For years, I dreamed of traveling full-time. After living in Amsterdam for 4 years, my husband and I finally made the leap - he’s building his agency, and I’m building Bearconnect.io, a LinkedIn automation tool for outreach and content.
We just wrapped up our first month living the nomad founder lifestyle in Georgia ( 2 weeks in Tbilisi and 2 weeks in the Caucasus mountains in Kazbegi)
Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
It took time to realize I’m living my dream
It honestly took a week for it to sink in - I’m doing the thing I’ve always dreamed of. But once it hit, the gratitude was real.
You’re constantly torn between explore and execute
The biggest mental challenge? Balancing the desire to explore with the need to build. I had to be strict about time:
I block 11 AM to 5 PM every weekday just for deep work
Weekends are for exploring
In the mountains, I’ve opened up my calendar for late-night calls with the U.S.
Wifi problems
Choppy Wifi is real. We only stay in hotels with great views (to stay inspired) and stable Wifi (after reading the reviews). In Tbilisi, we even asked the hotel to give us a separate modem in our room.
Meetups while travelling
In my two weeks in Tbilisi, I hosted 2 meetups for founders. One of them even became a paid user of Bearconnect!
I’m building with intention
My digital nomad journey has just begun, but one thing’s clear:
As a bootstrapped solo founder, I need to be incredibly intentional with my time.
I don’t want my day to run me — I want to run my day.
Because that’s why I’m building Bearconnect: to create freedom, not chase burnout.
Welcome to the club! A couple tips:
- Grab a travel router/extender like a GL-iNet Beryl AX. They are great for upgrading a poor router in a AirBNB etc, or acting as an extender/repeater in hotels etc. (put it close to the door hallway and use it to give your whole room wifi. https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-mt3000/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=menubar
- Slow-madding really helps with work focus and reducing FOMO of missing out local places. I usually do 1-2 months in a city/town and if visas allow 3 months in same country. Less context shift, learning money, SIM, food etc of a whole new country. Also alternate between a "easy place" and hard place. Somewhere you have been, or somewhere with good infrastructure etc vs a less well known place, or somewhere with totally new customs, language etc.
- Don't bend 100% to customers demands for times etc.. ie no 3AM meetings. It's just not worth it, especially if they no show. Getting up an our earlier, or staying up an hour later ok, but nothing insane.
Sometimes its nicer to do 4 day work weeks of longer days and have the 3 day weekend, makes it easier to enjoy the local area, travel etc.
Love your tips, Tony- thank you! I'm definitely going to buy the travel router you mentioned. I totally agree about slow travel- it really does help reduce FOMO.
We just finished one month in Georgia and have another two weeks to go. After that, we’re heading to India for a couple of months to spend time with family, and then it’s Vietnam.
I’ve also been thinking of taking Wednesdays off- working long hours on Monday and Tuesday, taking a midweek break, and then going hard again on Thursday and Friday. I'm definitely done with late-night work- it’s just not worth it.
Where are you traveling these days? Also, I added you on LinkedIn!
Ya the mid-week idea is great for energy, but for the tourist, getaway travel, real recharge time etc idea I'd recommend taking either Mondays or Fridays off (or Friday PM, Monday AM off - still 3 days, just split. Especially if you are in Asia working North America hours. Monday AM's Asia time no one is doing anything anyways (Sunday PM NA time).
Was in just in Da Nang and Hoi An for a few months in the Spring, then in Bangkok for a month, and just landed in Spain a couple days ago to visit a friend for the month and what not. Then back to Canada for a couple months.
I'm not on Linkedin much, but you can find me on there.
Thanks Tony for all your wonderful tips! Looking forward to visiting Da Nang in September!