MICK ON ... FINDING YOUR OWN TRAVEL RHYTHM Q: YOU’RE JUST 24 YEARS OLD! HOW AND WHEN DID YOUR ADVENTURE BEGIN? A: When I was younger, I set up some small businesses that repeatedly failed. But I needed this experience to know which mistakes to avoid and how to find success. I combined entrepreneurship with marketing and sent acquisition emails to a few hundred companies. This got me numerous clients. Once this was up and running, I packed my bags. “If you’ve never had your own business or made money online, the leap to a nomadic existence is difficult to make in one go.” With a smoothly running business, you can travel in a more relaxed way. Anyone can do it! But be prepared to cope with setbacks by getting gritty. Q: YOU’VE BLOGGED ABOUT STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION ON THE ROAD. HOW DID YOU HANDLE THIS? A: I’d never experienced depression before. So when it happened to me after living as a nomad for 8 months, I didn’t really understand it. I was living a life that many only dream of, but it made me deeply unhappy. And to experience that while sitting under a palm tree on a beach in Southeast Asia! “For about 3 months I felt depressed and I withdrew. But then I found when I shared my story that others had experienced something similar.” Where did the depression come from? A deep insecurity. When I was in the Netherlands I was sleeping on a friend’s couch, which made me feel a nuisance. I didn’t really have space to get some time alone to internalize the travel experiences. As a digital nomad I’ve experienced more now than in my entire life before, and you need time and space to process that. Also, I thought I should always be on the go. What I realized, instead, was that I have a deep need to touch base by coming back to my Dutch home often. My tip is to take your time discovering the world. If you need to spend a month at home, that’s fine! Find the travel rhythm that works for you and your emotional needs! Q: WHAT DOES THE IDEAL NOMAD EXISTENCE FEEL LIKE FOR YOU? A: I’m now alternating between one month abroad and a few weeks in the Netherlands. The ideal nomadic existence feels peaceful and balanced. I don’t need to see something new all the time. The counter is currently at 36 countries, and this will double, but after that, who knows? There comes a moment when making new friendships feels weird when you already have so many wonderful connections in other parts of the world. Is new always better? DATING ON THE ROAD “ When I meet someone I’m clear at the beginning about the fact that I’ll be gone within a month and might never come back. This openness is very important when dating. It nips unrealistic expectations in the bud. ” ● Mick ● From the Netherlands ● www.demodernenomaden.nl ● Online marketer and coach ● On the road since 2016 ● Currently cycling from the Netherlands to India ✈ ✈ ✈ PROUD OF ... “The fact that I do exactly what I want. There are always challenges, but living this way makes me a happy person. I’m proud I chose this and just went for it. ” ✈ ✈ ✈ 26
28 Publizr Home