by DJ Schofield |
Last Updated:July 8, 2024 I’m about six weeks into the nomad life without signs of slowing down anytime soon. It’s been an adventure. It’s been a learning experience.
The real difference is perspective. My views on life, places, and people have totally shifted.
I’ve learned a bit about having “balance,” whatever that means. It can be challenging to want to work at times, but I don’t find myself working 16-hour days consecutively until I’m completely burned out.
I’ve found myself becoming efficient and not being available 24/7. Experience is what matters most.
Whether you’re a nomad or not, life can be an adventure. After all, life is what you make it.
Though it all, there are three key things I’ve learned as a nomad that can apply to anyone’s “normal” life as well.
Not Much is Needed
I’ve learned very quickly about being a nomad that there’s really not much you need—a few clothes, toiletries, shoes, a laptop, phones, and chargers.
The true essentials.
Nothing else really matters.
The things you think you need, you really don’t. If it is truly necessary, you can usually find it quickly anyway.
Amazon and e-commerce, in general, have tricked us into thinking we always need the latest gadgets or electronics.
You don’t. You don’t need Amazon. You don’t need anything shipped to your house. Except maybe groceries, since that must be done and legit saves time, ultimately saving money.
As a nomad, travel and experience matter most. I couldn’t care less about the new car, kitchen appliance, fancy designer bag, and whatever else people waste money on.
For one, getting new things is irrelevant to me because I literally have nowhere to put them. It would also be a pain to logistically ship something to me as I’m moving around a lot.
The point is to create barriers to your shopping (primarily online), and you’ll find yourself buying MUCH less unneeded stuff.
Every Day matters
The main difference between my “normal” life and nomad life is when I’m traveling full time, everyday matters.
Let’s unpack it. In my “normal” life, and I’m assuming most people’s lives, you sleep at the same place, go to work at the same place, go to the gym at the same place, etc.
It’s routine.
But routine creates comfort. The longer you remain in the same routine, the more comfortable you become.
These don’t have to be DRASTIC changes. Even small changes are effective.
In weight lifting, it’s progressive overload. In work, it’s climbing the ladder or leveling up.
These aren’t insane changes or extreme measuring. They’re slightly “mixing up” your routine over time.
This leads to growth.
In my nomad situation, I’d say it’s a bit more extreme.
In my “comfort” life, I began taking things for granted. Every day was expected, I assumed tomorrow was coming and I knew it would be in Atlanta.
As a nomad, I’m only in a particular place for a finite amount of time, so no time is wasted, and no days are taken for granted.
Zoom out. This nomad life is actually how anyone’s life is. We’re only here for a finite amount of time.
So, whether you’re in the same place every day or a different place every day, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and you should strive to make the most of each day.
Meet New People
As a nomad, often I’ll travel alone. This means it’s either meeting new people or being alone. After a while, you’re forced to meet new people whether you want to or not.
In my “normal” life, I began to get comfortable hanging out with the same people all of the time and never meeting new people. I only really met new people when I traveled.
This is something else that can be achieved without being a nomad. Whether you’re a nomad or not, the key is to put yourself in places and situations to meet new people.
In the nomad world, this means going to hostels, coffee shops, local concerts, events, bars, etc.- any place where you can meet people.
This is the same case for my “normal” life, especially working from home. If I don’t intentionally go do something, there’s a zero percent chance of meeting someone because I literally won’t see anyone.
This obviously isn’t great, but it became a part of the comfortable life. Habits are real. Mix it up.
As they say, it’s never the place that matters but the people. Find the people that make life great.
In conclusion, there are many things to learn from being a nomad. The experience is like something I’ve never done before.
It’s uncomfortable at times; it’s different every day, and nothing is guaranteed. Sometimes, it feels like the wheels can fly off the track at any moment.
However, the things I’ve gained and learned far outweigh the negatives.
I HIGHLY recommend the nomad life, but I understand it isn’t always feasible.
In your “normal” life, below are the three things to apply to live a nomad life without being a nomad.
- You don’t need all of that stuff.
- Your time is finite, ever day matters, so make the most of it.
- Go meet new people — it’s crucial to making an enjoyable life.
Cheers!