Is It Time to Break Out of the Big Cities?

Editor’s note: This is an interview with Nikola Arezina, CEO and Founder of BeRGB Studio.
Illustrations provided by online guide fruskac.net

We met Nikola at the Payoneer Forum in Belgrade (Serbia), where he was sharing his tips on growing international service businesses. After hearing about his lifestyle, we immediately realized that we want to learn more about Nikola and scheduled this interview.

Nikola is a graphic designer, entrepreneur, professional conference speaker and an advocate for a rural way of life.

What do you like about your profession?

I always loved graphic design, computers and electronics. I remember the day when I got my first computer – a new universe was opened to me. I became passionate about everything related to computers, and very soon I began to study web design and programming.

I launched BeRGB eight years ago, and it’s still my passion. We do design, branding and development for clients worldwide. Owning my business gives me a sort of freedom, which is most important to me. For example, I can choose my clients and the projects I work on, allowing me to focus more on quality rather than quantity.

The freedom allows me to be creative in my work and feel comfortable in my personal life.

Why did you decide to move out of the city?

At some point, I was completely burned out and felt that I had to quit my job and rest. So, moving to the countryside was an excellent choice. One month after my relocation, I felt like I was born again.

There are at least three reasons to move to the countryside: cost-effectiveness, natural food and, of course, nature – you can really take deep breaths there. Also, I believe that nature helps with creativity.

In my opinion, a lot of digital nomads are going to escape from big cities very soon. They just need to learn more about the rural way of life and understand its benefits.

How did the village inspire you?  

I moved to the village next to Fruška Gora National Park. I started to explore the mountain and discovered a rich cultural and historical heritage there. To protect the region, I launched a web-portal and non-governmental organization to raise awareness pf the issues we face every day.

I believe it’s important to conserve nature and the legacy of the peoples who lived in Serbia, including Romans, Celts, Avars and Austro-Hungarians.

What does your day look like now? Are there any differences?

I try to stick to a normal workday schedule, meaning no work on weekends, no work after 9 PM and no early morning meetings. So, basically, I try to efficiently solve design issues on the go. There is no difference between the city and the village. When I open my computer, I just complete my tasks.

What advice would you give other techies interested in relocating? Do you have any ‘garden lifehacks’ for geeks?

I was raised in the countryside, so I know how to live in harmony with nature and, of course, I always can find useful tips on the Internet. A friend of mine has an organic garden and I’m learning some tricks from him. His fight against weeds and bugs looks impressive. It is like a tactical war—I learned a lot from him.

I don’t have any specific lifehacks for geeks. It seems to me that it’s most important to try and experiment. Grab a bottle of water, add mint leaves and try to plant your own mint bush right in your office. The next time your colleagues drink coke, try fresh mint water instead.

Which city conveniences and advantages were hardest to leave?

Fortunately, everything is close here in Serbia — you just need a car. You don’t really lose anything by leaving the city. In addition, there are a lot of tools that I can use to run my business online. For example, Payoneer allows me to manage all of my payments directly from my laptop, no matter where I am.

The decision to move is very individual, but it seems to me that I only benefited from my relocation. Also, I did not completely break off relations with the city. I still spend some days there. After all, it’s all about balance!

Those who want to explore village life can do so without huge investments and risks. Start with trivial things — spend a weekend or several days out of the city, taste the simple food and enjoy the silence and harmony. Who knows? Maybe it’s exactly what you’re looking for.