Reddit mentions of Start Here: Master the Lifelong Habit of Wellbeing

For context:

One of us is an IT consultant and the other is a project management and corporate training consultant. We’ve been traveling and living out of one bag each (Osprey Manta AG 36L backpack) for nearly 2 1/2 years.

 

In that time we've been fortunate to visit four continents, 26 countries, and ~75 cities, all while having the pleasure of doing 35 house sits.


To answer your questions:

• We’re really enjoying it and have been doing it for nearly 2 1/2 years.
  
  
• We have a ‘home base’, that we haven’t been to in nearly a year, where we have a few boxes and keepsakes. However, as for what we actually carry, here are our gear and packing lists.
  
  
• We do house sits, use Airbnb’s, and award hack (r/awardtravel, r/churning), so while we have access to an assortment of amenities, we don’t own the items and/or have to carry them with us.
  
  
• This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, it takes a certain type of person to be able to pull it off and more importantly thrive. In our humble opinions preparation before ‘departing’ is very important.
  
  
  

1. Managing life and everything that goes along with it.
   
   ‘Burn out' from being on the road can happen and while we wouldn't trade our lifestyle, it's not all unicorns and rainbows. At times, it can be challenging finding balance between sightseeing, professional development, maintaining our website, working with clients, making time for a relationship, etc.
   
    
   
   Whether we're in a coffee shop, an airport lounge, a house sit, a beach, or somewhere in between, life still 'happens' and responsibilities don't just magically disappear. Contrary to what friends, family, and the media may think. ;-)
   
    
   
   
   With that being said, finding balance is something we’re always working on keeping present so ‘life’ doesn’t creep in and we’re constantly on red-line. We’re by no means perfect but we’ve realized over time that we need to be systematic about it. Simply knowing or saying to ourselves ‘we/I should do meditation/neck traction/jog isn’t enough.
   
    
   
   In other words: schedule it in your calendar, do the activity everyday (and/or at the same time), whatever works for you, implement that. The point is, don’t lose the forest for the trees, life’s a marathon not a...and all those sayings...
   
   There’ll always be deliverables, things to do, meetings to attend, etc. :-)
   
   
   As for some real world examples to avoid or minimize ‘burn out’:
   
   

• Travel slower
  
• Make time to focus on yourself and hobbies (believe it or not, we play video games while we travel!)
  
• Date nights with your spouse
  
• Meditate (see below for more info)
  
• Exercise
  
• Do activities in nature (hiking, swimming, jogging)
  
• Take days off from work (no calls, no emails, no cheating!)
  
• Attend meetups (FI/RE, expat, knitting, etc.)
  
• Whatever floats your boat ;-)
  
   
  
  Use Insight Timer (iPhone and Android) to meditate.
  
  Insight Timer is free (although, there’s is a paid option) and we’ve found it very helpful.
  
  
  Also, you may try reading Start Here: Master the Lifelong Habit of Wellbeing.
  
  
   
  
  
  

2. Staying in contact with friends that you knew/made before you became a DN (r/digitalnomad) and/or making friends on the road.
   
   You realize pretty quickly that overwhelmingly people are so busy and occupied with their own lives that unless you see them ‘everyday’ you won’t really hear from them unless you reach out (and maybe not even then).
   
   We’re fortunate that we travel together (married couple) but can see that solo DNs could get really lonely.
   
   Safe travels!