As a travel writer, I love sharing the exciting places I visit and the fun experiences I have. It might seem like my life is one constant adventure, but the truth is that social media and blogging only show the highlight reel. You don’t see the quiet moments—days spent in cafés, sleepless nights, and hours spent trying to find an Internet connection. While I enjoy staying busy, there’s a difference between being productive and being overworked.
It wasn’t until I hit the road again that I realized just how overwhelmed I’d become. I had taken on too much—trying to juggle full-time work, constant travel, and still find time to enjoy the moment. The result? Everything started to suffer.
I truly love the life I’ve built. Writing helps me process my thoughts, and this blog is just as much my personal journal as it is a travel guide. I also thrive on immersing myself in new places, starting new projects, and being on the move. All of these things make me happy—on their own.
But lately, I’ve come to realize that I just can’t juggle everything anymore. Between the website, my nonprofit, and wanting to disconnect more often, I’ve been spread too thin. Trying to do it all has started to create more stress than joy. I hadn’t really noticed it before because I was managing everything from home in New York City, but once I hit the road, the pressure really hit me. I felt like I was drowning.
In a hostel in Argentina, I found myself envying the carefree travelers around me. They were enjoying their time without the stress of an 8 a.m. meeting or worrying about internet speeds. Their work stayed at home with them. I realized I missed that feeling of just being in the moment.
Over the past few months, the constant anxiety has left me feeling paralyzed. I couldn’t enjoy anything. Every time I focused on one task, my mind would jump to the dozens of other things I needed to do. It’s a horrible feeling, like being overwhelmed for no clear reason.
So, in February, I took some time off to reset. I spent weeks hiking in Patagonia, disconnected from everything. I ignored emails, turned off my computer, went to bed at a reasonable hour, and read for pleasure. Slowly, the anxiety began to fade, and by the time I finished the W trek in Patagonia, I felt lighter.
But as I returned to my usual routine, old habits started to creep back in. Despite my intentions to take things slower, I found myself falling back into the same patterns. I had to admit that I needed to make some big changes. I need to untangle my life and find ways to do what I love without feeling overwhelmed.
One of the biggest changes is how I handle work. I’ve let the nature of the Internet control me for too long. It’s always on, always demanding attention. And since I’m a workaholic, I’ve never known how to turn it off. So, I’m setting new boundaries:
- I’ve removed email from my phone. No more checking emails constantly. It’s been a relief not to react to every ding.
- I’ve made my email policy clearer, so I’m not drowning in hundreds of emails each day. I want to help as many people as I can, but I’m only one person.
- I’m taking my weekends back. No more working beyond the weekdays—my team is helping enforce this.
- For now, I’m going to stop responding to comments on the blog. It’s something I’ve debated for a while, but it’s what I need to do right now. You can still reach me through email, social media, or the forums, but I won’t be replying to comments on the blog itself.
And perhaps the biggest change of all: I’m no longer going to work while I travel. It’s been a major source of anxiety for me, trying to mix work and travel. From now on, when I’m on the road, my computer will stay at home. When I travel, I want to be fully present. I realized that I’m happiest when I can focus on one thing at a time—work at home, and travel when I’m away.
These changes are big, and it will take time to adjust. But I know they’re necessary for my well-being. Creating clear boundaries will help me avoid burnout and keep me from feeling like I’m constantly on edge. Mental health is a journey, and I’m committed to finding balance.
