While I think it’s totally okay to do and eat whatever the heck you want while traveling, sometimes making an effort to do a few things for your self-betterment. Just because you’re on vacation mode, doesn’t mean you can’t add in some healthy things without depriving yourself of the local fun!

I feel so much better when I have a little me-time or some version of a routine in place, and make a couple of healthy choices while enjoying a new adventure. Like everything, it’s a balance!

So if you’re looking to add some self-care to your summer travels, we’ve got you covered on everything from your packing list to your plane ride to when you are enjoying your destination.

Here’s a list of self-care activities you can add to your travel itinerary:

1. Pack a comfortable pillow or neck support for the plane or long car rides.
2. Bring your favorite book or download an audiobook to enjoy during your travels.
3. Bring a journal to write about your experiences.
4. Take time to stretch and do some light yoga or exercise.
5. Wear comfortable and breathable clothing. And pack comfortable shoes!
6. Stay hydrated by bringing a refillable water bottle.
7. Use SPF to protect your skin from the sun.
8. Wear a hat or sunglasses to protect your face and eyes.
9. Take breaks and rest when you need to.
10. Bring your own snacks to keep you fueled and satisfied.
11. Practice deep breathing or meditation to help reduce stress and anxiety.
12. Listen to calming music or your comfort podcasts.
13. Use noise-canceling headphones to block out unwanted noise.
14. Take a warm bath or shower to relax after a long day of travel.
15. Use a sleep mask or earplugs to help you sleep better.
16. Take a break from technology and enjoy the scenery around you.
17. Take a nap if you need to catch up on sleep.
18. Practice good hygiene by washing your hands regularly and carrying hand sanitizer.
19. Take a morning hot girl walk to get coffee, or plan a hike to explore your destination.
20. Treat yourself to a massage or spa treatment.
21. Visit a local farmer’s market or grocery store to buy fresh and healthy food.
22. Stay connected with loved ones back home through video chat or social media.
23. Learn about the culture and history of your destination.
24. Take a cooking class to learn how to prepare local cuisine.
25. Use a travel pillow to make sleeping in unfamiliar beds more comfortable.
26. Pack a small first aid kit with essential items like bandaids and pain relievers.
27. Carry a small bag with you for day trips or excursions.
28. Take a break from alcohol or limit your intake.
29. Keep a positive attitude and remain flexible if things don’t go as planned.
30. Take a break from social media and enjoy the present moment.
31. Use aromatherapy to help you relax or sleep better.
32. Bring a reusable tote bag for shopping or carrying items.
33. Take a break from work and truly be OOO while you’re on vacation.
34. Get plenty of rest before and after your travels.
35. Keep a travel journal to document your experiences, or write it out on your Notes app.
36. Treat yourself to a special souvenir or gift. Bonus points if you collect something from all your destinations.
37. Take a dip in the pool or ocean to cool off.
38. Use a travel-friendly skincare routine to keep your skin looking healthy.
39. Practice gratitude and appreciate the opportunity to travel.
40. Take a day off from being on the go with sightseeing and relax by the pool or beach.
41. If you have it, take advantage of hotel amenities like fitness centers and spas.
42. Enjoy the journey and have fun!

Up next: Sometimes it’s not possible to totally log off while you’re traveling, so here’s a blog with workcation tips if you’re running a biz while traveling!

What will you takeaway from this self-care list for your next vacation?

Suddenly, I was out of the familiar comfort of my closet-sized Alphabet City apartment and discovering a totally new lifestyle in a town that had just one (!) traffic light. 

After graduating from college in the middle of a global pandemic, I basically had two choices: 

1. Start looking for an entry-level job in Corporate America with ~0.05% odds of success. 
2. Go back to school. 

Neither of these options really spoke to me. 

I knew there was something out there that would allow me to use my writing skills (I was an English major), live a fulfilling life that didn’t involve a cubicle, and have a flexible lifestyle where I could prioritize my wellness. 

I started digging deeper and discovered a path that seemed so perfect I was mad at myself for not thinking about it before – becoming a remote digital entrepreneuer! 

Working as a Digital Entrepreneur in Copywriting

Using my research and writing skills every day? Check. Working remotely with clients all over the world? Check. Having a lifestyle that aligns with my values? Also check!

Fast-forward to two years later, I now run Deeper than Copy, a copywriting studio for creative entrepreneurs and small businesses. And I get to do it from a place that is everything I’ve ever wanted my home base to be — and more. 

Of course, it’s not all tropical fruits and sunshine. I had to learn lessons along the way that forever changed the way I think about life, running a digital business, and all the things in between. 

Lesson #1: Western perception of time is skewed

I learned this one the hard way. 

After living in NYC for almost five years, I had this subconscious expectation of everything being fast, almost instant. 

Ordering a coffee? I have to get it in under a minute. Sending some paperwork to the US? It has to arrive the next business day. Going to a party? I need to get there five minutes early. 

If you’ve ever been to the Dominican Republic, you know that some of the most used words here are “tranquilo” (calm, chill) and “mañana,” (tomorrow), so it’s no wonder that things often don’t happen on time…just because! 

At first, I’d get super frustrated when a simple task like getting someone to come check out what’s wrong with my WiFi connection would take literal days. 

Over time, I’ve learned to embrace it. Now it’s one of my absolute favorite things about living here. 

I expect my life to move at a slower pace and it’s been a game changer for my mental and physical health! 

I love that people are not just going to choose work over life to get something done fast when it can get done tomorrow and literally nothing bad will happen. The world will still be there. 

Or that I don’t have to stress about being an hour late to a social thing because I got caught up in my novel. #IntrovertProblems

People just show up on their own time and have fun.

There is a joy in things taking their time.

My day-to-day is much more intentional now. And the minor inconveniences? I just plan around them!

Lesson #2: Healthy living can be simple

This one may be a little controversial and different people have different experiences, so this is simply my story! 

When I was living in NYC, I was practically on a vegan diet and regularly bought substitutes, such as plant-based meats and cheeses. 

During my first months in the DR, I spent a ton of time trying to maintain my eating habits, driving to the next town over with a bigger supermarket to stock up on imported foods I was used to.

Over time, I realized that I was doing it backwards. 

Instead of buying expensive + imported plant-based alternatives, I started eating local and supporting small businesses over big foreign corporations. 

Instead of plant-based burgers, I now buy meat and eggs from a small local farm. Fish from local fishermen. Fruits and veggies from street vendors. 

I’m not a nutritionist, but for me this way of eating has proved to be much more natural, simple, and supportive of my health AND local communities! 

Lesson #3: You need much less than you think

I’m a true Taurus and love my stuff. Give me all the candles, soft blankets, and cozy loungewear. 

But living in the DR these last two years showed me that I actually need fewer things than I thought I did to be happy. 

I’m renting an apartment and it’s far from the perfect, neutral aesthetic houses I see on Instagram. But it’s just a couple of minutes away from the beach and has everything I need (even though I do run out of counter space sometimes!). 

I started valuing human connections over stuff. Experiences. Memories. Small moments. 

I’m pretty minimalist with my possessions now, which has been great both for my mental health and my bank account.

It’s interesting to think how many things that I thought of as absolute must-haves are actually not necessities at all. They just have clever marketing!

My day as a digital entrepreneur in the Dominican Republic

I typically wake up around 6:30-7AM and go for a beach walk with my dog Luna. 

Cabarete is famous for its kitesurfing scene and one of the reasons for that are the consistent, year-round wind conditions. Mornings are usually the only time when it’s not windy, so it’s nice to get a walk in before the wind picks up!

After my walk, I refuel with a big breakfast and go through my morning routine. It changes depending on my mood, but it’s usually either reading, journaling, or doing light yoga.

Mornings are the most productive and creative time for my brain, so I jump into client work and focus for a few hours on writing copy or doing brand messaging research. 

Then I make a quick lunch, tie up any loose ends with client work, and spend the afternoon on business tasks, marketing, client communication, lead generation, and anything else on my list for that day. 

Sometimes I work from a coffee shop in town. In this case, I always stop by a cute Belgian bakery on the way back to pick up a pastry…or a couple!

I usually wrap up work around 5 PM, take my dog for another walk (yup, my life DOES revolve around her), and spend the rest of my evening relaxing or doing something creative. 

It’s a slow and simple life. I seriously love it!

Should you become a digital entrepreneur?

Running a digital copywriting studio is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. 

I get to dig into emotions and human psychology and meet people from all over the world. I’ve had clients from the U.S., Canada, Australia, the Netherlands — you name it!

I also write for a living, something everyone and their mother told me was NOT possible when I decided to get a degree in English.

However, being a global entrepreneur comes with its own set of challenges, such as finding clients, legal business setups, bank accounts, and more. It can certainly be tough, but there are amazing global business solutions out there that make it 100% possible. 

The bottom line is: you can figure it all out. 

You just have to take the first, imperfect, messy first step. 

If you have any questions about starting your own digital business, feel skeptical about the whole thing, or want to chat about living in the Dominican Republic, simply send me a message on Instagram and I’d be super happy to share more about my experience!

Your turn – Would you become a digital entrepreneur in Dominican Republic? Or where would you want to work remotely?

Read next: Becoming A Digital Nomad in Italy

If not, we’re here to inspire you to take a trip with one sole purpose: to play!

We recently recorded a Playground to Purpose episode all about planning a playcation, so you can add more intentional fun into your life.

Listen here:

︎ Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

What is a playcation versus a vacation?

Sometimes we’re in need of a trip that’s for relaxation, and sometimes we’re in need of letting loose and having some fun.

We’re calling these fun vacations, “playcations.” It’s a vacation designed for maximum fun.

You can design this trip around doing a lot of fun little activities, or around one main play bucket list activity you’ve always wanted to do like, sky diving or river rafting!

There are no rules to a playcation, but we figured we’d share some tips to make planning a group trip more enjoyable!

So, let’s get into how to plan one!

1. Figure out your playcation location

Nina’s go-to playcation trip is Disneyland and Disney World, so we dive deep into that in our episode – so listen in, if you want all the tips related to what rides are most worth it, what the must-do activities are, little hacks you should know beforehand, etc.

But, we know Disney is expensive, and it’s not everyone’s idea of a good time. So, here are some other options that might be more your style!

Other trip ideas besides Disney:

• A beach trip with fun water activities
• An adventure trip with ziplining
• A winter trip with skiing, dogsledding, or maybe even doing the Polar Bear Plunge
• A backpacking trip
• A camping (or glamping) trip
• A fun festival

2. Pay attention to the group dynamics

Who’s on the invite list? Be cautious about the energy of the group, and how everyone will be together.

Sometimes different friend groups don’t mesh! Pull together a group that will be a good time.

3. Pick your date, well in advance

We’re all for some spontaneous fun, so you’re welcome to plan your playcation on a whim. 

But there are definitely perks to planning well in advance. Having a countdown and something to look forward to can be a big part of the fun! Nina loved texting the group chat saying, “Only two more days!”

Plus, having to navigate everyone’s schedules in adulthood can be tricky.

4. Determine the length of time that works for you and the group

When you’re going on a trip packed with activity, it’s key to build in a day for relaxation at the end.

Nina recommends doing a trip with a max of 4 days if it’s heavy on the play – and allow yourself to have a day back home before getting back into work if you can!

If taking time off is hard for you or if you’re on a tight budget, try doing a staycation or a short weekend trip! Any amount of time you can dedicate to intentionally playing is great.

5. Create an itinerary

Nina opted to just be the go-to person who people knew to go to for the schedule and plans – and not create an actual itinerary.

But you can totally make an itinerary for the group, so everyone knows what’s going on ahead of time. Especially if you don’t want to be asked a thousand times about what’s going on next.

Be sure to have one designated planner.

6. Structure the day with flexibility

Not everyone is going to want to do the same things, so make sure your schedule allows for the space for people to do their own thing too.

Establish the essential group hangs like dinner reservations, where everyone needs to attend, and leave some of the other activities optional! 

It makes everyone happier if they feel the freedom to do their own thing, go at their own pace and take breaks. You’ll likely have some introverts and extroverts, and just different interests. So, be okay with allowing people to do their own thing.

Plus, don’t plan too much for the day – you don’t want to overwhelm yourself and the group!

7. Ask for everyone’s top priorities

Be inclusive when it comes to planning. What do the other people in the group care about most on this trip?

Ask around for the top picks of the group, so that you can accommodate everyone’s top priorities.

You don’t want this trip to just be about your idea of a fun time – try to make it enjoyable and exciting for everyone!

8. Know that things will not go according to plan, and that’s okay!

As much as we like to plan ahead so that we can control our fun, there will always be things that don’t go our way.

The best way to keep your playcation fun? Decide that it will be.

“What’s your intention for this vacation? And so even if it’s not a, playcation just like, like, how do you want to feel on your vacation?

Like, how do I want to feel today? And that’s what I did for like this playcation of like, what, what vibe am I trying to create? Like, how do I want to interact with everybody? And I don’t know, it just, just made it so great…

And I remember too, like telling myself, “Hey, when things don’t go as planned, like it’s okay. Like Everything happens like, as it should be, like, you’re going to be fine.”

9. Take it to the next level and make it an annual trip

Make it something you get to look forward to as a friend group every single year!

10. Coordinate outfits

If your group is the type to have fun with this, you can also plan to wear coordinating outfits for fun group pictures.

What you wear has an effect on how you feel, and how other people feel – which we talk about in this episode on dopamine dressing, so if you want to have a fun vacation, don’t forget to dress in a way that makes you feel playful too!

It’s time to set that date! Make your playcation happen! And come tell us about it on IG at @playgroundtopurpose.

Here is our list of 10 stocking stuffers that are perfect gifts to give them for their next trip. Or, if you’re looking for travel-inspired gifts to give yourself for the holidays, we won’t stop you.

Passport and COVID-19 Vaccine Card Holder Combo

This passport and vaccine card holder combo is an absolute necessity for every traveler these days! 

Not only are airports requiring proof of vaccination, but so are more restaurants, outdoor events, and theatres worldwide.

This combo holder comes in two beautiful natural-toned colors and can be easily placed in your friend’s purse or bag.

Pink & Yellow Marble Notebook

With 60 unlined pages, your wanderlust friends will just love the freedom of doodling, jotting down their ideas, or journaling their adventures while on the road.

This pink & yellow marble notebook is just one of many designs to choose from.

Lifestraw

This is another necessity for every traveler, especially those who love to explore the outdoors for long periods. 

Have your friend never worry about running out of water while hiking! They can just drink right out of the closest body of water without having to worry about contamination.

Even if your friend is not one to be outdoors for long – help save the planet by opting for a LifeStraw instead of a water bottle for clean water.

World Map Necklace

My friend gifted me this world map necklace a couple of years ago, and I simply adore it. 

While I’m in a new country, especially alone, it reminds me of her and how I’m never too far away from my friends back home. 

When I’m wearing the necklace back home, it’s a subtle reminder to keep traveling and start planning my next international trip.

Also – it goes perfectly with any outfit!

Hand Sanitizer Keychain Holder

I just love these minimalist-looking hand sanitizer holders.

They are easy to clip onto anything and hard to lose as the person’s initials can be ingrained into the keychain holder.

Travel Socks + Mask Duo

This sophisticated duo of travel socks and masks is absolutely perfect for a long day in the air.

Planes can get pretty cold, so having a comfy pair of socks is always appreciated. 

Plus, the matching mask is triple-layered and adjustable, so it’ll be protective and super comfortable for a long day of travel.

Personalized Luggage Tags

Those paper luggage tags you find at the front desk of every airport aren’t going to cut it! It’s too easy to have those tags rip apart. 

Instead, your friend can have something more sturdy and easy to spot with this cute vegan leather personalized luggage tag.

Plus, the name is only on the front of the tag, so the contact details are tucked away (for more security)!

Mini Backpack Ornament 

This mini backpack ornament is too cute! Start or add to their collection of ornaments that bring out their travel spirit.

Girl Hiking Stickers

Does your friend love to decorate their water bottle, laptop, or even car with stickers? Add to their collection with these hand-drawn travel stickers. I especially love the colors and appreciate the diversity of the hikers. I also think these stickers from Leave The Map, MillStreetCo, and SavannahandJamesCo are super unique and fun!

Scrunch Bandana Band

Whether your friend is lounging around in a plane, exploring the city of Athens, or attempting to hike something as extraordinary as Mount Killamanjaro – these bandanas are a must-have.

Your friend can use it as a scarf to keep warm or as a decorative headband to keep the hair out of their face.

What are your favorite travel stocking stuffer ideas from the list? Share in the comments!

After graduating college, I was sitting in my gray cubicle in Corporate America and thought – “This is it? I climb the corporate ladder now? No way.”

I quickly decided that wasn’t going to be my life and quickly started making moves to get out. I asked myself what was it that I always wanted to do? What was my dream? It didn’t take long to get to my answer – travel, of course! 

Becoming an au pair launched my digital nomad journey

A few months after realizing my dream of traveling, I boarded a plane to live with a family and be an au pair in beautiful Italy.

I lived there for a little over a year, and it was one of the most amazing times in my life. I fell in love with the pace of life, the scenic streets, the delicious foods, and the Italian culture.

Back to corporate America and my gray cubicle 

But then… I was back. I was back in America applying for jobs. Jobs where I’d most likely be sitting in yet another gray cubicle, doing the same thing day-in and day-out. I hadn’t even gotten a job yet, and I was already bored out of my mind. 

I found myself hopelessly applying for positions I didn’t want and dreaming of starting a job for the sole purpose of making money and earning enough PTO to go travel again. 

I honestly didn’t see a way out and figured that was going to be my life. I planned to find a great company with fantastic employee benefits. 

But Italy still had my heart, and all I could think about was living there again.

A few months into job searching, my best friend told me about the idea of becoming a virtual assistant. I’ll be honest – I wasn’t sold right away. I was very hesitant about the virtual work world. Wondering – “Is this legit?” Will I make enough money to sustain myself?” “What happens if I can’t find clients?” “Can I really travel and work at the same time?” 

But then I realized becoming a digital nomad checked all the boxes.

How I decided to become a virtual assistant

Work I love? Check. Ability to have time off that I wanted? Check. Flexibility around my day-to-day schedule. Check. The ability to do it anywhere in the world? Double-check. 

It turned out that the possibilities of what could be outweighed the what-ifs. 

Eventually, I pulled the trigger and took the course. That’s when everything changed for me. 

I finished the three-month course in two months and even got my first client before I fully completed the course. A month after that, I booked another client and saw the actuality of working remotely. Over those first few months, I continued to work my full-time job and do my virtual work after work and on weekends so that I could test out to see if it was actually going to work. 

It took me a while to find my niche, but six months into virtual work, I found out about online business management, and it turns out – I’m really good at it! Now, I am a full-time Online Business Manager (OBM), and I love it! 

The ultimate dream life made reality 

Along the way, my entire goal and interest in doing this line of work was two things –

1. To have flexibility in my schedule, and
2. To be able to travel! 

A little world-wide-pandemic stopped the second goal from happening as soon as I would have liked it to, but it allowed me to focus on my business and get to a place that I felt comfortable in before jet-setting across the world.

That entire year of 2020, my best friend and I worked hard at growing our virtual businesses and dreamed every single day of living abroad in Italy together. (She is actually the one who showed me the course we ended up taking and is a digital nomad as well.) 

Finally, a full year after completing my course, I was boarding a plane on my way to Italy to meet up with my friend so that we could put into action the whole idea of nomadic living. 

Where I’m at now in my digital nomad journey

We have officially been living in Italy for over two months now, and it is everything we dreamed it would be. 

I typically start my morning by working for a few hours in a cafe sipping on a cappuccino, and eating a brioche. Then, I go home for lunch and work until about 3:00. After that, my friend and I usually relax, then get ready and get a spritz in town. 

I’m so content. I’m getting to do work I love in a city I love, at a pace I love.

I have the flexibility and capability in my work to take a Friday off and spend it at a beach club in Lago di Garda or take a gelato-making course in Verona on a Saturday or take a long weekend to spend an extra day hiking in the Dolomites.

All those long nights, scary leaps of faith, and moments of doubt have led to this incredible experience, and I wouldn’t take them back for anything.

There are small things to adjust to when living abroad. You don’t have those homely comforts, the community is something you have to make a considerable effort for, and time zones can be tricky. Still, everything is manageable with a good attitude. And, hey! I am living in Italy, after all. There’s not too much to complain about. 

How and why you should become a digital nomad too

I have had SO. MANY. PEOPLE. reach out to me and say things like – “Oh, you’re so lucky.” “I wish I could do something like that.” “How do I do what you’re doing?”

The simple answer – just go for it! 

If not now – when?!

If you’ve ever doubted that living abroad is something you could do or questioned the validity of actually making something like that happen – I’m here to tell you that you absolutely can make it happen! There are SO many ways to successfully live your dream (and make money while doing it)! You just have to start. 

I’m so passionate about this and about helping people make their dreams become a reality because I genuinely believe we only have this one life! You can’t spend it in drudgery only to get to the end wishing you had done it all differently.  

If you have any concerns, questions, or are skeptical about it all like I was – feel free to send me a message and pick my brain. I’d love to help you make the decision that’s right for you so that you can start living your dream as soon as possible.

There’s also been a huge shift over the past ten years. Living in your van nowadays conjures up aesthetic visions of Sprinter vans on seaside cliffs, with stylish wooden interiors and hanging pothos plants. And I knew that’s definitely not the vision my grandmother saw when she thought of me living out of a van.

Our social media-minded culture has turned van life into a powerful movement. It’s now an attractive alternative to rigid 9-5 jobs and stressful mortgage payments. But it’s a big change. Previously simple tasks suddenly take quite a bit of work. And you undoubtedly become much more up close and personal with your life – in more ways than one. 

If your curiosity is piqued by the van life aesthetic, I’m so happy that you’re drawn to a lifestyle that makes you happy. If it serves you, here are a few things to expect when starting van life. 

Initial investment – Time or $$$  

My van looks nothing like anything you’ll see on the trending #vanlife page. We chopped the roof off of our ‘97 Dodge Ram and built our own extended roof out of plywood and bolts. She’s charismatic, but nothing like the tidy Sprinter vans that dominate the van life world.

That’s because our goal was to be as cost-effective with our build as possible. And finding a good quality Sprinter van that hasn’t already been run into the dirt is not cost-effective. If you’re interested in building out a van, you first need to decide which resource you’re willing to trade: time or money. 

If you have the money to spare, you could get a van that’s completely built out for you already. Boom. Done. But it’ll run you about $100k. If you’re like us and you have some time to spare but not the dough, you’ll probably want to do your own build.

The great thing about building your own van is you can make it specific to your comfort levels. You don’t have to get fancy here if you don’t want to. You just have to ask yourself what is indispensable to you, your lifestyle, and your comfort. 

We made our van pretty comfortable, with a full-sized bed, running water, electricity, a fridge, a dining table, and a skylight. All together, we probably paid $10,000 for our build (van included.)

And if you have no idea how to build out a van, there are tons of resources out there for you to use. We documented our entire build series on Youtube and connected with other builders through the platform.

Life moves much slower

When living in a van, multi-tasking becomes fairly nonexistent. Gone are the days when you could brew your coffee and have your laundry running during your Zoom meeting where you’re actually just idly scrolling on your phone. 

In this sense, van life is amazing because it forces you to become more present with your life. If you want to do your laundry, then you’re sitting in the laundromat waiting for an empty dryer. If you want homemade coffee, then you’re pouring your own hot water into your french press because your battery inverters don’t have the power to run a standard coffee machine. And good luck finding a non-public space with reliable enough WiFi for your meetings. 

If those last few paragraphs were enough to incite some anxiety in you, you might want to question if this is something you truly want. I’m not trying to scare you out of nomadic living because there is so much that’s great about it. If you’re not reliant on a reliable internet connection for your work and you don’t mind driving around for half an hour to find a clean water source, then that’s great.

But as a recovering, obsessive do-er myself, I can attest to you finding massive space for surrender and growth through van life.

Expect massive personal growth

Odds are, you’ll be spending a lot of time alone (or alone with your significant other) if you’re living out of your van. In a space removed from so many of our modern conveniences, you’ll run into a lot of triggers and conditioning.

For me, boredom was a huge catalyst. We started our van journey in the wintertime when the sun was setting at 5:00 pm, and it was too cold to hang out outside. Where others would cozily turn to Netflix and DoorDash for a catered night in, we had no cell service and only the food we had brought with us into the woods. 

I never realized how dependent I was on my devices until I didn’t have use of them anymore. The internet gives me the capabilities to work from anywhere in the world. But it’s also been a major source of anxiety, comparison, and numbing. Without my devices and extra time on the internet, I spent much more quiet and alone time with myself. 

It was hard at first, but it was from this space that I suddenly realized what I truly wanted to create with my life. Right then, I decided to create my community group, The Mystic Members Club, and connect free-spirited women from all over the world over modern spirituality. Even now, though we’re not living in the van full-time anymore, I’m so grateful for the mental and spiritual shifts it provided me.

I can’t promise that van life will be easy-going and glamorous, but I can promise that it will be truly transformational and enlightening for you.

But how do you get better when you don’t have the time or means to travel for an extended period of time? 

I faced this issue last year, when I decided I wanted to spice up my Spanish before a ten-day solo trip to Madrid and Bilbao, Spain.

I had decent basics, but I wanted to be able to have everyday interactions without having to speak a single word of English.

So, I saved 30 minutes per day to work on grammar and conjugation during my lunch break, but I needed to find ways to really practice, by speaking and listening to the language in a similar way to what I would be doing during my trip.

Fortunately, there are a few actions anyone can take to incorporate more of the language they are trying to master into their daily life. 

Here are the tips I used to recreate an immersion at home, plus ideas to practice and do exercises for people who already have a basic level of understanding and speaking and want to improve their language skills at home. 

1. Listening and watching content only in your desired language

The first step to mimic an immersion is to consume content in that language every day, just like you would be if you were in another country. How about challenging yourself to start a new series in German? You can also find a new podcast to listen to while commuting to work.

Don’t worry about understanding everything. The point is to get used to hearing the language and recognize some words and structures. Eventually, your comprehension will get better.

2. Reading different types of texts

For a lot of people, reading comprehension is easier than oral comprehension. Try and find resources in your desired language: news, recipes, specific articles.

I used to read lifestyle content in Spanish or the news in Portuguese to help me with comprehension. Spending time deciphering a text is a lot easier if you enjoy the theme. For example, you could read Harry Potter related content in Arabic or a tutorial on weaving in Japanese if it can motivate you to read more.

3. Changing language on your devices

If you feel confident enough about your ability to switch back to your native language if needed, change the language settings on your computer or smartphone. This would be a good way to learn technical and specialized words that you would not necessarily find in books but would be useful in a day-to-day conversation.

I have had my GPS set on Portuguese for a long time now. After a few weeks, I had learned all the vocabulary necessary to understand an itinerary or give directions.

4. Writing your grocery list in that language

Every time you have to write down something, do it in your desired language instead of your mother tongue. That way, you will enrich your vocabulary with common words that you would have to use on a daily basis if you lived in another country. 

Writing your grocery list, making web searches, taking notes and writing down ideas… these are all opportunities to exercise your language skills.

5. Talking to yourself

Narrating your life out loud could help you pinpoint words you don’t know and practice pronunciation. When following a recipe, explain to yourself what you have to do in the language you are learning. 

If you don’t feel comfortable speaking audibly, try thinking in the other language. For example, next time you start to plan your week in your head, make a conscious effort to do so in Mandarin Chinese.

6. Using songs at your advantage

Singing along to your favorite songs in a different language can be an opportunity to practice pronunciation with a direct example, as well as learning new words and expressions. It is also a fun way to train and memorize vocabulary.

Moreover, culture and language are closely connected: learning a language will not be complete without learning about the culture, and music is part of it!

7. Writing down words you don’t understand

I would recommend taking notes in a specific notebook (or create notes in your smartphone) and writing down all the words that you don’t understand or don’t know how to say. That way, you can look them up later and build a custom vocabulary list that will be useful to you. Maybe try and form thematic lists, which will help you review the words more easily and learn more effectively.

8. Finding a language buddy

Is there a friend you can text in Romanian with? Perhaps you know people that are multilingual or have a really good level in a particular language. Chances are they will be happy to text or even speak in another language with you. Just ask.

Nevertheless, you don’t have to exchange with someone that already masters your desired language, sharing your experience and progress with someone trying to improve the same language that you do could help too, and make you feel more at ease if you are afraid to talk to a fluent speaker. 

At the start, you may feel like you are struggling to understand or communicate, but don’t give up! I remember that when I first started watching movies in Spanish, I would only understand part of the sentences, but now I don’t need subtitles anymore.

Keep in mind that learning a new language requires time and dedication. The best way to improve your skills is to work at it regularly, even if you can only free half an hour a day available in your schedule. Little by little, you will see your vocabulary expand, your pronunciation improve and you will be closer and closer to mastering a new language. 

I gave up my family, my job, and my cozy life in Canada and completely changed everything by moving across the world to an unknown land where I knew I would be an outsider. I am always someone who does crazy things for love, and this was on the furthest side of my craziness.

Fast forward a few years and everything was kind-of perfect; I finally stopped feeling like an outsider. After three years of working a job that wasn’t for me, I managed to land my dream job as a global event planner, where I got to travel the world for work, made a home in a beautiful flat with him, lived in a gorgeous European city and beautiful neighborhood, became part of his family, spoke German and found some amazing friends through attending meet-ups and putting myself out there.

I felt so lucky to have my loving German ‘prince’ and the life we created together. At the time, he was my biggest supporter and I knew he cared for me so much. 

But, around this time last year, over a meal together, the ground was ripped from under me.

As my boyfriend took a bite into his evening ‘German’ bread, he looked up at me with guilty eyes and said, “I just don’t know if I love you anymore.”  From that point on the only thing I remember is smashing a picture frame with a picture of us on the floor, calling my mother, taking a taxi to the airport and checking into the airport hotel. I distraughtly looked online for a flight home, calling all my friends for support, but everyone was out of town.

The following morning, I caught the next flight home to Canada. On his credit card.

While I was in Canada by the comfort of my family, I felt lost, I looked in the mirror to see a girl with sad eyes, full of anxiety.  I wondered what the ‘eff’ I should do with my life. All of a sudden, I had to choose if I wanted to be alone in a country I never wanted to be alone in.  I felt thrown away, like the trash. I knew the challenges that were going to come, to set myself up in Germany without him or his family. 

I didn’t hear much from him again and later I found out within weeks he had a new girlfriend & three months later, he even moved her into the flat we shared, the last place I thought was home in such a foreign land. Let’s just say I was devastated and did everything I could to fight off a lingering depression. 

Everything that was normal to me, changed. Someone who I thought was my biggest supporter, decided to exit my life without warning and took the life I thought I loved with it.⁣

But I came back to Germany, with vengeance. That was the best decision I’ve ever made. 

And then my life started to change for the better… and the void of the heartbreak slowly diminished.

I become more independent than I ever have been in my life.

I never had the opportunity to live alone. The closest I’d come was University dorms. I went from living with my mom to moving across the world and living with him. I always had someone taking care of me. I never had to take care of only myself.

When I got the keys to my own flat in Germany and went to the grocery store, knowing I had only to cook for one, it was a weird feeling. I remember crying in the grocery store because I didn’t even know what a single person should eat and I didn’t want to sleep alone every night. I felt so alone at that moment knowing I no longer had the company I was so used to having in my life, in a country that didn’t feel like home without him… But I knew it could only go up from there.

Now I am thrilled that I can cook any meal I want, and not have to cater to someone else’s needs. I feel liberated from living with someone who would judge my sleeping habits.

I have my own beautiful flat in an even-better neighborhood, I have the best of friends and I even landed a promotion at work. I can afford my life without a second income to support it. I was able to find a home within myself. I now feel happier than ever, my soul feels on fire from new things in my life and everything completely turned around, after a time It had been flipped upside down.

I walk the streets confidently like a local. If someone asks me why I am here, I tell them, “Well I came for a man, but now I’m here for me.”

I realized I wasn’t loving myself enough.

I always thought I loved myself, but when I look back, I see that I didn’t. I thought loving myself was cooking healthy, going to the gym three times a week, spending time ‘relaxing’ watching endless Netflix and scrolling on my phone (with my ex by my side).

I was comfortable with myself but that didn’t provide me with space to grow.

This breaks up and the shift of living alone in Germany pushed me to realize how much I needed to love myself more. I realized I was living an uninspired life of a schedule that lacked creativity or passion. I was missing the connection, and I saw that everything in my relationship before was very surface level.

I became a person who took on too many traits of my partner, which were never me. I took the void from the relationship I felt and filled it with my passions that I always had too much anxiety to explore in Germany. I finally attended the dance class I was always too nervous to go to. I even got a membership at a yoga studio.

I took time to improve friendships and made some friends into better ones; I read empowering books, invested in therapy, and took care of my body inside & out, and focused on my career.

I did my best to keep my heart open. I felt empowered by my choice to overcome this challenge of living abroad, not for anyone, but myself. This gave me new confidence, that I can do anything that I want. I was going to make my life better here than it was before. I became my biggest supporter and made myself my number one priority.

My friends became my family here, and my passions and self-improvement became my new love.

I learned how much communication matters in relationships and friendships.

If I had seen the signs before and wasn’t wearing my rose-colored glasses in the relationship, it wouldn’t have ended that way. There were many times in the relationship, I saw red flags, like when I asked if he would move back to Canada with me and he said no, many times.

I thought this was strange, that I would change my life for someone, but they wouldn’t do the same in return. However, with the fear of leaving him and being alone, I just ignored this and just hoped one day he would change his mind. I was too afraid to have difficult conversations. Maybe if I had, I would have realized his intentions weren’t as pure as I thought, his love was only conditional, that maybe he just wanted me to fit into his life in Germany, and not vice versa.

Now with the fear of wasting my time with relationships or friendships, I am not afraid of communicating my wants and desires. I invest so much of my time into reading books and listening to podcasts about the relationship and effective communication. This is something that I never thought I should take the time to do before because I thought everything was just fine – when it’s it wasn’t. 

I found my passion for empowering international women abroad.

Surprisingly, a lot of women I meet in Germany have moved here for love. I am not saying it is a bad thing, but if I had not built the life I had before the breakup, I would have been in a much more devastating position.

Fortunately, I only lost him and his circle, but still had my career and my friends here. Some women only have their partner abroad and do not take the time for building a career or a social life apart from their partner.

I wanted to inspire other women to live their best lives abroad, so I started a meet-up group on Facebook for international women who are ambitious in creating their best lives abroad in Germany.

Now this group has 200 members and we’ve had five meetups where we share stories of our victories, pain-points, and discoveries. It’s an amazing group of women, and without my break up, I would have never thought have created this strong community. Soon, I hope to even make it into a business offering workshops and events.

It has become a passion I didn’t even know existed, and I am very fulfilled from it in more ways than I was from my previous relationship.

I found new best friends and was able to connect with others through our shared experiences.

I joined an online community (Mend) with other people going through heart-breaks and these people became a huge support system. I found that many people had the same thing happen to them and that in fact, I wasn’t alone in my journey alone in a foreign country. 

I connected with them on a different level than any of my other friends, and through our shared experience we were able to overcome our painful heartbreaks together. I loved seeing their growth, and know that I contributed to it like they contributed to mine. We all realized that the break-ups abroad enriched our lives, the change was for the better and we wouldn’t exchange our friendships for anything else. 

From these five things, the void from the relationship and my lonesome feeling eventually diminished and is now filled with an authentic life that I never thought I was brave enough to achieve in a country that isn’t home, by myself.

And now, a year later (which feels like a milestone), I look at everything I’ve built and achieved, and I know the change was for the better.

Sometimes people need to leave your life, to make space for better things.

I am still healing every day from the trauma, but I know that a part of healing is sharing your story, and I hope even if you just moved cities and broke up, that you know that it doesn’t mean your only option is to go home. Perhaps you coming there for your relationship was only the start of something bigger. 

The change might be scary, but know that you just need to keep pushing. Good things will eventually come around. You are not alone in this. ⁣

“It’s not how you fall, it’s how you land.”

“True transformation doesn’t take place in spas.”

Countless motivational speakers will tell you that serving others is a fundamental step toward happiness. As much as I’ve invested in my personal development through self-help books, workshops, lectures, online courses and even yoga trainings, seva (the Sanskrit word for service) is something I always shied away from.

Perhaps I believed I didn’t have anything to offer. How could I serve others before I “healed” myself? What if my heart isn’t really as big as I believe it is? What if this doesn’t bring me happiness, as prescribed, and there’s nothing left to try?

But when my yoga instructor announced a Karma Retreat she was leading that combined yoga, sustainability, working with children and traveling to another country—so many things I was passionate about—I couldn’t say no. Well, actually, I could and did, due to financial constraints. However, when she announced a scholarship opportunity, my mind was made up in a heartbeat.

The decision to go was easy, but preparing for such an adventure was nerve-wracking, to say the least. Although I knew my teacher and at least one other person on the trip, and even though I’d just returned from a heart-opening experience in Costa Rica with the same teacher and friend, I’d be flying alone to another country and had no idea what to expect.

My parents voiced their concerns over my safety and questioned how responsible I was being. They hadn’t agreed on anything since their divorce, 25 years prior, but they formed an unlikely alliance on my upcoming itinerary. I didn’t need their permission or approval—I had just celebrated my 31st birthday—but their shared strong opinions (and reconciliation) did make me question the journey I was about to embark upon.

I knew in my heart that my soul needed to go, but that quiet voice inside of me was drowned out by their loud judgments.

New fears arose, like: Should I get vaccinated? How safe is it, really, to travel there? Can I trust the people I’m traveling with, or is this opportunity too good to be true? Am I being naive in accepting this scholarship?

Less than 48 hours before boarding my flight, I couldn’t sleep. I was scouring the internet for proof it’s safe for women to travel to Central America alone—any piece of evidence to prove my parents wrong. I found enough personal accounts in the Girls Love Travel Facebook group, an outlet for close to 750K members to share their tips and inquiries about their shared wanderlust, to finally get some sleep. Still, to be extra cautious, I charged $400 to my credit card to switch my flight and arrive earlier in the day on my friend’s flight (rather than alone at night), defeating the purpose of the scholarship I was awarded to help finance the trip.

By the time I arrived in Guatemala, I felt excited yet defeated. It was hard to remember why I was there. The thought of connecting with the group of big-hearted people that also answered the call to serve, not to mention offering something to anyone after all the time I spent doubting myself, felt so heavy. In the beginning of the week, I mostly kept to myself. I’d bring my journal with me on the bus, so I might hide behind this idea of me as a writer rather than actually putting myself out there.

We traveled with Hug It Forward, a nonprofit organization with a mission to create educational opportunities for children in vulnerable communities, while removing plastic trash from their environment.

Guatemala doesn’t have the luxury of a regulated recycling program or technology—not like in California, where recycling and composting stations are everywhere, and the garbage dump conveniently sorts your trash. Before we arrived, residents collected thousands of plastic bottles and stuffed them with inorganic trash, which would serve as the foundation for the classroom walls. This qualified them for a new bottle school and demonstrated their commitment to the project. They did this for almost a year! And their hard work didn’t stop there. They constructed their classrooms—out of plastic bottles!—right alongside us.

Each day, my yoga teacher, fellow karma yogis and I piled onto a bus, which wound up a steep mountain on a one-lane, dirt road—the only way to access Patchalî, the village we were assisting.

On our daily visits, we’d see villagers walking the miles-long, rocky path just to get into town. Few traveled by motorbike, which was considered a rare luxury. When we arrived, the entire school community greeted us with fireworks and a ceremony they had worked hard to prepare. The children took our hands as we exited the bus and escorted us to our seats to watch the performance. Students were dressed in beautiful, handmade Mayan attire, and each class prepared a traditional dance or skit.

At the end of each act, they offered us small trinkets, including candy, fruit they had grown, nuts they had harvested and small toys. Who were we to deserve this warm welcome? They didn’t know us, and yet their arms and hearts were stretched out wide without fear.

By day, we were building classroom walls to provide opportunities for Guatemalan children. By night, I was summoning courage to break down barriers I had built up around my heart. I worried that the little Spanish I retained after studying for three years in high school wouldn’t be enough to connect with the children I’d be working with.

We worked together stringing bottles onto chicken wire, at first in silence but as the week progressed the language barrier got thinner and thinner. Thank goddess for the phrase “Como se dici…” and clever idea to point to, well, anything. We laughed together. We walked hand in hand together, exploring the rural village.

From sunup to sundown, we worked and played together. We even sang together—and trust me when I say I do not sing. But by the end of the trip, when urged by the children to sing one of my favorite songs, I belted out country hit “Head Over Boots” solo in front of the entire assembled community. When two older men from the village courageously shared their personal stories of surviving the Civil War and immigration, translated by our charming tour guide–turned–beloved friend Andy, we cried together.

We learned that, while their crops were plentiful, they still had an uphill battle to provide for their families. Their cost of living is approximately $9 per day, yet the average worker’s salary is only $7 per day. To compensate, neighbors barter their goods, and still many children drop out as early as third grade to help support their families. That didn’t stop them from extending their precious resources to us. We may have been there giving our time, but they offered us everything they had.

This was truly a yoga retreat unlike any other I’ve ever experienced. Sure, we got our daily dose of asana in our morning practice—and while teaching the hard-working community members different poses on our lunch breaks. But the true transformation came in the unexpected moments. Just being a witness to their generosity of spirit changed me, opened my heart in ways I didn’t think were possible and taught me what true abundance means.

The strangers I arrived with became lifelong friends. The people I served ended up giving me more than they may ever realize. Physical walls went up, while emotional walls came down. The lines between “us” and “them” dissolved, and all that was left was love. Yoga, after all, literally means “to yoke,” or unite.

Interested in this particular Karma Yoga Retreat? The next Hug It Forward adventure is in August. 

In the end, though, I’ve found that all of these things that don’t necessarily go according to plan make my adventures better, more exciting, and ultimately more meaningful. Every time I reflect back on a travel experience I’ve had, I realize something new that I learned and usually wish that I had taken the time and the effort to be more in the moment when it was happening.

It’s an odd form of nostalgia, acknowledging that I truly enjoyed the experience while also wishing I had the clear eyes and head to foresee exactly what it would mean to me later. As a result, I’m working on being a more mindful traveler so I can better remember and enjoy my adventures.

So, I wanted to share with you some things I’ve come up with in order to become a more mindful traveler:

Don’t use data on your cell phone

This mostly applies to travel outside your home country. First of all, it’s cheaper this way. Keeping your phone on airplane mode will disable your cellular data so you won’t rack up crazy international fees. I must admit, the money was my main motivator when I first decided not to spring for an international data plan. I was trying to save, so I figured I would buy a little burner phone for calls and texts within the country, and keep my smartphone on airplane mode to use only when connected to WiFi.

This was my short-term plan when I moved abroad, for six months at most. Well… two years later and I still don’t think I’ll be buying a data plan anytime soon. Not only is it still cheaper this way (the Czech Republic has the highest data fees of any country in the EU), but I’ve come to appreciate the fact that it makes me a more mindful traveler.

I love having an excuse to be completely disconnected when I’m out and about. It means I’m forced to observe my surroundings, talk to strangers, ask for directions when I’m lost (which used to happen all the time) and be aware of everything that’s happening around me. It lets me take it all in without having even the temptation of scrolling through my phone. Normally, it stays in my bag and I don’t get it out at all because I’m aware that there’s literally no point.

Another bonus is that you’ll improve your social skills, your confidence, your sense of direction, and overall you’ll be more self-sufficient. My friends always ask me how I get around without data as a young woman who doesn’t speak the native language here and my answer is just that you get used to it.

I don’t feel unsafe and I rarely feel worried about things that having data on my phone could fix. If an emergency were ever to crop up, I know exactly where I can go to get free WiFi and I also have that little burner phone as a last resort. So really, it’s not as hard as you think!

Don’t wear headphones

Just don’t do it. Listening to music or a podcast or whatever else you fancy isolates you when you’re in public and just serves as another distraction or defense mechanism for you to take comfort in. Stop it!

If you want to be open to new experiences, you need to be aware and open to new people, as well. Wearing headphones while walking around or using public transportation makes you look much less approachable, so other lost English-speakers won’t feel comfortable asking you for help––and who knows, you may have just missed out on an incredible conversation or friendship.

Taking the headphones out will insert you into the present moment and again help you focus on what’s around you. Take in everything that’s happening, including the sounds of the new place you’ve traveled to––how the language sounds, the street performers playing their instruments, or the quiet of the streets as the city goes to sleep.

You can’t truly experience a new place if you’re just in your head all the time, so save the headphones for the plane.

Keep a travel journal

This sounds like an obvious one, but it’s an important one. It can simply be a notebook you carry around with you or something you write in at the end of the day to reflect and better remember your experience. Or, alternatively, you could buy a prompt journal or cards that present you challenges to complete in the new place.

Let your whereabouts inspire your creativity for a few minutes and just write or draw whatever you’re thinking. If you opt for travel cards, complete the activities given to you and write about it later.

When you travel, it is inevitable that you’ll think new thoughts and have new ideas, and those are an important part of your experience as well! These thoughts and ideas will change your perspective and help shape the person you are becoming, so it’s good to acknowledge them as they happen.

Don’t rush

No one likes a vacation where they’re constantly running around trying not to be late to the next event. Don’t try to fit too many things in your itinerary and make sure you give yourself some free time. If you are having to rush around to different tours and reservations all the time, all you’re going to do is stress yourself out by constantly thinking about the next thing you need to do or how to get to the next place you need to be.

Give yourself some room to breathe and fully experience each moment without jumping ahead to the next. Avoiding the hustle and bustle will also tire you out less, so you’ll be better energized for the activities you do choose to prioritize and you won’t need five shots of espresso to make it through the afternoon. I know you want to see everything you possibly can, but resist the temptation to completely pack your schedule.

Be flexible

Similar to tip #4, this one involves letting go of a little control when it comes to your schedule. If you’re one of those people who likes to have a plan, make sure you pencil in some free time. Give yourself some time to be spontaneous and take yourself to a pub or a coffee shop and sit at the bar to have a chat with the staff.

Be open to meeting new people at your hostel or hotel, and make sure the plans you’ve made for yourself aren’t set in stone. If you get along swimmingly with a new person, don’t be afraid to invite them to dinner or a drink, or be able to join them when they tell you about a free walking tour they want to go on.

Give yourself flexibility, so you have time to meet new people while still getting what you originally wanted to get out of the trip. You’ll make tons of new friends this way and usually the spontaneous memories are the best ones of all.

Don’t avoid the mundane things

Get out of the tourist areas if possible and try as much of the real local stuff as you can. The whole point of traveling is to get out of your comfort zone and learn something new. You can’t do those things if you’re sticking to the same chain restaurants and shops the whole time! Take part in a cultural event, try the local specialty, and throw all your preconceived notions to the wind.

The oldest pub in the center with “the best goulash in town!” that sells t-shirts outside might be tempting, but I can guarantee that you will not only find better (and cheaper) goulash at a family-owned restaurant 30 minutes out of the square, but you will also find a much more authentic experience there. Sure, you want to do and see all the amazing things that made your destination of choice famous in the first place, but make sure to get a feel for the local culture and how the people actually live. You’ll be shocked at both the similarities and the differences to your own hometown or culture, and these little things are the ones that you’ll remember most.

Be a local for the day. Shop in a grocery store, eat at a hole-in-the-wall pub or a street food stand, figure out the public transportation, and explore the residential areas. You’ll come out of it with some unique stories and a truly authentic experience, which is more than most people can say.

Pack light

This one is pretty self-explanatory. No one wants to struggle with their luggage by themselves on the public transport while the locals stare at you trying to guess where you’re from (because you’re clearly not from here). Heavy bags will just weigh you down and give an otherwise pleasant experience a dark spot. Leave anything unnecessary at home and make sure you leave some extra room in there for any souvenirs you might want to bring home!

If you can implement at least one of these tips on your next adventure, you won’t regret it! The more of an effort you make, the more change you’ll notice, but don’t beat yourself up if there are moments when you catch yourself being caught up in other things during your trip. That’s the whole point of travel, so don’t shy away from it. And now, it’s time to start planning your next vacation!