Keeping up habits as a digital nomad
Since quitting my job and moving to Vietnam, I've had to re-expand my comfort zone in more areas than one.
At home, being a ✨running girly✨ was a core part of my identity. But doing it in a foreign country felt daunting.
When I finally felt ready for my first morning run in Da Nang, someone asked: "What's your goal? Speed or distance?"
My answer? "Just to run." They thought I was joking!
I was dead serious, even if I'd have walked the entire way, I'd still have been proud of myself.
It reminded me of an important mindset shift:
→ Build habits first, goals can come later
→ Your "why" can simply be enjoyment
→ Ditch rigid rules that fuel all-or-nothing thinking
For me, running is meditative "me time" above all else. Sure, I may add challenges down the road. But right now, the goal is just maintaining the habit - on my terms.
Getting overly fixated on targets can discourage consistency.
Start with low-pressure intentions. The real progress comes from showing up!