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Trading in Nomadism for Sanity and Stability

For the longest time my dream was to work from anywhere, on my own schedule, and travel whenever and wherever I want, without the need to look for work every time I relocated.

I made that happen. And then I lost my mind.

Then I lost my job – my remote, work-from-anywhere, flexible, supposedly “dream” job.

I began a new job only a week later. None of the flexible, remote, internet-based jobs interested me anymore. I went back to horticulture.

The pay is less. I need to wake up and be somewhere 4 days a week.

I couldn’t be happier with how things worked out.

More on that to come.

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Reflections on One Month of Digital Nomadism

Today is February 28 and I’m in Istanbul. I left Orlando, FL on January 28 to travel indefinitely because it makes more sense to travel right now than to settle down, work for someone else, and pay rent in my country.

In a way I’ve been living like this for a few years, often on the road, living between two cities, with a bed I built in the back of my SUV.

This time I sold many belongings, put the rest in storage, canceled cell phone and insurance bills, packed one small suitcase and one small backpack, and boarded a plane to Turkey. The goal is to live on $1000/month or less which means living where it’s cheap and only spending on necessities.

Continue reading “Reflections on One Month of Digital Nomadism”

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The Focus Playlist For Getting Sh*t Done

Welcome to my Spotify focus playlist. Depending on the day’s task(s), lyrics can be immensely distracting. Sheer silence on the other hand, can induce anxiety. I’ve had this playlist shuffling on repeat for days — as I do some coding, some writing, and some gruesome marketing tasks.

Best enjoyed on shuffle:

Playlist always evolving. Enjoy!

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Quitting Sugar While Traveling

It’s like an oxymoron. Isn’t traveling when you’re supposed to indulge in croissants, baguettes, and desserts? Well maybe, but not when the travel ties in with the work, and this lifestyle has no end in sight.

I’ve known for a while now that sugar is bad and in general I have no desire to consume it. Armed with this knowledge, rather than willpower, abstaining from sugar is a no-brainer. But when you arrive in a new place and everyone around you is doing something… it begins to seem okay. Not to mention, out in the streets I’m walking by a vendor of something sweet and delicious every ten steps! Continue reading “Quitting Sugar While Traveling”

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Running in Istanbul: Routes and Recommendations

I used to be an avid runner. I ran cross-country in high school and kept up with this habit for many years after. In my late twenties I began to see more benefit in a healthy combination of daily yoga and consistent movement (ie. standing rather than sitting at my desk, walking longer distances more frequently, gardening a little each day), as opposed to vigorous cardio exercise.

I am a female and I run sola – so the places I choose tend to be wide open and well populated. Continue reading “Running in Istanbul: Routes and Recommendations”

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Working While Traveling: Some Cozy Istanbul Cafes

This post is a work in progress: I’m currently in Istanbul, always scoping out new workplaces, and keeping this list (and map) as a note-to-self. Stay tuned!

I’d like to express my gratitude for the technology that exists today which gives me the freedom to live in any city I choose — and all it takes is an internet connection and the discipline to open the computer each and every day and get some work done.

Continue reading “Working While Traveling: Some Cozy Istanbul Cafes”

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Arriving in Istanbul: Airport to City Logistics

I’ve flown into both Atatürk Havalimanı and Sabiha Gökçen (havalimanı means airport) on separate visits to Istanbul, so I can safely speak from my own experience on each. Since then I’ve explored deep into the city on foot, by bus, and aboard a handful of ferries. As I make the assumption you’re staying in a relatively touristic part of the city, I’ll share with you my recommendations for stress-free transport from the airport to your destination.

Continue reading “Arriving in Istanbul: Airport to City Logistics”