city, the vast skies that yield dreams of eternity It is sweet to see stars being born in the blue, through the mists, the lamps at the windows, too, the rivers of smoke climbing the firmament, and the moon pouring out her pale enchantment. I’ll see the springs, summers, autumns’ glow, and when winter brings the monotonous snow I’ll close all my doors and shutters tight and build palaces of faery in the night. Then I’ll dream of blue-wet horizons, weeping fountains of alabaster, gardens, kisses, birdsong at morning or twilight, all in the Idyll that is most childlike. The mob that are beating in vain on the glass, won’t make me raise my head as they pass. Since I’ll be plunged deep in the thrill of evoking the springtime through my own will, raising the sun out of my own heart, making sweet air from my burning thought.
Don't keep the flâneur lifestyle to yourself like a secret Airbnb discount code – spread the love and share this newsletter with your friends!
If you enjoyed this, why not read my previous post about what your home says about your ambitions →