The Importance of Change

This week I have changed continents again. After spending 3 months in Europe I moved to the Americas. My time in Europe was very fruitful. I skied back home in Slovakia, was reminded that Barcelona is the most livable city in the world & visited Krakow. A good reminder of why European living is so highly regarded.

Despite my travel fever, I always look forward to coming back to Europe. My entire life before turning 25 has happened here. I'm very grateful that the nature of my work allows me to come back home and spend time with my family and friends whenever I want to. Be it for a day a week or a month. Being back home has always helped me to slow down and recharge - before going away again.

Ever Since I started nomading, I have been changing places. There are many different groups of nomads. Some are long-term stayers (expats/passport bros/fishing for residency). Some are workationers - having a base but travelling for 1-3 months a year with their work. Some are so-called slowmads (moving at a slow pace for 6 months or years at a place). And then there are the OG nomads. Moving from a place to place every week, or month, going on a weekend trips. Sending it on 100% most of the time.

That was me on my first trip to South America. As soon as it was over, I realized how unsustainable that was. As it was my first time on the continent, I wanted to see as much as I could. I would go on trips every weekend. I would party a few times a week. I would do multiple activities daily. Just to experience everything I could. To get those dopamine shots coming.

I had no routine, did not eat healthy, and had to wake up before 4 AM for my meetings due to the time zone difference. I knew if I was in for a long game - I could not keep living like this.

I decided to take things slower. Build my routine. I would

• Make sure I work out daily.
• Started to be cautious with my diet.
• Learned about the history of the places I was visiting.
• Researched my communities (local & foreign) before my travels so I get to spend time with like-minded people.

One thing stayed though. My hunger for change.

Change of Places, Apartments, People, Clients

Change can come in many forms. You can abruptly decide to move to a different country and start your life over (you can do so every month if nomad ;)). Or you can slowly lean towards setting your life up in a different way.

You can change your gym, your hobbies, and your opinions on certain things as you learn more about them. You can change your friends circle. You can change the types of clothes you wear. You can change your career, your employer, your house. You can change your favourite sports team or even your citizenship.

Human beings naturally resist changes. Except they don't. They got comfortable.

Change evokes something new, different. Something we are not used to. The graphics below describe how getting out of our comfort zone and trying new and challenging things move out to the stretch zone - that's where we grow.

Is not personal development a goal of every single one of us? Don't we all want to feel that we grow and progress? Despite the initial challenges - growth will reward us with the best versions of ourselves.

In the past 2 years, I have changed many countries, cities, apartments, rooms, and beds. Yet I never felt more "at peace" than now.

If you're reading this and thinking that digital nomads are "running away from problems or a life". In the past 6 months, I have: bought a property abroad, started business partnerships, changed jobs, got in a relationship etc.

Life happens and your location has nothing to do with it. You will get on with your life wherever it brings you. You will adapt. You will get into survivor mode and make it work. Wherever you go.

It may not appeal to everyone, but that's why the upside of location-independent life is as big as it is. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I'm a strong believer that life is a story told in chapters. Some are longer and some shorter. We cannot know how long the chapters we have not written yet, are.

So somehow I'm writing this blog from a desert. Looking to spend a couple of months here while my only experience in a similar climate is a few days of jeep touring in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Will I like my stay here? I don't know.

What I know though is that I will adapt. I will find my way. And I will make it work.

So would you.

Next time you walk to your gym or put on the same shirt as you do every Monday, think about changing it. Does the thought of it excite you? Good. Go on and change more things.

Milosh