The #1 Exercise You NEED to Do Before Booking That One-Way Ticket - Nomad Notes | EP 35

How do you make your remote life more fulfilling?

Ryan breaks down the most important exercise he shares with every new client. Before booking flights or sending out job apps, he explains why clarity on your lifestyle, not just location, is key to long-term happiness. 

It’s not about fantasy vacations, it’s about building a life that actually works for you.

Ryan draws from years of coaching and his own nomadic journey to walk you through the real questions most people skip. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by choices or ended up somewhere that didn’t feel right, this episode will help you course-correct before you even start.

Listen and discover how this simple mindset shift could save you months of trial and error.

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DISCLAIMER:
Listening to stories of beachside zoom calls, mountainside work views, and island-hopping entrepreneurs may cause severe wanderlust and an irresistible urge to turn your laptop into a passport to freedom. Side effects include daydreaming about tropical coworking spaces, working with Ryan to learn how you can start working and traveling and buying a one-way ticket to Bali. Get ready to start living your dream life today!

Transcript

[00:00:00] Ryan Mellon: ~Hey guys. Welcome back to Digital Nomad Nation Nomad notes where I dive into some bite-size insight insights to help you. ~Hey guys. Welcome back to Digital Noman Nation. No man notes where we dive into bite-size insights to help you build a life of freedom, purpose, and remote work from anywhere on earth.

[00:00:11] Ryan Mellon: Today I wanted to share something foundational, something that I do with every client before they book. A one on one way ticket or apply for that remote job. And that is designing your perfect day. ~Um, and ~I don't mean your perfect vacation day. I mean a realistic, fulfilling everyday life as a digital nomad.

[00:00:33] Ryan Mellon: One where you're balancing meaningful work with exciting experiences and living life on your own terms. And why is this important? I'll tell you why. I've met so many digital nomads that have just gotten out there and they're winging it. ~Um, ~they hopped on a plane, got a. ~A flight, ~one way flight to somewhere and had no game plan and ended up in a place that just did not suit, ~um, ~[00:01:00] their preferences.

[00:01:01] Ryan Mellon: ~Um, they did, ~they were miserable and it just, they were not enjoying their time. And this is so important to think about before you. Book you're plane ticket to make sure that wherever you're going, especially, in those first days as a digital nomad, picking someplace that's like a digital nomad hotspot where you're gonna have lots of community, lots of people around you for support is hugely important.

[00:01:25] Ryan Mellon: Because if you don't know what you're building, it's easy to get lost. So a clear vision of your ideal day gives you a compass. It keeps you focused, motivated, and intentional. Especially when the nomad life throws you its curve balls.

[00:01:41] Ryan Mellon: And trust me, it will. So let's imagine it together, location. So when you're thinking about becoming a digital nomad, ~uh, ~where are you in the world? Are you in Asia, Europe? South America, are you sipping coffee on a quiet street in Lisbon or waking up to the jungle? [00:02:00] Sounds of Bali. Are you by the beach in the mountains or in a buzzing urban hub in the middle of a city?

[00:02:07] Ryan Mellon: ~Um, ~you need to think about the weather in the seasons. Is it warm and sunny year round? Do you love autumn vibes or tropical heat? Your environment affects your energy, so choose what fuels you. ~Um, ~Thailand has always been a hugely popular digital nomad hotspot, ~and, ~but it's not for everyone. ~So like if, ~if you don't like hot weather, hot ~hum, ~climate, and even sometimes ~dur in cl.~

[00:02:30] Ryan Mellon: In Thailand, there are several months, which is called the burning season, where they burn their crops and the air quality is terrible. If you don't plan ahead and you didn't know that, and you just show up to Thailand and burning season and it's sweltering hot and it's smoky, you're absolutely, it's gonna ruin your trip.

[00:02:48] Ryan Mellon: It's gonna ruin your, ~um, ~idea of the digital nomad life. And these are all things that are super important to think about when you're trying to figure out. Where's that first destination? [00:03:00] What does the lifestyle look like? ~Uh, ~another thing that you need to think about is your home base. What kind of place are you living in?

[00:03:07] Ryan Mellon: Is it a sleek city apartment? A cozy bungalow with a hammock? A co-living space with other creatives. picture the view from your window, the vibe of your space, how it makes you feel. All these things are super important. Morning routine. How do you start your day? Are you rising early for sunrise and yoga?

[00:03:27] Ryan Mellon: And a beachfront run, or are you easing into your day slowly with a long breakfast and journaling? ~Um, ~spending your morning doing whatever you want, not diving right into phone calls, meeting messages, emails, ~uh, ~or do you work better in the morning or are you more of a night owl who starts, ~uh, ~later in the day?

[00:03:49] Ryan Mellon: ~Um, ~your work life, what are you working on? If you don't have remote work already, this is another really important thing to think about because, ~um, ~what you're working on [00:04:00] is super important. You don't wanna pick a, a career path or ~a ~a remote job just because it gets you free and location independent.

[00:04:08] Ryan Mellon: It's so important that you enjoy the work that you're doing while being on the road, because life is still gonna bring you ups and downs. So are you freelancing? Are you running your own business, remote consulting? And more importantly, does it light you up? Like I said. Are you excited ~about it? Is it passion?~

[00:04:25] Ryan Mellon: ~Does it, are you passionate ~about it? What tasks make you forget to check the clock? ~Those, ~that type of work is what you wanna be doing. Work environment, that's another thing to think about. Where are you doing this work? From a sunlit balcony, a coworking space, a Medellin, a cozy cafe, and Kyoto, ~uh, ~finding the places that bring out your best focus and creativity are gonna be paramount after hours.

[00:04:51] Ryan Mellon: How do you spend your evenings? Are you exploring night markets, watching sunsets, taking a cooking class, hanging out with new friends? This lifestyle is [00:05:00] about freedom. So how do you want to use your new freedom and your new spare time in this amazing new environment that you created? ~So the more vivid you get.~

[00:05:09] Ryan Mellon: What you see, hear, feel, and even smell, the more real it becomes. And once you can see it, you can start building it. The perfect day exercise isn't fluff, it's your north star. It turns a vague dream into something specific, tangible and actionable. So grab a journal, go for a wall, close your eyes and really picture it.

[00:05:31] Ryan Mellon: And if you're ready to start turning that vision into a reality. That's what this podcast and this community is here for. Until next time, keep dreaming boldly and planning smart. You're closer than you think. We'll see you on the next one.

[00:05:47] Ryan Mellon: Thanks for listening to another episode of Digital Nomad Nation. I hope today's stories have inspired you to take the next step towards location independence. If you've enjoyed the show, please [00:06:00] share it with a friend and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. Your support fuels our mission to inspire the digital nomad lifestyle.

[00:06:09] Ryan Mellon: Before you go, don't forget to grab your free copy of my guide, Seven Ways to Become a Digital Nomad. It's packed with practical tips to kickstart your nomadic journey. You can find the link in the episode description. And remember, the life you've always dreamed of is just one bold decision away. Until next time, this is the Digital Nomad Coach, Ryan Mellon, signing off.

[00:06:37] Ryan Mellon: ~I.~