Deep dive into 10 tailor-made self-care tips for digital nomads, from a health copywriter living the lifestyle.
As a health and wellness copywriter who's embraced the nomadic lifestyle for a few years now, I’ve become a bit of an expert on nurturing your mind and body while constantly on the move.
Amid my usual posts on copywriting, this one's a lifestyle deep dive—an opportunity for you, whether you're a fellow nomad or just curious, to glean insights into my world and perhaps discover ideas to elevate your own travel and wellness journey.
Here goes - 10 self-care tips tailor-made for digital nomads!
Summary:
Go at a pace that gives you time to take care of yourself.
Make self-care part of your cultural experience
Block out the external noise. Build a lifestyle that works for you.
Remember you don’t have to be everyone’s best friend.
Don’t feel guilty for taking a break from travel things, to do normal grounding things.
Make space for a few self-care items you can build into a daily ritual
Build simple and adaptable morning and evening routines.
Allow yourself rest - even if you feel like you shouldn’t need to.
Remember familiarity is just a phone call away.
Give yourself permission to seek out home-comforts.
Go at a pace that gives you time to take care of yourself.
Some people like, and can, move at lightening speed ticking things off the list. But be aware, that this sort of travel leaves you little time to fit in sleep, healthy eating, exercise, routine, deeper friendships…basically, the things that help you look after yourself.
Obviously, it depends on the duration of your travels, but if you’re a nomad the chances are you’re out for the long haul and need some sort of work-life structure.
For me, the slower the travel the more enjoyable, because it leaves time for both adventures and self-care.
Make self-care part of your cultural experience.
Discover local natural remedies and routines.
You learn so much about yourself when you travel, and when you’re open to it, you can gain new rituals that help you take care of yourself too.
Some small examples are drinking Jamu, a turmeric health drink in Bali, or consistently getting up for sunrise in Australia.
Block out the external noise. Build a lifestyle that works for you.
Something that really surprised me when I embarked on nomad life was just how judgmental the community can sometimes be.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve met the best people too, I’ve just heard ‘you should…’ and ‘you shouldn’t…’ too many times: how you should run your business, where you should go, how much or how little you should work, how you should avoid the touristy spots…
Personally, the whole point of this journey is to experience living in different places, learning about a culture, and making genuine friendships from all over the world. Also, as a solo female, I often feel more comfortable in touristic spots.
Block out the noise, decide what you want to get out the experience, and travel in a way that’s uniquely suited to you.
Remember you don’t have to be everyone’s best friend.
It’s honestly not worth forcing or faking it. If you’re just authentically yourself, you’ll attract friendships that feel effortless and natural, rather than shoehorning yourself into a crowd that’s not the right fit.
With a mixture of patience and putting yourself out there, you’ll find your people.
Don’t feel guilty for taking a break from travel things, to do normal grounding things.
Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash
Similar to number 1, don’t feel the pressure to make every day the ‘best day of your life’.
The stress and pressure will stop you processing the experiences. You’re allowed to have just normal, comfortable, grounding days.
Make space for a few self-care items you can build into a daily ritual.
I always have my crystals, a card from my parents, my journal, peppermint tea, essential oils, and now, my Mala beads from my YTT, in my backpack. It’s my little self-care pack that keeps me grounded.
Putting out my crystals, card, and beads makes any room my room. Journaling and applying essential oils in the morning and drinking my tea in the evening makes me feel settled.
Find what these items are for you, so you can set up camp wherever you are.
Build simple and adaptable morning and evening routines.
Your daily habits are so important for your overall wellbeing, as well as the success of your business. But it can be hard to adapt them to new locations.
Pick a couple non-negotiables you can do anywhere, whether it’s how you set up for a work day or unwind in the evening. For example, I have to start each day journaling and then walking in nature. Except for maybe travel days, I do this wherever I am.
Allow yourself rest - even if you feel like you shouldn’t need to.
You might be working way less than conventional hours, and so you wonder why you’re so tired. Trust me, there’s a mixture of reasons!
Heat, humidity, jet lag, anxiety, social battery, planning, brain fog, admin, lack of structure, safety concerns, being switched ‘on’ all the time, travel belly… it calls for rest!
If you don’t allocate sufficient time for rest, your body will claim that time on its own terms.
Remember familiarity is just a phone call away.
Stay connected.
When it feels like you’re living on a different planet, it’s easy to neglect your connection to home. The longer it goes on, the more this distance and disconnection grows.
I’ve found keeping in contact with family and both home/travel friends can be tricky, but necessary. You need consistency when it comes to connections. You need people who have been through things with you and witnessed your highs and lows.
Stay in touch, it’s so worth it.
Give yourself permission to seek out home-comforts.
Photo by Harry Cunningham on Unsplash
You gain a lot by going off the beaten track and embracing local customs, but there’s also a lot to be said about finding those familiar settings too.
It lets your nervous system reset a little.
I don’t like to be away from fresh veggie food, a yoga studio, and a coffee shop for too long. It sounds silly, but they’re the settings I’m relaxed in, so I tend to stay longer in places that have that.
Hope you enjoyed these self-care tips!
I hope you liked this slightly different post. As much as I revel in my role as a health and wellness copywriter, it’s fun to share clips of the offline-life my business supports.
Every nomadic lifestyle is different, and these tips are mere guideposts on a unique journey.
So, whether you're finding solace in familiar routines or like to dive headfirst into new cultural rituals, embrace what feels right for you.
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