Digital nomadism is all about freedom and spontaneity. It’s a very appealing lifestyle for people who don’t like being tied down by the daily commute. However, for people in recovery, adopting a digital nomad lifestyle can feel risky. Recovery often depends on structure and routine, which can be hard to come by on the road. However, you’ll be pleased to learn that a digital nomad lifestyle is absolutely not impossible for people in recovery. Here, we’ll dive into when it is and is not appropriate to adopt a digital nomadic lifestyle in recovery, and what you can do to aid your sobriety if you are a digital nomad in recovery:
Consider Your Recovery First
Always put your recovery first. However appealing a life on the road may seem, first and foremost think seriously about your recovery needs and whether they’re compatible with that lifestyle. If you’re not sure, ask the specialists and friends who’ve been helping you out. For example, if you’ve been receiving treatment at a PCP Cardiff rehab clinic, ask the PCP specialists to help you understand your specific recovery needs and weigh up whether or not they’re compatible with a digital nomad lifestyle.
If you’re still not sure after asking for expert advice, turn to friends, family, and the long-time sober community. Be honest about risks and temptations, and listen to what they say.
Make Your Own Structure
Digital nomadism isn’t as completely free and easy as people think. There are plenty of responsibilities and admin burdens on digital nomads. However, it is broadly less structured than more conventional lifestyles. This can be an issue for people in recovery, as recovery often benefits from structure and predictability.
If they’re travelling alone, nobody forces a digital nomad to wake up at a particular time, attend a support meeting or maintain healthy routines. If you’re not good at motivating yourself or sticking to a personal structure on your own, it may be worth looking into how you can build your own daily recovery routine and stick to it. Things like writing up a schedule, using habit-tracking apps, and so on can help.
Think About Where You Are Going
Some destinations make recovery easier than others. A quiet town with reliable internet access and a stable living arrangement might be easier (or, at least, present different challenges) from a party destination where alcohol and drug use dominate the social scene. So, when researching destinations, think about more than accommodation costs and visa requirements. The overall ‘vibe’ of the place, plus access to recovery meetings, healthcare services and local support networks may be equally important.
Use Technology Properly
Technology can help with some of the recovery challenges of travel. For example, online meetings, therapy sessions and regular contact with sponsors or support networks allow many people to stay connected while moving between locations.
Know Your Triggers
Travel can put you into a lot of unfamiliar situations – some of which may be challenging. New environments, disrupted routines and periods of isolation can all create problems for some people in recovery.
The more clearly you understand your triggers, the easier it will be to recognise situations that deserve extra caution. Remember, your triggers won’t necessarily be the same as the next person’s – for example, someone who struggles with loneliness faces different risks from somebody whose triggers are linked to nightlife or social pressure.
Have a Plan Before Problems Arise
Create a relapse prevention plan, or a ‘get back on the wagon’ plan for if things go wrong. Put together a list of people to contact if you’re struggling, look up the nearest support group meetings for each location, have an exit plan for if a location turns out to be bad for your recovery, and so on.
Conclusion
Some people combine long-term recovery with a digital nomad lifestyle successfully. Others discover that constant travel creates more problems than it solves. If you’re drawn to the digital nomad lifestyle but aren’t sure whether or not it might jeopardise your recovery, do some thorough research before setting off. Ask friends, family, and experts whether or not this is a good idea for you, put together some crisis plans, establish a good structure that you can stick to, and carefully research each area you travel to before setting off.
