5 Tips To Stay Productive As A Digital Nomad

Building anything worthwhile requires two basic ingredients: time and an actionable plan that includes great daily habits. Habits for Productive Digital Nomads

I have been on The Uncharted Road as a digital nomad for almost two years now, and I have gathered some valuable insights for you that can save you a lot of time while skyrocketing your productivity.

It all comes down to adopting the right habits consistently over a prolonged period of time, so the positive effects can slowly accumulate and start compounding.

This is, in part, a challenge in terms of mindset and discipline, but when it comes to being a full-time digital nomad, it can also be tricky from a logistical standpoint.

This is because when you are, let’s say, “at home,” it is relatively easy to adopt a routine that allows you to execute the necessary habits every day at a certain time.

For Example:

• get up at 5:30 am and meditate
• start jogging 6:30 am
• start journaling on the same desk or place
• Begin your 3-hour-long, deep work.

and so on…

That is because familiarity is actually a good thing because it makes it easier to honor a routine, as James Clear confirms in this book, Atomic Habits.

I believe when traveling, we are at odds with rule number three:

“Make it easy.”

It’s important to simplify. Clear suggests minimizing friction for good habits and increasing it for bad ones. Simpler and more accessible habits are more likely to be followed.

When you are constantly on the road, sitting down in a quiet place can suddenly be challenging since you might just be in a busy city like Bangkok with no idea where to sit down, and going out running might not be an option for the same reason.

So I came up with a few guidelines to facilitate the honoring of your sacred habits

The ones that need to be done regardless

Tip 1: Chill Out

Just slow down and take your time

Although this sounds obvious, it can be overlooked easily. Since, as a digital nomad, you are constantly engaging with travelers on vacation, their “must visit” schedule can be contagious, and you might actually feel a bit of FOMO. But once you realize there is no point in rushing anything, you might as well just chill out and enjoy the stay.

My recommendation is a minimum stays of two weeks per location so you have time to establish your routine

Tip 2: Prioritize your basic needs and establish base camps

Once you understand what habits you absolutely cannot fail to execute, you align your actions accordingly

I have three “core habits” I cannot fail to do. I need to get them done regardless of the complications or “logistics.”. Those are: walking in the morning for an hour wherever I am; writing for 3 hours; and then doing an hour of workouts in a gym. This also allows me to engage in “habit stacking,” like meeting new people during my walks or gym sessions or taking photos and videos for social media.

So my priorities when I get to a new place are to find a nice cafe and gym on the first day

Tip 3: Make talking to locals and making new friends a priority

When traveling alone, socializing is important because feelings of loneliness can be a problem

The best way to make friends is to just walk up to people and talk to them. As I mentioned in the opening sentence, loneliness can be a problem I don’t want to downplay, especially if you are a man and an introvert. If walking up to people and striking up a conversation is a scary thought for you, then I suggest you address it by doing some cold approach challenges. The best way to start is by watching a few YouTube videos on the topic or maybe getting some coaching from a trustworthy dating or relationship coach.

The ability to walk up and talk to people is critical to mitigating feelings of loneliness, since you will inevitably spend a lot of time alone.

Tip 4: Talk to locals over social media

While talking to strangers and locals in real life is without a doubt the best thing you can do for your mental health, social media can help to amplify whatever you do.

To be honest, I had no idea how powerful TikTok was until I published a video in Bali about a Bali tradition that I found extremely interesting, which then went viral and received tens of thousands of views. This provided me with numerous opportunities to meet new people and expand my audience. What surprised me and that I completely underestimated was the importance of locality, which means that you can gain a lot of exposure among locals with little effort.

Don´t underestimate the power of social media; use it to convey your message on a local level.

Tip 5: Write down everything

One of the most beneficial things you can do for anyone is keep a journal, but keeping one as a full-time traveler adds a whole new level.

Every day, there are numerous stimuli, many of which are new people, smells, images, experiences, and locations. The constant stream of information that your brain must process is mind-boggling. I’d go so far as to call it negligence not to write that down.

It’s incredible how many thoughts about specific situations arise during my meditations and dreams. It’s almost too much. Documenting your travel experience is essential, not only for others but also for yourself.

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All of this led me to go on a different path.

I call it The Uncharted Road Newsletter For Unapologetic Single Men Who Want True Freedom and Walk Away

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