🤡 January is a scam (don't fall for it)

Hey Freaking Nomads,

January certainly has vibes. And not always good ones.

You wake up, open your phone, and suddenly everyone has:

– a new routine

– a new business goal

– a new source of income

– and apparently their life figured out

Meanwhile, you’re just trying to remember what day it is.

There’s this quiet, sneaky pressure that shows up at the start of the year (especially as a digital nomad) that says:

You should be doing more. You should start the year right.

And when your life already doesn’t have a fixed base, set routine, and friends scattered across continents, that pressure hits harder. Because you’re already improvising everything.

I’ve had Januaries where I felt unstoppable. And others where I felt low-energy, unanchored, and weirdly behind…

What messed with me the most was thinking that if I didn’t nail January, the whole year was somehow doomed.

Turns out, that’s bullsh*t.

Some of the best things in my life didn’t come from a strong start. They came from slow starts. From awkward phases. From months where the only real goal was “don’t spiral.”

So if you’re starting this year:

– without big goals

– without motivation

– or without a clue what comes next

Welcome. You’re among friends.

You don’t need to prove anything by January 31st.

Go at your own pace. Take the pressure off. Let the year unfold instead of attacking it.

We’ve all built entire lives out of figuring things out as we go. This year is no different.

🗞️ What's new in the nomad world?

• Egypt is giving airport arrivals a much-needed glow-up. Starting February 2026, paper immigration cards will be phased out as Egypt rolls out a fully digital system across all international airports. Very good news if you’re heading to Dahab!

Egypt Airports Go Fully Digital for Immigration Cards Starting February 2026

Egypt will remove paper immigration cards at airports from February 2026, switching to a fully digital system for faster, smoother arrivals.

Freaking NomadsLuca Mussari

🌍 (Re)freshed from our Blog

• We just refreshed our Airalo review after years of testing it everywhere. 40+ countries, 6 continents, and way too many airports. Here’s the brutally honest verdict for 2026.

Airalo Review: Is this eSIM Worth It? (And Alternatives)

An in-depth review of Airalo’s eSIM. We look at the pros, cons, pricing and more to see if it’s really worth the hype and whether it is a good eSIM for you.

Freaking NomadsIrene Wang

• Speaking of refreshes… we just gave our debit card guide an update too. If you’re living on the road, you know how those little fees pile up. And no one needs that kind of energy this year!

6 Best Debit Cards for International Travel

Discover the top debit cards for international travel, featuring low fees, great exchange rates, and worldwide acceptance. Compare them in this guide.

Freaking NomadsCaroline Lupini

🧑‍💻 Nomad Resource of the Week

If you’re a U.S. nomad, you know how messy taxes can get once you’re on the road. Some states just don’t want to let go, even if you haven’t lived there in years.

SavvyNomad helps American nomads set up a proper domicile in a tax-friendly state like Florida, so they can keep things legal, organized, and (most importantly) stop overpaying state taxes.

It’s like a guided system that walks you through every step, including setting up a real Florida address and mail forwarding, as well as sorting the paperwork for licenses and voter registration.

If you’re from the U.S. and planning to stay abroad long-term, this could save you a ton of headaches (and money) down the line.

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📚 Want more digital nomad guides? Read our articles on all things nomad, including travel tips, budgeting & finance, legal and taxes, community, productivity and more.

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We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads 👋

Written by Irene Wang

Digital nomad and co-founder of Freaking Nomads. She shares raw, unfiltered stories and helps nomads find resources to thrive while traveling and working remotely.

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