A Day in the Life of a Nomad
People love to assume that the day in the life as nomad is glamarous- laptop by the beach, sipping margaritas all day. Sunset yoga. Splurging on fnacy dinners and staying at resort life.
Sounds nice, but that is a vacation, well minus the laptop scenario.
And sure, some of that happens. But what actually keeps this lifestyle running isn't the scenery — it's the routine. And more than that, it's a mindset that honestly isn't for everyone.
I will share how this lifestyle changed me for the better in another blog.
Let me walk you through both.
a typical day for me
6:00AM: wake up- COFFEE- no exceptions.
I set my boundaries in the mornings. This is ME time. I enjoy waking up slow. No rushing around. It takes me about 2 hours to do my morning routine. Meditation, journaling, stretching, and some type of movement- maybe thats yoga or pilates, or a walk on the beach before heat arrives.
no calls or zooms before 8:00AM
I set a boundary: no calls before 8:00 AM so I have time to get ready and eat breakfast. After I shower, I usually don’t “get ready” unless I have a Zoom. I might look presentable if I decide to go to a café to work, but I don’t need to spend an hour on makeup, hair, and outfit choices. Back in the States it took me 1.5 hours to get ready each morning; now I use that time for a morning routine that’s just for me.
8:30/9:00AM: work begins
I check in around 8:30 or 9 and work for a few hours. Sometimes I head to a café so I can really focus — I can usually get about four solid hours of deep work that way. As a solopreneur, nobody is setting my deadlines for me, so I create my own and hold myself to them. That structure matters more than people realize.
midday/afternoon exploring
I don’t eat much during the day; I usually snack or have a late breakfast. Also, sometimes I simply go exploring to take a break from work. Let my brain rest. Exploring the city isn’t just a “weekend” thing for me. I will go try out a new cafe that i haven’t been to, find a local market, walk through a museum, or sit in a nearby park. I am lucky to be able to have a flexible schedule.
sun down
I usually find the sunset somewhere- especially in the towns that have beaches. In Latin America, the WHOLE town comes down to the beach and watches the sun go down. puesta del sol. Dinner is either with friends I've made along the way, a social meetup to meet new people, or a community dinner with people at whatever coliving I'm staying at. Some nights I just stay home and cook for myself.
8:30PM on the dot.
These days I go to bed earlyyyy. At 8:30, my body feels drained and eyes are heavy. I always know when it is 8:30. It’s my time to wind down, read a book, journal or meditate if I didn’t that morning, and reflect on the day. My battery is charging- protecting my energy. Don’t get me wrong— I LOVE to party and stay up all night - so there are those nights too— only when i have the energy!
weekends vs weekdays
Weekends are for recharging, not for cramming in every tourist attraction.
Sundays are my reset day — I recharge or get outside in nature. Saturdays I find a pool or some water if I can. Friday and Saturday nights are when I actually go out, because that's usually when a city comes alive!
But here's the thing - I am what they call a “slo-mad”. I stay in one place at least a month or two. So I don't feel pressure to see everything. If I want to go exploring or do an excursion on a random Tuesday instead, I do that. And some weekends? I do absolutely nothing. Because I can.
I'm not on vacation. I LIVE here. There's no checklist to finish before I leave, because there isn't really a "leaving" on the horizon, the way there would be on a vacation. I honestly don’t really Google the city and ask “what to do in ___” any more. I find out what I should do through the locals and expats on what to REALLY do.
this life changed me
This routine and way of living are not for everyone. The mindset of going with the flow to discipline, to adaptability, is imprudent. The decision fatigue is REAL. The person I was before this slo-mad life is differnt than the girl in Nashville. I have more things to say on that topic coming soon.
I don’t know when I will ever get tired of this lifestyle.
I love how I don’t really know what I will discover, or the who I will meet on any given day. I finally feel like I am living.
the tools & apps I use regularly as a soloprenuer nomad
💻Staying organized as a solopreneur
Asana — managing my own projects and deadlines since nobody else is doing it for me
Calendly — booking mentorship calls and sessions without the back-and-forth
Paper calendar + a real notebook — yes, still. Some things I just need to write by hand
Notes app — my catch-all. Places to explore, recommendations friends send me, my own favorite spots, logistics, airport notes, weather notes, even things I didn't like so I remember for next time
🗺️Exploring & getting around
Google Maps — I save favorites and organize them into a list for each city I visit, with personal notes attached
Google Translate — lives on my home screen, non-negotiable
iPhone Calculator — the fastest way to convert currency in a pinch, no extra app needed
Uber — for getting around when walking or local transport isn't an option
Viator and FreeTour.com — for booking tours, both paid and free walking tours
💸Money — internationally
Wise — my go-to for transferring money internationally; way better than Venmo, which doesn't work outside the US
Splitwise — a lifesaver for group trips and shared dinners at colivings. It tracks who owes who, converts currencies automatically, and means nobody has to do mental math four margaritas deep
👯Staying connected & finding community
WhatsApp — basically required for staying in touch with people you meet on the road and coliving groups
Facebook Groups — how I find local meetups in almost every city
VPN — for security and accessing things I need regardless of where I am
💪Health & work
FitOn — home workouts on days I can't get outside
ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini — I use all three depending on the task; research, brainstorming, content, you name it
If you are dreaming of this lifestyle, I would love to support you!
