You can’t outrun yourself
I’ve met a lot of travelers who started this lifestyle to escape something, a job, a breakup, a burnout, a city that no longer felt like home.
And I get it. I’ve been there too.
When I first hit the road, it felt like freedom.
Every new stamp in my passport was a little victory, proof that I was moving forward. That I was doing something different. That I was becoming someone new.
But here’s the thing I learned after a few years of living this way:
No matter how many borders you cross, you always end up meeting yourself again on the other side.
You can change the timezone, but not your thoughts.
You can swap offices for beaches, but the burnout will catch up.... eventually.
You can trade a cubicle for coworking spaces in Chiang Mai or Da Nang, but if you’re not happy with what you’re doing, well, the view just won’t fix it.
At some point, you realize that the road doesn’t heal you. You do. And travel doesn't gives you space to see what was already there.
In my case, it happened exactly a year after I started traveling. I realized I wasn’t really running toward freedom but I was running away from stillness.
And stillness was exactly what I needed to face.
So if you’re feeling restless, if every new place excites you but nothing feels quite right, take a pause.
You don’t have to stop traveling... but please please please stop running.
The next time you land somewhere new, don’t rush to book your next flight.
Sit with yourself for a bit.
Let the silence in.
That’s where the real journey begins.
Until next week,
Luca
📢 New feature announcement: Resources!
You might’ve noticed something new on our platform…
We just launched our brand new Digital Nomad Resources section on our Community Hub 🔥
It’s a growing collection of the best tools, websites, services, and resources for digital nomads, all in one place. You’ll find everything from remote job boards and tax tools to travel insurance, productivity apps, and digital banks. All tested and loved by the members of the Freaking Nomads team.
You will be able to say yours and leave a review of those tools on their dedicated pages, so other members of the community can benefit from your practical experience with those tools.
And the best part? Many of them come with exclusive discounts so make sure to take advantage of it!
Start exploring this section to find your next go-to tool and feel free to share your feedback on which resource types you would like to see on it 🙌
🗞️ What's new in the nomad world?
- Europe is going biometric. Starting this year, non-EU travelers will face biometric checks (including fingerprints and facial scans) at entry points across the Schengen area. Learn what’s changing, when it takes effect, and how to prepare if you’re planning a Euro trip soon.
Irene Wang
🌍 Fresh from our Blog
- Iceland’s nomad visa: should you pack the wool sweaters now? Iceland isn’t just glaciers and hot pools anymore, it’s officially nomad-friendly too. We break down the application process, costs, and whether this dreamy Nordic base actually stacks up for remote workers.
Kiara Conaghan
- Norway’s remote-work permit isn’t just for fjords and cabins. Want serious scenery and a solid visa? Norway can be your place. We dive into how to apply, what it costs, and whether it’s worth escaping to the land of midnight sun, with your laptop in tow.
Pamela Leon
🧑💻 Nomad Resource of the Week
If you’ve ever finished a long “workday” and wondered where all your time went, you need to check out RescueTime.
It quietly tracks how you spend your hours, apps, websites, deep work sessions, and gives you honest insights about your focus (no sugarcoating).
Why it’s part of my daily setup:
- Shows exactly where your time disappears
- Helps you block distractions and build focus habits
- Works across all your devices
- Sends weekly reports that actually make you more intentional
Check out more travel-friendly tools in our full gear guide or browse all our recommended resources in our Resources section.
🙏 Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend who might like it and help us spread the word. This would help us a lot to spread the word about it!
💖 Join our Community Hub! Discover & review digital nomad places, find workspaces, track your countries and connect with like-minded people who are nomading just like you → Create your profile for free here.
📚 Want more digital nomad guides? Read our articles on all things nomad, including travel tips, budgeting & finance, legal and taxes, community, productivity and more.
If you haven't already, you can also follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads for more no-BS digital nomad content (and plenty of memes!)
We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads 👋
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