The author and his partner travel in a van that can accommodate two people. Author provided
Sarah van Geroben is 35 years old and has decided not to have children.
She and her partner chose to travel and live a flexible lifestyle over parenthood.
They set up reliable internet service in their van and began traveling full time while working.
This told essay is based on a conversation with Sarah van Geroben, a freelance editor and project manager. Edited for length and clarity.
I remember falling in love with traveling when I went on two six-month trips when I was in my 20s. In 2014, I took a job as a full-time travel editor in the Netherlands and was consistently traveling on short press trips around the world.
My partner, who I have been dating since the age of 23, has also always loved traveling. He is a freelance photographer, so he can travel freely.
A few years ago we started thinking seriously about having children. Gradually, we came to the conclusion that neither of us wanted children. Rather, what we really wanted was the freedom to travel.
While there are certainly families who travel with children, we thought it would be easier and cheaper to travel without them.
In 2022, after working for 8 years, I decided to become a freelancer so that I could work full time while traveling with my partner. I’ll explain how this works.
Let’s test it first
Working full time while traveling can be daunting for those who have never experienced it before. You don’t have to suddenly quit your job like I did.
Some companies allow their employees to work abroad for a certain period of time. This may be a gentle way to test whether this type of lifestyle appeals to you.
Don’t think you have to go far. Simply going to another state or bordering country may be the best distance to start with.
I knew I could work while traveling, as I had done as a travel editor. But if you’re not sure, full-time traveling isn’t for everyone, so it might be wise to see if you like the lifestyle.
Get your work setup
Since I knew I would be working out of the camper, I installed Starlink on the roof so I could access high-speed internet wherever I was. We were able to work even though we were on a remote beach.
We designed an ergonomic workspace for each of us in our motorhome. For some young people who work and travel full time, all they want to do is relax on the beach with their laptop while they work, but for me, in my 30s, that’s not the case. If you don’t have a comfortable space, your lower back will hurt.
I have a laptop stand, separate keyboard and mouse, and a comfortable work chair. I made it compact.
Go in with the right expectations
Sometimes, when people start a lifestyle of work and travel, they think it’s a vacation, but it’s not. No matter where you are in the world, your work can continue. It is not possible to see all the places and attractions. If you try, you’ll burn out.
Two years later, I’m still struggling to find the right work-life balance.
I found a routine that works for me. From Sunday to Friday, I work about 6 hours a day, and Saturday is a holy day off.
When I’m not working, I’m exploring and organizing Travel Management.
record your trip
When you’re working while traveling, it’s easy to forget to take photos. You’re always on the move or sitting in front of your computer.
However, it is important to record where you go. Because if you don’t, you might forget it. I tracked all my trips with the travel app Polarsteps. I love how all our adventures are displayed on a beautiful world map.
Experience the culture you visited
One of my favorite aspects of traveling is getting familiar with the culture I live in. Eat at local restaurants and attend networking events with like-minded people.
Time zones are important to consider when traveling, but I try to adjust my schedule to fit the schedule of the country I’m in so I can interact with the residents.
It’s easy to get caught up in the digital nomad life and miss out on making local connections, but it’s one of the best benefits of traveling.
Read the original article on Business Insider
