🔎 Guest: Traveling across 33 states of the USA in your van-come-mobile-office
Meet Kristina, the first generation American, third-culture kid now living a #VanLife as a Digital Nomad
Kristina Carrodeguas is the first generation American, third-culture kid, and digital nomad currently based in the United States. Her innate curiosity for traveling is hereditary; her dad has worked remotely for the past 33 years. For instance, he would work from Colombia during their family trips growing up, so that level of flexibility is something she has seen her entire life.
She started her remote work journey in 2017 by asking her manager to allow her to work from home once a week. When she realized she could stretch the bounds of a "traditional" career across borders, she embarked on different digital nomads' adventures. She has worked as a freelance copywriter, taught English in Madrid, and worked in Digital PR. Now, she works remotely from her Promaster Van and travels across the States.
Check out her Instagram to learn from her solo female #VanLife! Find out how Kristina manages her "9-5" job from her van with flexibility, transparency, and good time management!
🫶How do you take care of yourself when nomading?
Living in a van is more challenging than you might think, so mornings are a sacred time for me. I start the day in the right headspace by making sure to wake up kind of slowly, take the time to brush my teeth, wash my face, and make my bed before looking at my phone.
Additionally, I try to go for a walk every day. I use the computer for personal and work projects, so hiking helps me break the routine. I also journal regularly, have playlists for just about every mood, and go to therapy once a week!
Two #DigitalNomadStories have cited the importance of accessing therapy while traveling, if needed. Read how Christen Scalfano travels sustainably from the Balkans to Thailand and uses SafetyWing nomad health insurance.
>>>Check out Kristina's vanlife tips!
✴️ How do you find community as a nomad?
Finding friends and a local community is my biggest struggle with the vanlife, because my journey has been somewhat fixed and didn't allow me the time to attend any meetups. I've met a few friends through Instagram, but those relationships have been mostly virtual.
I do my best to support local businesses as I travel and even return to the same coffee shops when I'm in a place long enough. However, I haven't found a community that way either.
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I'm looking to change how I travel to help build community and spend meaningful time with people in the coming year. For this reason, I'm much more open to adding someone else to my journey in 2023. I plan to slomad a few months in St.Peterburg, Florida, to recalibrate to see where to go next!
🌱 How do you consider the planet and minimise your impact?
When I first considered nomading, I immediately realized I needed to be more minimalist. The biggest change I made was in clothes: I stopped shopping at fast fashion retailers and tried to only shop for sustainably produced clothing. I also explored being vegan for over a year and now eat a pescatarian diet, only eating meat when it's sustainable or locally grown.
I have spent the past two years traveling around 33 states of The United States and before this, I lived in Madrid for 2 years. Many of the habits I've had living in an apartment, like recycling and composting, are harder to do living on the road.
While I use more gasoline than I'd like, living in a van has many positive impacts!
I use less water
Don't waste any food
Don't buy single-use plastic
Charge the van's house batteries and my portable battery with solar panels
>>> Check out this article to learn how solar power is a great strategy to save money and reduce your vanlife environmental impact.
🔗Connect with Kristina Carrodeguas via her Instagram and LinkedIn.🔗
…. Meet Sam Scott, who have lived out of Airbnbs since 2018 and follow #DigitalNomadStories.
🔗Connect with Kristina Carrodeguas via her Instagram and LinkedIn.🔗 Want to hear more #DigitalNomadStories? Meet Juliana, visiting her 56th country!