Why do we constantly complicate things for ourselves?
That’s precisely what we tend to do, isn’t it?
We set lofty and unrealistic goals, only to stumble and struggle along the way, eventually leading to frustration and ultimately giving up. This isn’t a sustainable path to success; it’s the complete opposite of it. This applies just as much to digital nomadism, travel and life in general. Well, at least from my perspective and my experience.
Is Perfection as Cool as it Looks on Instagram and TikTok?
I think it isn’t. Not in the long run.
Having an okay routine and just showing up is way more cool. Having your own idea of the best way of living your life/traveling/working/… and following through with it is way more cool in the long run.
Nevertheless, we often end up striving for that perfection.
In our relentless pursuit of perfection, we often find ourselves caught up in a vicious cycle of unattainable goals and inevitable disappointments. Society and media present us with an idealized vision of success, pushing us to strive for unreachable standards in our personal and professional lives. This continuous attempt for perfection not only hampers our progress but also leads to an inevitable sense of failure when we can’t achieve these unrealistic goals daily.
I’ve been there myself. Striving for the perfect morning routine. Trying to do as much as possible since I’m here, in this city or country, trying to be the perfect digital nomad (perfect tourist). Trying to be everywhere and do everything.
Until, I realized that there is a better way for me.
A more sustainable way.
I’m Not the Perfect Digital Nomad (Digital Nomadism)
It was a dream lifestyle. Digital nomad lifestyle.
At first, the goal was super simple. It sounds super simple now. I wanted to be able to work from anywhere. I didn’t want to go to the office. And I didn’t want any more meetings and fixed working hours. I knew that some people are working remotely as freelancers. I wanted to do something similar.
And I also wanted to travel. Just a little bit at first. Anything more than that sounded like something super expensive. I didn’t know if I would ever be able to make it. In 2012, 2013, when I first started thinking of that, I didn’t know you can spend years hopping around the world, going from one country to another, while doing “a regular work and earning an average salary” (as long as you were doing it remotely).
In 2012, I didn’t know a single digital nomad.
I had never heard a term digital nomad.
Yet, shortly later I become one.
I took the leap of faith. Went on an open-ended trip, after giving away most of the possessions back home. Everything fell into place, and there I was – traveling the world long-term, spending many months a year abroad. I was a digital nomad. And I wanted to be the perfect digital nomad.
- I wanted to do good job.
- I wanted to be a good tourist and visit all the must-see places, to spend as much as possible doing sightseeing, taking day trips, etc.
- I wanted to have a good routine.
- I wanted to share my experience with others.
Traveling alone wears you down a lot. Traveling and working is double as hard. Doing that on a very low budget, like many digital nomad beginners do, doesn’t make it any easier. Now, imagine things aren’t going as planned – you have work problems, health problems, family problems, personal problems, financial problems, and the list goes on. You may have any of that, or a combination of that. And you are abroad, where you don’t know anyone, your visa is expiring, you have to find a new accommodation, or plan that day trip you want to do.
Digital nomad lifestyle has its downsides. Just like any lifestyle.
My recommendation is simple – be yourself. Don’t just copy others. Do things you care about. Do things your way. Travel slow, if you want. Do little or no sightseeing. Go to the same countries again and again, if you want so and if it makes you feel good. You are not just a tourist, this is your everyday life.
For example, we with Una like to travel slow for most part. We like to return to places we love. Sometimes we like to be “good tourists” and visit popular placees and take a lot of photos, and other times we don’t do that at all. We try to do what’s best for us. Sometimes we work more, and other times – take time off for traveling only. This is our everyday life, not just a 2-week vacation.
I’m Not the Perfect Tourist (Travel)
There are things that I realized very early on.
I hate long lines – I have almost never standed in a long line for a tourist attraction. Anything more than 10 people is a long line for me, and I don’t go there, if possible. The check in line at the airport could be the only line I’ve waited quite a few times.
I also don’t like looking for specific places – I prefer wandering around random areas. Seeing random places. Eating at random placese. Having random encounters.
This is my way of traveling. I have found it.
At the same time I see that a lot of people travel for a very specific reason. For the perfect photo. For that one shot. They want it. They need it. They think they need it.
More and more people travel to exotic destinations solely to capture the perfect Instagram photo. People meticulously plan their trips, seeking out the most picturesque locations and angles. However, this obsession with perfection can hinder you from truly experiencing the beauty of the moment. You may miss out on the authenticity of a place by focusing solely on its visual appeal.
Let me just ask you one question – is this what you really want? Is this why you travel? Or, maybe you don’t want a photo with that exact waterfall, maybe you want to go on a proper swim in a waterfall, maybe in another waterfall, deeper in the jungle? Or, maybe a hike to a different waterfall without crowds sounds even more thrilling to you?
There are millions of options…
What I want to say is that you don’t have to go and do what others do, you have millions of other options. There are some 200 countries, and thousands of cities, in the world, most of which aren’t really visited by tourists.
I Don’t Have the Perfect Routine (Lifestyle, Work)
Sleep well. Eat well. Move well. Have a routine.
I didn’t think about these things much at first. But all of this is very important. It’s a common knowledge, yet we tend to forget about it. Because it’s not sexy. We want something more fancy – the perfect diet plan instead of balanced meals and frequent workouts, a magic pill instead of good rest or well-planned daily routine.
If you do these basics well, you feel better.
You are healthier. You are stronger.
Perfection is just a fancy form of procrastination. I read this somewhere recently, and I agree with this. It applies to all areas of life, and it applies to travel and work, and daily routine as well. When you are thinking about something for too long, chances are that you won’t end up doing it at all. That’s why it’s important not to focus on perfection, but instead just take action and see where you end up. Don’t dwell on imperfections, embrace them! You don’t have to be perfect. None of us is.
Let’s do things because they makes us feel better.
Not because it’s the perfect way. Not because it aligns with the fancy plan, or program, or stragegy. Not because we can get the perfect gym selfie.
- I try to sleep 8-9 hours every day. Because I know that this is what makes me feel better. Sometimes I’m having my perfect routine and wake up at around 5:30 am, other times I’m not and I start my day at 7 am. I focus on getting this amount of sleep, not how early I’m waking up every day.
- I try to eat at 7 am, 12 pm and 6 pm. I try to never rush it, my breakfast usually takes around 1 hour and usually consists of a good-sized bowl of oatmeal porridge. While the breakfast part works well for most days, the rest is still a work in progress – I want to make the meals balanced. And I try to eat less snacks.
- I walk more or less everywhere. 5, 10 km is just a normal walk for me. I do it every time, when I feel like it. The more you do it when it’s easy for you, the less you have to do it when you don’t want to do it. It’s something you get very much used to after some time.
- I go to gym on specific days. This way I don’t have to look for motivation. I only have to look on the calendar. If it’s Tuesday, then it’s a gym day. I’m training to feel better, to be stronger than I was earlier. I’m training for my own well-being, not for someone else. And I know that on some days I will still feel week. I’m okay with this.
Speaking of the latter, the fitness industry bombards us with images of perfect bodies, often achieved through unsustainable diets and grueling workout routines. As a result, we set unattainable fitness goals, leading to frustration and burnout. I think, it’s crucial to shift our focus from the pursuit of a perfect physique to prioritizing our health and well-being. It just makes things easier, when you train for yourself.
I’m better having an okay routine, rather than striving for something perfect and constantly feeling bad for not being there already. To achieve that, I have my own focus points. I’m focusing on having enough sleep, not so much on waking up at the same time. If I’m having at least a very good breakfast every day, I’m more than just good. The same applies to sport. By walking everywhere, and making that a habit, you are getting at least some exercise easily. And that’s my focus – to at least do some walking.
Being You Is Cool. Showing Up Is Cool
In a world that promotes perfectionism at every turn, it’s essential to recognize the pitfalls of pursuing unattainable goals. Embracing realistic objectives, accepting imperfection, and finding joy in authentic experiences can lead to a more satisfying and contented life. Instead of chasing perfect photos, perfect bodies, or perfect lives, let’s strive for genuine happiness and fulfillment, one real goal at a time.
I, honestly, feel like we are doing way too much just for Instagram and social media. To have that perfect online presence, to build that perfect online self. We travel more just to have more Instagram photos, reels and TikToks. We go to the gym, just to be like these other people we see on the internet. We go for unrealistic goals as digital nomads, just because it seems like everyone else around us is doing that.
You don’t have to be perfect, you better be you.
You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to show up.