Stop Dreaming, Start Travelling- Your Guide to Going Nomad in 2025!

Is it time to take the leap?

I'll never forget the moment everything changed for me.

There I was, cramped in an airplane seat flying back from Cyprus, absolutely glued to Tim Ferriss' 4-Hour Work Week.

My friends (who we’d just visited) were already working online, living life on their own terms.

And I was just dreaming about it.

But there’s a moment where you've got to stop dreaming and just jump.

And so we did.

In 2010, with £1000 in the bank, a couple of credit cards, a 4-year-old in tow, and absolutely no idea if this crazy plan would work, we jumped on a plane never to look back.

• Was it terrifying? Absolutely.

• Would I recommend this exact approach? Probably not!

But at some point, you have to turn your dreams into reality.

And if you're reading this in 2024, thinking about making 2025 your year? You've got it so much better than we did!

The world has changed dramatically since our leap of faith in 2010. Remote work isn't just accepted now - it's often preferred.

Digital tools are everywhere. And the opportunities are exploding!

If I Were Starting Today...

Back in 2010, after we had left everything behind on a wing and a prayer, it took me months to make my first dollar online.

I always remember Frank Kern saying, ‘if you can make 1 dollar you can make millions!’ (He’s not wrong, but it’s easier said than done!)

Nowadays with a little hustle you could start making money on your laptop within 24 hours. Though that's probably pushing it.

If I were starting all over again today and wanted to break free within a few weeks, the first thing I'd look at is what I'm already good at.

What do you do in your 9-5 that could work online?

Because the beauty with todays remote work outlook is that you don't need to reinvent yourself.

Take your skills straight to platforms like Upwork, and replace your static job with contract work.

Create a profile, upload your skillset, bid for jobs, do the work!

That's your foundation to a location independent income.

But here's where it gets exciting - once you've got that base income flowing, you can start exploring side hustles and move away from trading time for money, instead building something that works while you sleep.

The possibilities are endless, and the barriers to entry have never been lower.

But I Don't Have Enough Experience...

Let me stop you right there.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

“By being willing to be a bad artist, you have a chance to be an artist, and perhaps, over time, a very good one” - Julia Cameron

In 2010, I didn't even know a website address started with https:// (Seriously, I got lambasted on warrior forum).

I spent hours (in tears) trying to upload my first video because YouTube wasn't really a thing yet.

On one of my first webinars, hundreds were watching as I couldn't figure out how to end the broadcast. (One of my most memorable hand in face moments online)

I launched landing pages that crashed, wrote content that nobody read (still do), and made just about every technical mistake possible.

And while you will most certainly make mistakes (you must, it’s the only way to learn), the digital landscape today is unrecognizable from those early days.

Everything is easier, more intuitive, with platforms and tools designed for beginners.

Starting is no longer about technical expertise.

• It's about taking that first step.

• Making that first offer.

• Creating that first piece of content.

Every established digital nomad began exactly where you are - complete beginners figuring it out as they went along.

What About Family?

Yep this is a tough one and obviously depends on your personal circumstances.

My daughter was just 4 when we left everything behind.

Today she's a global citizen who's travelled to 20+ countries, is colour, creed and religion blind, and sees the world as her playground.

Not a path I could have dreamed of giving her if we'd stayed in our small UK town.

But to be honest, your worries about missing family have been solved by technological masters!

In 2010, Skype calls were a pixelated nightmare.

We'd spend half the time shouting "CAN YOU HEAR ME?" into frozen screens.

(Although my Mum still did that into FaceTime up until her last days - that or you spent your life talking to her chin! 😂)

Now, I have better conversations with my sister over crystal-clear video calls than I ever did popping in for a rushed cup of tea between work commitments.

Distance has made us more intentional about our connections.

We plan proper catch-ups, share our adventures and actually listen to each other's stories.

In fact my sister and I regularly do 2-3 week trips together now. Something we never did when I lived round the corner!

The hardest part?

Explaining to relatives that Christmas might be celebrated on a beach in Thailand rather than in the traditional British drizzle!

I Don't Want to Live Out of a Suitcase Forever

Many think the nomad life is about constantly moving, living out of a suitcase, and never having a routine.

But the reality is that most of us are slow travelers, especially as we get older.

We spend months getting to know a place, creating daily routines, finding favorite cafes, and building local friendships.

• My days in Chiang Mai started with sunrise walks around the moat.

• In Burleigh Heads, it was morning walks along the promenade watching the surfers.

• In Phuket we stayed so long we had a rescue dog we nurtured!

Different places, same structured days.

And the connections you make!

There's something magical about nomad hubs. You find your tribe quickly - people who understand your lifestyle, share your values, and become lifelong friends despite everyone's moving parts.

Some places pull you back again and again. We returned so often to Phuket we ended up living there and putting our daughter through school.

It became our second home!

You’ll find that you’ll quickly create new anchors, build different support systems, and design a lifestyle that works for you.

The beauty of nomad life isn't always in constant movement - it's the freedom to stay when something feels right, and move when you're ready for the next adventure.

I'm Too Old For This...

At 52, with knees that creak more than I'd like to admit, I hear this concern all the time.

Age brings wisdom, experience, and sometimes a few more aches and pains. But it also brings perspective.

Rather than seeing age as a barrier, I've found it opens up new possibilities.

Take healthcare - a major concern for many of us. I was shocked to discover the quality of medical care in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Turkey.

Modern facilities, spotlessly clean hospitals, and doctors who spend real time with you.

When I’m forced to get knee replacements, I’ll be doing so in Asia, where the quality of care vastly surpasses what we get back home - at a fraction of the cost.

Plus, recovery in a tropical paradise beats a dreary hospital ward any day!

In fact, many countries in Asia have built entire medical tourism industries catering to Westerners seeking high-quality, affordable care.

From routine check-ups to major procedures, the standard of care might just be the best-kept secret of the nomad lifestyle.

Age isn't a barrier to location independence - it just means being smart about where and how you travel.

So now we’ve covered some of the most common limiting beliefs, how do you get started?

Getting Started: Real Talk

If you want to make 2025 your year, here's your roadmap:

1. Start Your Income Stream NOW

• Get on Upwork today (yes, today!)

• Take your current job skills online

• Start small - even one client is progress

• Don't wait for perfection - learn as you go

2. Join Communities That Get It

• Come hang out with us in 50+ Nomads

• Connect with people who've done it

• Learn from others' mistakes (way cheaper than making them all yourself!)

3. Pick Your First Destination

• Choose somewhere with a strong nomad community

• Look for good internet and reasonable costs

• Consider time zones if you'll be working with clients

• Research visa options (they're better than ever!)

What's Really Holding You Back?

• Fear? Sure. That's normal.

• Money worries? Yep, we all have those.

But here's what I've learned after years on the road - most of the things we worry about never happen.

And the problems that do come up are usually way easier to solve than we imagined.

Make 2025 Count

The world is changing fast. Remote work is becoming the norm. Countries are creating special visas for digital nomads. Communities are growing everywhere.

There's never been a better time to make this leap.

So what's it going to be?

Another year of scrolling through other people's travel photos? Or is 2025 the year you finally write your own adventure?

The choice is yours, but if you're feeling that spark, that little voice saying "what if?" - listen to it.

If you’re reading travel blogs, watching youtube videos, making bucket lists and day dreaming about all the places you’d love to see, now’s your time!

Join our free community. Ask questions. Start planning.

Because one thing I know for sure?

The only thing most people regret is not starting sooner.

Ready to make 2025 your year? Let's do this!

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Ready to Start Your Nomadic Lifestyle? Here’s How I Can Help You:

1. Explore my blog, The Working Traveller
   Your go-to resource for nomadic travel tips, destination inspiration, and practical advice on making money on the road.

2. Grab my free ebook: 200+ Side Hustles for 50+ Nomads
   Packed with ideas to help you fund your travels and live your best life, starting today.

3. Be part of something extraordinary!
   Join me as I launch Grey Nomad Co - a brand dedicated to empowering over-50 adventurers with travel products designed just for us. Click here for early access, sneak peeks, and exclusive updates as we build this exciting journey together.

4. Join The Solopreneur Success Formula
   My beginner-friendly course helps 50+ adventurers create an online lifestyle business to fund their travels and embrace ultimate freedom.